You want a dog. You find a litter and go to visit.
How do you choose?
The best looking one. The colouring you like. The breeding. The most boisterous. The runt, if you're soft.
A friend told me about her father. He wanted a working dog, something to take shooting. When he went to see a litter he took a big bunch of keys with him.
He'd drop them on the floor from a height. Quite a racket.
Then he'd wait, and watch for the puppy that walked over to investigate.
It's not the worst way to pick a financial planner.
You could choose the best bred (most qualified). The best looking (flash offices, pearly white smile). The most confident in the room.
Or you could look for the curious one. The one who, when something unexpected lands in your life, comes over and has a proper look at it. The one thinking, now what the hell is going on here then?
Qualifications matter. Confidence too, up to a point. But plenty of well bred dogs are no use out in the field.
I'd take the curious one.