[legion]

I think many of the same things that are hurting RE are also hurting financial planners--namely no one has any money right now. Many of the firms that employ financial planners are laying them off by the tens of thousands.

That said, this type of climate does present an opportunity. I suspect many people who still have some money and lost a lot in what they were told were "conservative" investments are fed-up with their current financial planners and are looking for a move. This would be a great time for someone with integrity to establish themselves. Unfortunately, it will take a lot of time and hard work now and the payoff won't be for several years. (You might make nothing or almost nothing until the market rebounds depending on how your compensation works.)