Not really legal here - only with a medical license and that is taken pretty seriously. And in any case, I am sure that iVillage does not want drug trafficking on their site! It was just funny to encounter it after all of the sturm und drang about the galleries - am hoping that this diverts the powers-that-be to drug enforcement and they leave us alone!

Fellas, I forgot to mention, now that I am back and clear thinking somewhat, that I had uninstalled a program that had a lavendar? feather icon in the tray, was for taking pdf files apart. Recommended here in the forum, decided I didn't really need it, so uninstalled, and right after that, this box started showing up. As of now, my icon for AVG does not have an arrow, as suggested in the discussion group at the site Joe sent me to, so am scratching my head now, won'dering what to do, and shakey at that. Is this something I could live with if I had to, or should I worry it will make more trouble for me at this time? Have not had any trouble with AVG, and have been clean that I know of, no CC here anymore, have trimmed down all excess programs I can to make this older machine run what I thought was better. Thanks to anyone, and so good of you to respond, I am deeply grateful for that.

Oh, yes, I do remember that one. I first came here in 1999 after buying my first Windows 98 comp. I had lost the ability to connect to the Internet, even though I was connected to my ISP (dialup) and all offline activities worked. A very knowledgable helper walked me through editing my registry to correct the problem. I had to use a computer at the local library to come here for help. Unfortunately, I was later much maligned, even called un-American, for my stance in opposition to our invasion of Iraq. This person later left this and another forum, and I remained, in spite of the attacks on me. I'll always be grateful to him for his help, but I guess this is an example of what off topic discussions can lead to.

>> I think that there are CFPs out there who charge by the hour to do a plan and make recommendations, and who do not sell investments or insurance of any kind. That is what I would look for. Not to say that there aren't good, ethical brokers out there who will put your interests up there with theirs. I just haven't encountered one myself! There are certainly CFPs who charge by the hour. However, all CFPs have broker licenses. And there is nothing wrong with affiliating oneself with a brokerage, any more than you need be nervous about taking your car to a factory-authorized dealership rather than an independent garage. There are good and bad in both sectors. You need to remember there is a substantial legal difference between "investment advising" and "financial (estate) planning." It sounds like many of you folks posting have used "investment advisors". They have NO fiduciary responsibility to you. None. Nada. Zip. They are NOT legally obligated to put your personal interests FIRST. I cannot emphasize this enough. It is a critical, crucial, legal difference. A CFP must, by law, put your personal interests first. And yes, there is little profit for them in doing so unless you have a portfolio of assets to manage. Do you grudge them a living, any more than your doctor or carpenter or mechanic or gardener? When I worked at the independent CFP's office, there were many people who came for their first introductory no-cost meeting. Most of them were not suitable clients, for varying reasons. It might be something as simple as a personality clash (such as the couple who came in and spent two hours contradicting one another with every answer), or as basic as a differing risk assessment (clients who wanted options, offshore leases, or anything risky were politely declined). But surprisingly often, it was because people couldn't adequately define their goals, yet thought they could still somehow afford everything they wanted without saving sufficiently for it. They got offended when they were told they couldn't retire early, travel around the world, fund four children for college and graduate school, and pay off their mortgage in five years, on their current debt-to-assets ratio. Now, I am certainly not saying anybody involved with this current discussion is like that. What I am trying to explain is that any advisor, whether a CFP or not, cannot make you something out of nothing. What a CFP can do is help you define your goals, and determine if they are achievable. This involves MORE than diversifying your portfolio. A lot goes into your complete financial picture, and everyone's situation is a little bit different, because their goals and risk-taking factors are individual. Life being as changeable as it is, it can be handy to have someone there with the professional knowledge to help you and your family analyze and cope with changes to your financial/legal situation as the years progress. Many couples have differing views about money and any good CFP will tell you they spend a lot of time "counseling" couples so that everybody stays "on the same page" together. You don't have to have a CFP, and many of us can't afford one. But for those who can afford it, a CFP can be an invaluable resource. And I say that, even though I handle all the investments in our family and have done a very good job of it. There is a world of difference between an amateur and a professional - this is even more true of finance and investing than it is of most areas.