Imagine a patient walking into a doctor’s office, insisting on which medicine they should be prescribed. Picture them confidently dictating the dosage and treatment plan. What do you think the doctor would do? Most likely, the doctor would raise an eyebrow, question the patient’s medical knowledge, and firmly guide the conversation back to their professional expertise.

Yet, in the world of investing, this dynamic plays out all too often. Investors, who are essentially the patients in this scenario, frequently find themselves telling their financial professionals— the doctors— what to do. They come with strong opinions, often influenced by headlines, market noise, or emotions, and try to dictate the course of action. This is the only industry where clients believe they know more than the experts they hire.

Why does this happen? One reason is the accessibility of information. Today, anyone can open an app and access endless financial news, opinions, and data. With so much information at their fingertips, investors start to believe they have the full picture. But having access to information doesn’t equal understanding. A patient reading WebMD does not replace a doctor’s years of medical training and experience. Similarly, reading a market article or seeing a stock tip doesn’t equate to understanding the intricacies of investing.

This behavior is risky. Just like a doctor, financial professionals have years of study, experience, and training behind their recommendations. They are the ones equipped to make informed, objective decisions—ones that aren’t swayed by emotions or market noise.

When investors ignore this expertise and push their own agendas, they end up making poor decisions. They may buy high and sell low, reacting emotionally to market movements. They may chase trends, thinking they know better than their professionals, only to realize too late that they were wrong. In medicine, this might mean taking the wrong medication. In investing, it means losing money, missing opportunities, and derailing long-term goals.

If you’ve hired a professional, trust them to do their job. Trust that they have your best interests at heart, much like a doctor does for their patients. Questioning their expertise or trying to override their counsel can lead to financial setbacks that take years to recover from. It’s crucial to remember why you sought their guidance in the first place.

The next time you feel tempted to dictate your decisions, pause and reflect. Are you acting based on emotion or a sense of urgency? Or are you genuinely making a well-informed choice? Trusting your financial professional is trusting the expertise you’re paying for. It’s respecting the knowledge and experience they bring to the table—just like you would with any other professional.

So, think about the long-term relationship you want with your financial professional. Are you a patient who prescribes to your doctor? Or are you the patient who trusts the professional, knowing they have the skill and experience to guide you through the complexities of financial health? Your financial well-being depends on making the right choice.