A good financial advisor will make it clear that they're not perfect, and that the markets will go down as well as go up. The reality is that all markets will recover eventually, but most investors don't want to hear that, and so bad advisors don't tell them what they dont want to hear.
Be very, very careful if your financial advisor suggests a Guaranteed Investment Contract, or GIC. This is a large-denomination debt instrument that insurance companies issue, and while the interest is guaranteed, the principal isn't. It's not a good idea for most investors.
Don't hesitate to ask a prospective financial advisor what their ideal client relationship is like. If you fit the ideal, that's all well and good; but if you don't, you may be better off investing with someone else. It's not that they're a bad advisor, it's just that you probably won't work well together.
