I'll jump in with my EJ experience. I've had basically three investment/IRA companies since I started around '97. The first two led me terribly wrong and I finally stepped in and demanded to withdraw from the losing portfolios and finally changed companies. The first guy (not EJ) led me through a 50% total loss after 9/11. I contacted him several times about 'let's make a change" and each time he counseled me to stay in and don't miss the rebound. I finally demanded he make the change and then did it myself for a while and then found another which was EJ and highly recommended by my accountant so I went with him. He let my dwindled portfolio languish because I guess I wasn't enough of a high roller. Then he turned my account over to a new associate in his office and this guy started making changes and working my funds and making me money. He talks to me about all aspects of my financial life and I could not be happier. He has my complete trust and now we are building a SEP IRA that's separate from my old ROTH.
So yes it does depend on the actual person that you are dealing with.
I also started investing in Duke Energy on my own many years ago and that account has done extraordinary!
