Some years active funds do outpace passive enough to cover the costs and sometimes passive funds net out better. There isn't really a right or wrong in my eyes. Most advisors now don't care too much. You mostly have cheap salesman "advisors" who chiuck fixed annuities and life insuranve because they aren't securities licensed or you have more financial planners where the industry is moving to a retainer based model. For example all the clients in my practice pay a monthly retainer. I think that's a much better model as it incentivizes both the advisor and the client to meet regularly to stay on track for their goals.