Pay Top Dollar for Professional Advice. Then Get a Second Opinion from Another Professional.
Pay top dollar to get the best advice you can. Pay a specialist in the field in which you need the advice.
The more important the advice is, the more you should pay. It is only for hypothetical questions about things you will never do that your should consult non-specialists for free opinions.
Where the government is involved, you are at risk. In such cases, the person you pay to provide counsel had better be willing to represent you before the government agency that sends you a subpoena. Don't pay anyone to provide that kind of advice unless he is ready and able legally to represent you.
Ask people for advice regarding specialists to consult. There, you may get good advice. But never ask a non-professional to provide advice regarding technical matters that could get you hauled into court.
Make it clear when you ask for specific advice that you are not going to act on it unless you first consult a specialist regarding the details. Make it clear that you are asking for guidelines only, not a specific plan of action.
You can ask laymen for advice regarding questions to ask a professional. Here, you may get good advice. Some former victim of professional counsel may have some excellent suggestions about what to ask your paid adviser before you let him put you on the primrose path at $200/hour. Just don't expect the layman's advice to get you down that path once you have decided to go ahead with your plan of action.
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