By World War I, the Ottoman Empire was a relic of centuries past, outdated and providing little value to its citizens. Revolutionaries happened to stumble upon an effective communicator who helped them create a grand strategy and kept up their motivation when things went wrong. His name was T.E. Lawrence, and he penned a quasi-autobiographical account, The Seven Pillars of Wisdom, about his service. After his death it became the basis for the movie Lawrence of Arabia. Today, the shifting sands of the financial industry have led some consumers to revolt against business models that are likewise outdated and provide little value.

Like many, you may remain unsure how to find an advisor who will truly serve your needs. No, you don’t need a heroic figure like T.E. Lawrence, author of The Seven Pillars of Wisdom. But you do need someone with similar skills to Lawrence- a capable communicator and tactician. Here are seven skills to find in an advisor and example questions to help assess whether they can lead you to financial independence.