Which Generation would you trust the most to give you good financial advice, and why?

Or, I could ask, which one would you rather slap in the face with a huge cream pie?

Easy! Boomers, of course. They got everything delivered to them. They raped and pillaged the planet. They created financial disaster after economic catastrophe.

Actually, I don’t believe that. All up, Boomers have done a pretty good job during their time running the show. Xers are taking the mantle and we’ve got a bit to live up to.

But the best financial advice?

It’s not that simple. I think there is the potential for good advice to be provided by most generations. With one general exception – I don’t think Gen Y has had enough life experience to really make good advisers yet. They’ll get there, but experience comes with age.

Good financial advice comes from knowledge and experience. The best advice is likely to come from someone who has a good education in financial markets and conditions, but who also understands your life. That’s at any age.

Retirees have been through a lot, including world wars and, for some, through the Great Depression. And they’d have a lot to teach us about living frugally and keeping life simple, including our financial affairs.

Boomers need to be held accountable for their many sins, including hippie-dom, disco and Simon and Garfunkel. Financially, Boomer advisers have plenty of recent experience and should be knowledgeable.

Xers looking for advice should seek someone who has strong financial knowledge, but also understands their lives and what their future holds. And that’s usually, though not always, going to come from fellow Xers.

Bruce Brammall is the author of Debt Man Walking (www.debtman.com.au) and principal adviser with Castellan Financial Consulting.