Logic does not follow that paying advisors makes American Funds bad. Advisors have hundreds of load funds to chose from, so if they are suggesting American, they probably feel those will best serve their clients. The second issue about getting paid is worth discussion. As with any professional that offers a service, they should be paid. Your dentist doesn't offer no load fillings, does she? There may be folks that enjoy getting their hands dirty and being their own financial advisor, but just like becoming a pilot to fly your own plane, if you are managing your own investments, the cost of not knowing how to handle a situation correctly or making a mistake, is high. Lastly, fees need to be put in perspective. A number of American Fund's funds have beat the market, including any fees a customer would pay.