Do you invest yourself or use a firm such as Edward Jones?

Either just do index investing on your own or if you need specific tax advice, estate advice, etc., use a fee based financial advisor. Edward Jones is garbage and just drains money from the same pool of people that buy lots of lotto tickets.

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Do you invest yourself or use a firm

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About half and half

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this is not the place to get any financial advice

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Advice? or ideas? The OP seems to seek the latter.

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mostly from people not qualified

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There are plenty of qualified folks posting here.

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Too many differences of opinion

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Differences of opinion are great.
It sounds like you strain to separate the wheat from the chaff, which is a different issue.

For the average person, the most important aspect of investing isn’t picking the right investments; it’s controlling their emotions. If you do some real self reflection and believe you can control your emotions on your own, you have very little use for an advisor unless you are wealthy to the point that you need more exotic wealth planning. If you do said self reflection and acknowledge that you could probably use some help managing and overcoming your emotions, then a good advisor is probably worth the money.

Only you can decide which of those two camps you fall into.

Financial advisors are completely useless. Just invest in index funds and ETFs. Everything you need to learn you can learn for free on YouTube. And any “financial advisor” that tries to sell you an annuity is a con man.

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Just curious as to what the average person does.

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the "average" person doesn't invest at all.
the "average" investor that is getting started probably does use someone like edward jones for the peace of mind and lack of effort needed.
the people getting above average returns and seeing their money grow the most are generally not using someone like edward jones. EJ sucks, in my personal experience.

I have I think 6 clients that moved away from Edward Jones to work with me. No exaggeration, every single one of those EJ advisors was an embarrassment to the industry either intentionally or unintentionally (mostly intentionally).

Slackster says they have good advisors - he may be right, but I have yet to encounter anyone that has had a good EJ experience.

Additionally, you need to pay a competent fee-only (no commissions) advisor if you:
- are too emotionally affected by market movement
- don't know how much risk you should be taking
- need advice on other areas like estate, insurance, taxes, etc. (but, I repeat, don't work with someone selling those products...)
- don't feel like carrying the burden of making sure you are appropriately invested and prepared for various life stages and career moves

Those are just several reasons...

Last comment - the first question you need to ask is, "Are you paid commissions?" and then "Please explain every way you are paid." and then "Are you a fiduciary?".....they should have a VERY straight-forward and clear answer.

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This guy said you are useless

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I am useless to someone who does everything themselves. Don't pay someone for something you don't think you need.

He frankly doesn't understand what I actually do, though. No harm no foul.

ETA: I do agree that any advisor trying to sell you an annuity is likely a con-man...

I've got probably 65--70% of my portfolio with a guy who my dad worked with when he passed away while I was in school, then the rest I do on my own in a TDA account.

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I have I think 6 clients that moved away from Edward Jones to work with me. No exaggeration, every single one of those EJ advisors was an embarrassment to the industry either intentionally or unintentionally (mostly intentionally).

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Edward Jones seems to be a lot like your average life insurance sales rep. They claim to be meeting the needs of each individual , but somehow every client walks away with the same products.