Thats the problem, a financial planner wants all of them consolidated in one account, but then he offers only a limited amount of choices. Principal, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Fidelity and Transamerica are the ones, but they only offer the funds selection that give them the best incentives. I keep them separate, but their horizon/targets are all over the place. But at least with those five firms, I have multiple funds to choose from.
As for picking stocks, I am horrible, but once in a while you hit and it is rewarding. Lately I am looking at dividend returns, once a payment comes in, I will but a few shares of something I already have or have been looking at.