Most goal-setting exercises have one major flaw. They focus too much on WHAT someone wants to accomplish rather than WHY they want to accomplish it. The best goal-setting exercises combine the two. They produce goals that are both meaningful and measurable. Goals that provide connection and clarity. And when you do that, clients are motivated, …
The discovery meeting is the single most important meeting for your clients and your practice. If you’re like most, you’ve probably looked up “the best questions to ask prospects in a first meeting.” You’ve likely picked up ideas listening to podcasts with advisors explaining how they conduct their meetings. You’ve implemented the tips and tricks …
You can’t help a prospect if they never become a client. You can’t help a client if they don’t implement your advice. Like it or not, both require a skillset rooted in sales. As Nancy Bleeke points out, sales isn’t about being pushy. It’s simply an information exchange. And the purpose isn’t to convince someone …
No client actually cares about maximizing their wealth. Every client cares about maximizing their life. Therefore, money should never be a goal. It should simply be a tool. A tool that funds the life you want to live. That’s why every client needs to define their “financial purpose.” It allows clients to align their money …
Your client’s decisions are almost always subconsciously driven by invisible influences. Should I wear a suit? Should CNBC be on in the lobby? Does the way I’m presenting the info influence the client’s decision? Should I offer free financial planning in the beginning or charge for it? Whether these things should influence a client’s decision-making …
The job of a financial advisor and planner isn’t simply to dispense the advice, pat yourself on the back, and walk away as if your job is done. It’s to help the client follow through on your advice. Ensuring they implement and execute the items you’ve laid out that solve their problems and achieve their …
Money and happiness will forever be intertwined, specifically the relationship between the two. While money may not be able to buy happiness, it can certainly influence it. When you’re working with people and their money, you have the opportunity to help them use their money in a way that accumulates happiness rather than just simply …
Money decisions are never just about money. Research tells us that about 90% of all financial decisions are made emotionally, not logically. Decisions driven by our mind rather than our money. And every financial behavior, even if it appears illogical, makes perfect sense once you understand the underlying beliefs, feelings, and thoughts that accompanied the …
Whether you’ve been an advisor for four days or four decades, you know that your client’s success has just as much to do with their mind as their money. It’s simply not enough to run through Monte Carlo simulations and construct diversified portfolios. And you know it’s critical for you to be able to understand …
Trust is the foundation of success in financial advice. Research has found that trust is the #1 characteristic clients look for in a financial advisor. But how can you quickly instill trust into the conversation with a prospective client? How can you consistently build trust throughout your relationship with a current client so they refer …