I believe people desire to live by their values and priorities, but with daily activities pulling at most people they haven’t been able to fully organize their thoughts or it has been a long time since they have and much has changed. Every client is unique and it’s important for each one to align their financial situation with their values and priorities.
Usually in the initial appointment with a prospective client we work through a questioning and listening process that begins with the question, “What’s important about money to you?” The answers that take shape through the process give us insight into many of the values a person holds most dear. Often the client discusses basic needs being met and progresses through thoughts relating to financial confidence, not worrying, freedom, family, and more. As an LPL financial advisor it helps me step into the client’s shoes as we then work through and prioritize the more measurable goals dealing with retirement, survivor needs, investing, college, etc.
Several years ago I was working through this process with a couple that had been married 40 years. At the end of the conversation the wife looked at the husband and voicing one of the items mentioned by him she said, “I never knew you thought that.” It was a helpful and enlightening moment for her and them as a couple – even after 40 years.
Over and over the experience of this process has shown me how important it is to not only discuss the goals clients want to accomplish, but to make sure they are intimately united to what’s important to them and in which order they need to be addressed.
09/19