The Unseen Asset in Financial Advice: Problem-Solving Skills

I'm often associated with helping my clients navigate their personal and financial lives or implementing structured, process-oriented plans like planning for college, retirement, or the routine year-end tax review. However, I've found that my relationship-building skills – particularly my ability to provide support and encouragement – often play an equally crucial role. 

Many of my clients are busy parents juggling a multitude of tasks daily. They value the fact that I can acknowledge their progress, assist them in setting attainable objectives, and keep them accountable, particularly when those objectives initially seemed unreachable. This is part of what I call possibilities-based planning – an approach focused not just on static, long-term objectives but on constantly exploring new opportunities and reshaping objectives to align with evolving circumstances. This strategy not only helps my clients think bigger but also adds an ongoing value driver to their personal and financial plans. 

Think about it like a coach-athlete relationship. Initially, the coach spends time understanding the athlete's strengths and weaknesses. However, as they continue to work together, the athlete's capabilities evolve, revealing new strengths and weaknesses. The coach and the athlete are then constantly re-engaging, learning, and adapting to each other. 

As a financial advisor, I encourage families to step out of their comfort zone, transition from good to great, and set and accomplish new financial objectives. It's easy to remain stagnant when you're comfortable, but with my guidance and support, you could reach heights you never imagined. 

When you're financially secure and not threatened by scarcity, you have the emotional energy to explore how adding new objectives to your financial plan might enhance your life's satisfaction. This is when we ask, "Given what we know, what is possible now?" 

This question brings us back to our core skills – problem-solving and planning for potential outcomes. Many of my clients find this to be the most enjoyable part of our relationship. There's something deeply fulfilling about the process of working towards your purpose, often more so than reaching the final outcome itself. 

By asking "what is possible now," we delve deeper into understanding what truly matters to you. This sets the stage for more profound conversations and helps us prepare for life's inevitable transitions together. As an advisor, my role extends far beyond numbers. I'm here to help you navigate your personal and financial journey, making the most of every opportunity along the way.