Meeting a financial advisor for the first time can feel like diving into the unknown. It’s personal, a little nerve-wracking, and often conjures fears of judgment or misunderstanding. Talking about money is scarry because we rarely discuss finances openly, even with close friends or family.
Recently I was reminded how scarry talking about money can be. I moved to a new tax accountant. As part of their process, I had to go through my business revenue and personal income. This involved addressing questions about my business spending, what accounts I have, how much I was contributing to my retirement plan, and so on.
And even though I ask my clients questions just like this every day, I still felt nervous as I was in the hot seat! Some thoughts that quickly ran through my mind were...
• What will he think of my financial situation?
• Will he think I don’t make enough to work with him? Too much?
• Will he judge me because of money?
But these aren't the only things many people fear when talking with a professional about their money. Sometimes, people who come in to meet with me for the first time also feel suspicious about...
• Being told they can't retire or that they made poor financial choices.
• Walking into a high-pressure sales pitch instead of a genuine conversation.
• Being sold on expensive products they don’t need. (Which is why I don't sell anything!)
Money, and how we use it, isn’t just numbers—it’s a reflection of our values. I believe this is what makes the first meeting with financial professionals feel raw and vulnerable. Each of the concerns listed above are real and the discomfort you experience is real too. As someone who has been a Financial Planner for many years, I want to encourage you to lean into discomfort! It can be difficult, but if you are able to lean into the discomfort and be open during your first meeting, especially with a Financial Planner, it will be the start of real connection and meaningful growth.
How We Help
With that in mind, my team and I have intentionally designed our process to address these fears and concerns.
We begin with an initial phone call. This is usually with Amanda, our incredible Operations Director! This is a very straightforward call, during which we ask questions such as...
• What is leading you to seek a financial planner now?
• Basic questions about you such as your age and if you have dependents.
• Basic questions about your finances.
This call lasts about 30-45 minutes. The reason for this call is to gather the information needed for your first meeting—our Discovery Meeting, and to ensure we can be as effective and helpful for you as possible.
I like to think of it similar to a physical screening... Imagine you need brain surgery. You call a surgeon's office, fill out a questionnaire, schedule your consultation, and finally sit down with the surgeon to discuss the procedure you need. But it is only at this point that the surgeon informs you that he is actually heart surgeon... How frustrating! All that time and expense wasted. All it would have taken is someone to point out that this is the heart surgeon's office.
Our initial call is designed to do just this: Ensure that the expertise we have matches what you need. If we realize during the call that we do not specialize in the financial area(s) you are seeking, we do not want to waste your time. Rather, we are committed to pointing you toward the right resource, even if we are not the right fit.
So, with this initial groundwork laid. In Part 2 I will walk you through what we actually cover in the Discovery Meeting.