Trust is an Underrated Financial Planning Element

Trust, like wealth, takes time to build, but is critical to the financial planning process.

According to the Certified Financial Planners Board, the financial planning process involves the following seven steps:

Following these steps is important to a client's success; however, none of them are effective without trust. If a client doesn't trust you, they are far less likely to implement your recommendations, which can lead to financial hardship for the client and frustration for you as a planner.

Although trust is essential, it can't be built overnight. Here's what I've found helps with my clients:

Honest and Authentic: I tend to overshare with my clients, but I’d rather them know too much about me then have no idea who I am.

Transparent Pricing and Expectations: My clients all know the exact cost of the service upfront, along with clear expectations. Financial planning is challenging enough without confusing pricing. It's a set monthly fee, so they know exactly what to expect.

Consistent and Reliable: Financial decisions can be overwhelming, so having someone they can reliably contact for an objective opinion is valuable. Just recently, several clients emailed me about buying a home, one of the biggest purchases of their lives. I was there to help guide them through the process.

The above steps are simple, but they are also uncommon in the world of financial planning. I often meet with potential clients who are apprehensive about working with a financial planner, often due to a previous bad experience or being sold an expensive product that wasn't suitable for them. This is different, by design!

If you are looking for a different financial planning experience, then take your first step by completing the contact form below:

Disclaimer: The information in this post is provided for your convenience only and is not intended to be treated as financial, investment, tax, or other advice. The information is intended to be educational and is not tailored to the investment needs of any specific individual.  It is also not intended to be relied upon as a forecast and is not an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy.  The opinions expressed are those of the author.  Reliance upon the guidance and information in this presentation is at the sole discretion of the individual.