What Can I Expect From Our First Meeting?
I don’t think I’ll ever forget walking into a client’s home for the very first time. They were a referral from a mutual friend, but I knew little about them. Shortly after I was invited to their dining room table, the spokesperson for the couple said, “I’m not sure who you are or what you do but I hope you can help us.” At that he shoved a pile of tax records, various financial statements and retirement documents my way. I smiled warmly, slowly pushed them back and said, “Don’t ever surrender this kind of confidential data to a virtual stranger. Let’s get acquainted first and I’ll determine if I can help you.” We did and it was a success. Now I feel like I have friends for life.
The goal of our first meeting is simple; we need to get a feel for who you are, what you value, what is important about money to you and how you are currently in or out of touch with it. We need to know why you are doing what you are doing, who influenced you, and how pleased you are with the results. It’s possible we’ll say, “You’re doing a good job and there is no way we can improve your position.” So far, I’ve yet to say that.
Frankly, I’m more interested in your feelings than your facts. Naturally, at some point we’ll need to know specifics about the kinds of financial things you have in place, rates of return, retirement plans, cash flow issues, but those are all subservient to understanding you.
Understandably, the most efficient use of time is for the accruWealth team to meet with both partners in a relationship.
When we meet, plan to talk. We’ll plan to ask questions and listen.
- Randall Davey, President