We’ve been talking this month about various assumptions and misconceptions people make when it comes to hiring a financial planning team. No, you don’t have to have everything figured out to work with a financial professional. That’s like thinking you have to already be in good shape to go the gym! Helping you get your financial life together is what we do, after all.
One question I am asked often in this business is, what makes a good client for Family Financial Partners? Last week, we talked about common assumptions people make about working with a financial advisor. Today, I want to take a look at what makes a good client, and some of the misconceptions we hear about this as well.
For those of you reading this who already work with our team, thanks! We always appreciate your business and your referrals. If you’re reading this and you don’t work with us yet, I want to address some of the common misconceptions that keep people from picking up the phone and scheduling their complimentary first meeting with us.
When it comes to investing in the stock market, the risks are similar to the risks taken by the initial gold miners during the California gold rush of the 1840s. Just imagine back then when gold was aplenty – you could literally stoop into a creek with a pan and find nuggets of gold. Or, you could choose to dig a hole and find a vein from a mine, or an old waterfall with a bunch of gold at the bottom.
When it comes to the markets and how your investments perform over the course of your career, there isn’t much we can say for certain. Markets are hard to predict! But one thing we can say is this: if the basics of saving aren’t there, it doesn’t matter how well investments are performing. You have to build that base.
We’ve been talking this month about investing in yourself, your family and your home, and one thing we notice when talking with clients is that people have a tendency to focus on the here-and-now. They don’t think about all the ways they can invest in their future on a daily basis right now.
When it comes to investing in your home as the new year unfolds, I wanted to talk about the house you have and the home you make as reflections of you. These reflections happen in three main areas – your indoor space, your outdoor space, and your neighborhood.
When thinking about your financial resources, you may know that we encourage you to write down the top five places you want your money to go, and then check in with your spouse about their top 5 list. Typically, we see couples agree on two or three items, and have what we’ll call “discussions” about the other two or three! Either way, I encourage you to review how you want to allocate those resources.
They say if you aren’t taking care of yourself, you can’t take proper care of anyone else. So, how are you investing in yourself in 2022? For me, I’m embarking on a few weeks of focus on my physical health to make sure I stay on track with all the progress I’ve made in this area over the last six years. I need to stay healthy for my family – and for you, our valued clients. I’m also updating my personal goals as they pertain to my faith, my mental health, and how I spend my time outside of the office.
Every year at Thanksgiving, it’s tradition in our home to take a few minutes and go around the table so everyone can share what they’re thankful for. We know that this year – probably more than last year – you’ll be getting together with your families for the holiday. For some, it may be the first time seeing them in quite a while.
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