A number of my clients do not involve their spouse in the financial decision making to the point where the husband (typically) wants to be the only one present. While I recognize that this process is more about values than it is about finances, the husband refuses to let the wife attend because she isn't involved in that type of decision making. Should I insist that both spouses be there knowing that the husband won't 'open up' if the wife is there?

Article ID: 422

Last updated: 20 Nov, 2019

Yes. Neither you, nor he, really know how about "opening up" until the meeting actually occurs. It's a very cool thing to watch a husband and wife relationship shift for the better due to you facilitating their Financial Road Map®.

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Before Financial Road Map™

Before Financial Road Map™ -> Scheduling Financial Road Map™ Interview (Existing Clients)

Before Financial Road Map™ -> Initial Contact with Prospective Clients

Before Financial Road Map™ -> Before Financial Road Map™ Misc.

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I recently met someone and did a self-referral. We completed his Financial Road Map® and then asked if we could meet again for me to meet his fiancée as well as his personal accountant. We met and I helped his fiancée complete her Values Staircase™ and discussed their goals. During the meeting the accountant made it clear that she was the gatekeeper for these clients, that she'd be reviewing our statements every month and that she would need to have input on the asset allocation, etc. Any advice on how to work with the accountant? The client values her and their relationship very much.

I have long-time clients who, for the most part, have been completing Financial Road Maps® with me. When I get to Commitment to Implement Conversation™ section, I haven't been asking for that firstly because I cannot charge a hard dollar fee and secondly, if I had a form for them to sign, the form would basically not have meaning as I work for Merrill Lynch and they would not approve of a form that the client to sign for implementing a plan. How do I handle this?

How often do you update the Financial Road Map® and what exactly is updated?

I conducted a Phone Consultation this evening with a couple. I made the offer to complete their Financial Road Map®, which they accepted. When they come in for the Financial Road Map®, experience, do I pre-populate the values staircase for them, have them review it, and begin with the scripting from that point, or do I do the whole values staircase conversation again?

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