In my Financial Road Map® Conversations I find that my clients want to talk about the deck, car and the children’s education when I am trying to dig out their Core Values. I am not sure if I am making mistakes or just need to redirect them to their values. I am telling them that we will discuss the Goals in just a few minutes but need for them to go through the Values Conversation™.

Article ID: 456
Last updated: 20 Nov, 2019
Just relax and let them say whatever they say when you ask the question. Some people need to express the tangible before they move up the staircase into their values. Remember, this conversation is meant to be pleasant and enjoyable for them, not a forced march up their Values Staircase™ or an interrogation. Listen to your recordings.
Also listed in
folder Values Conversation™
folder Goals Conversation™
folder Values Conversation™ -> What's Important About...To You?
folder Values Conversation™ -> Value Levels 1,2, and 3
folder Values Conversation™ -> Identifying & Organizing Client's Values
folder Values Conversation™ -> Values Conversation™ Misc.


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b I recently conducted a Phone Consultation™ and it went well. However, when I asked "What do you think the value would be for you and your wife to have a complete Financial Road Map® that you build together? He replied "Well If I did not have an Advisor and have a plan, I could see value in it". I continued to offer to complete the Financial Road Map® for them (following the script) but he said "he would not want to waste my time since he already had an Advisor for 20 years that he was happy with" I let him know it would not be waste of my time if I could do something good for them; and it could only enhance the relationship with their current Advisor. He declined but thanked me. What could I have done differently?
b Would you go through some of your thought processes as you decide whether or not to introduce the Quality of Life Enhancer Exercise® during the Phone Consultation™?
b It has been just over 12 months since I bought a client base of neglected clients. Over the holidays I have had time to consider where I am at in the context of Values-Based Financial Planning™. The situation is that I am still struggling with the question of who do I offer a Financial Road Map® to. I feel I must offer an appointment to these acquired clients to discuss their current accounts (whatever they may have), I can’t extract any value from them or increased revenue from them otherwise. I cannot ignore them and only offer an appointment to those who want a Financial Road Map® which is what I took from Bill’s response to a question last year. The initial contact with them is effectively a cold call given the neglect they had by the previous adviser, therefore impossible to offer a Financial Road Map® as no trust or relationship is in existence. The apathy and attitude towards an adviser from the majority of these people made it such that my assistant’s success in getting people in to just review what they had was less than anticipated. I could count maybe 10 appointments over 3 months he arranged and at a guess I know of three that cancelled or didn’t show up. In the context of the ‘Ideal Client,’ I am seriously questioning whether I presently have a client base of the wrong type of people to be able to afford the service and to be able to mentally connect to the philosophy required to be an Ideal Client. If this is the case, then where do I get an Ideal Client from??? In speaking with Shane Hatch he mentioned that in his experience the person would probably need to have at least $500K in investible funds to be able to afford the program. And I would tend to agree to an extent. This would rule out every one of the clients I purchased. I am thinking that the process I use may have to change to something as follows: 1. Invite each client in to review what they have and discuss this. This allows them to meet and maybe gain some trust and I can get a feel for them and their position. 2. After reviewing what they have, offer two options, to provide advice on what they have or anything else I pick up during the meeting, or, if I think warranted, offer a further appointment to undertake a Financial Road Map®. In the discussion offering the Financial Road Map® I explain what my business is about and they get a feel for what I do and not the perception of just being an ‘investment’ or ‘insurance’ adviser. The end result is that I get a win either way and re-engage with them. I have some competing interests at play here that is difficult to work around. Firstly I have lost a lot more clients than budgeted for in the first 12 months (in fact a lot had cancelled before sale) and expected income is well below what was purchased. So I am trying to maintain this income or increase it any way possible by any amount to make the loan I have a worthwhile exercise. This is competing with wanting to deal with more engaged clients that want a meaningful advice relationship that is comprehensive in nature; those that have some money and the ability to make changes and can pay for service. Can you give some advice as to how I deal with these people and secondly how I source Ideal Client if this isn't the solution I thought it was?
b In the last three business days, I had 11 Phone Consultations scheduled. Two were completed. Two were busy at work when I called and didn't want to complete the call, one didn't have the book, one canceled before the call, one canceled after no showing the call, two had forgotten and rescheduled and two more never answered when I called. To some extent this is normal. However, I am a little frustrated and disappointed. What can I do to be more effective in completing the Phone Consultations?
b I am very new to this process. Because of some recent (very positive) publicity, we are receiving a number of telephone inquiries. What pre-screening questions should I have my assistant ask interested callers before making appointments with them?
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