How do you respond to a client who, during the Values Conversation™ of the Financial Road Map® Interview, keeps saying, "I'm not sure where we are going with this"? Is this a sign that I should disengage? If so, how?

Article ID: 468
Last updated: 20 Nov, 2019
It could be a signal to disengage, but it's more likely they are feeling some pressure to provide the "right" answers. You probably just need to be more relaxed when you ask the questions during the Values Conversation™. How does it sound to you when you listen to your recordings of your Financial Road Map® interviews?

Sometimes a person just needs a little reassurance. In that case say something like, "you're doing fine by answering whatever comes to mind naturally when you think about what's important about ___________ to you. Where 'we are going' is wherever you take me in our discussion about what's important to you." Then ask the next question in a relaxed and curious manner. The bridging comment, "___________ means different things to different people... what's important about __________ to you?" can also be helpful on occasion, just don't over use it.
Also listed in
folder Financial Road Map® Misc.
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 Why shouldn't I use words like "great" or "good answer" after my clients value responses?
b I have just started the program and just starting to practice the Financial Road Map Interview™. However, in my client base I have a number of high net worth clients who are retired. In the Financial Road Map® conversations for existing clients, how do you approach the financial independence stage as these clients are already retired living off their investments? Just wondering how this fits in for this type of client as it looks more like the Financial Road Map Interview™ is for clients who are not there yet.
b If I only took one spouse up the Values Staircase™, do I go up (review) the staircase before I take the spouse who did not go up the staircase? Or do I take the new spouse and then go over both of their values together.
b 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?
b 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.
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