I'm new to Values-Based Financial Planning™ and am looking forward to the Academy 1 in October. In the meantime, I wanted your guidance on the following: I've been referred to a young family man who is dying. I'm wondering about how he'll react to a question like, “What’s Important About… To You?” and probably more so to the question about his tangible goals... especially as he doesn't have much of a road to look down. How do you handle conversations with people who are dying, especially young people with families?

Obviously, this is a sensitive situation. Keep in mind that one of the reasons people work with you is to be rational when everyone else is emotional. My experience in situations like this is that they will appreciate you asking the right questions so the best decisions can be made without being distracted or derailed by the enormity of the tragedy of someone so young dying. Have empathy, but don't get so sucked into the sadness that you can't do your job. Meet with him and his wife and do their Financial Road Map®. If appropriate, offer to help them with their finances. They need someone to be strong.