I have a client who has been handled very improperly by her previous advisor. The fact is that moving her variable annuity under my umbrella is going to cost her a lot of money. What verbiage should I use during the Implementation Meeting when we get down to signing papers and moving her annuity to me?

Article ID: 70

Last updated: 20 Nov, 2019

Tell the truth. Summarize the situation. Perhaps you want to go easy on the former advisor by saying something like, “Different advisors have different philosophies about how to help clients achieve their goals. These are the changes that are necessary in order for me to be your advisor.”

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I completed a Financial Road Map® with this gentleman and his wife. He loved the experience and was very excited to go ahead and have us create an action plan. We requested additional information needed to complete the plan. I then received this email (see below). How would you respond? Thanks. Morning, Michele and I had the opportunity to sit down with an investment adviser yesterday and discovered that Optimal Performance is not only an investment company but also a financial planning firm. Embarrassing for me, as we have worked with Diane for over five years and she has helped us manage a myriad of financial challenges over that time. To realize that I have not fully taken advantage of her years of experience her expertise was "uncomfortable" to say the least. That said, Michele and I have decided not to continue moving forward with Ideal Life and re-engage Diane since we are already paying for that service. Additional, I am sure you can appreciate that we do not want to put our relationship with Diane in jeopardy especially after she has been a cornerstone for us. I have reviewed our chequing account and as of Friday, our cheque has not been processed and we would ask that it does not happen. We are prepared to pay a small fee for the work to date (including the Value-Based book) and will issue another cheque to cover that amount. I can have that available when I come to pick up our binder. As you witnessed, we were ready to make the move to see the plan and realize this a disappointing news however this is the right thing for us and aligns with the values we hold true.

How should a Trusted Advisor respond when a client rejects a recommendation made during the Implementation Meeting or Progress Meeting, and this decision goes against one of their values?

I am struggling not discussing an ongoing fee in Financial Road Map® Meeting. During this conversation the clients ask me how much? The Financial Road Map® Meeting has been around 45 minutes so far and going well. I say $5,000 for the initial plan. They say what do you get? I then run through my 2 page letter of engagement which outlines upfront and ongoing service offering and takes another 45 minutes. After 1.5 hours I feel like the clients are tired and the "would you like to proceed” has lost its presence because of the meeting time. How do I avoid this? I would love to skip the letter of engagement all together, should I just briefly talk about deliverables team (which I have) best-in-class Subject Matters Experts. I am also struggling to understand in the Implementation Meeting how to address the ongoing fee is $1k-$3k per month and not go over the plan in any detail.

During our Commitment to Hire™ and Commitment to Implement Conversations™, the clients expresses their concern that, “we not go too fast.” They agreed to all the money, but, that does not mean all the money RIGHT NOW (Or even the day we are scheduled to begin implementation). We are talking here about the entirety of their life's work, their health and the rest of their lives, their savings, investments, home, their children and grandchildren's future - and they are justifiably cautious about making a global decision - Trust - but verify. It is only prudent and wise financial planning! Are top advisors taking All The Money on that first implementation day? How does THAT happen?

I had a presentation meeting with a client and his wife about a month ago. The Statement of Advice was spot on according to the clients but, that's where it ended. We did not get to the implementation of the plan because they still want to go through the Statement of Advice on their own. A few weeks and a few emails down the line and still I need to get them into the office to proceed. What will the best way be of approaching them now?

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