Michael Kitces’ Post

This is one of the most impactful (and fun!) conversations I've been having with all new clients. After going through some exercises with clients to identify their top 5 values, I ask them to rate how aligned their current reality is with each particular value. I then map their answers onto a radar chart using Canva to create this visual. The visual itself is great, but the real magic comes in the conversation that follows. A few of my favorite questions/prompts... -Tell me what you observe about the shape of your wheel. -Which rating was easiest to give? Which was the hardest? Why? -If you had to give your partner an Oscar for living in alignment with one of their values, which would you choose, and why? (thanks to EQ wizard Michael Ripski for that one) -If we were to complete this wheel again in six months, what would you want it to look like? What needs to happen between now and then for your wheel to take that shape? -What would one point higher on this value look like? -Do you notice tension between any of your values? If so, which ones? -How might you be able to use money as a tool to increase your sense of alignment? I suspect there may be some fellow planners out there who would consider conversations like these a waste of time. My experience has been exactly the opposite. Yes, they slow the process down a bit. But they make the advice I ultimately offer so much more personal and customized. And perhaps most importantly, they give clients an opportunity to feel understood and listened to. How often do any of us get to experience that? --- At Two Trails FP, we try to onboard no more than two new clients per month to make sure each one gets the attention they deserve. December is full, but we have availability in January and February. We offer two services: Base Camp 🏕️ - a three month comprehensive financial planning deep dive to prepare you for the journey to come. (starting at $3,500) Summit Wealth 🏔️ - ongoing comprehensive financial planning and wealth management (starting at $5,000/yr.) To learn more and schedule a no-obligation intro chat, check out the link in my bio.