Kitces and Carl - Real Talk for Real Financial Advisors

In our 20th episode of Kitces & Carl, Michael Kitces and financial advisor communication expert Carl Richards discuss why a fiduciary rule is necessary even though acting in your client's best interests is already "good business" in the long run, how real financial advisors are at a competitive disadvantage against those who really are just out to make the next buck as quickly as possible, and how advisors have a duty to spread the word about what it means to be a fiduciary.

In our 19th episode of Kitces & Carl, Michael Kitces and financial advisor communication expert Carl Richards talk about these conflicts of interest, and the dilemma that financial advisors face when determining where to draw the line between a 'manageable' conflict of interest and one that is 'unmanageable.'

In our 18th episode of Kitces & Carl, Michael Kitces and financial advisor communication expert Carl Richards extend their last podcast and look at communication strategies advisors can use to set the stage for helping clients actually make better decisions after 'talking them off the ledge', using a three-part pyramid framework: the Plan, at the foundation of the pyramid (representing the financial plan itself that was developed around the client's personal values and goals); the Process, in the middle (i.e., the method whereby an advisor helps their client determine how those values and goals will become reality); and the Product, at the top of the pyramid (which are the tools that were chosen but that are now the focus of the client's fears and anxieties).

In our 17th episode of Kitces & Carl, Michael Kitces and financial advisor communication expert Carl Richards talk about the importance (and challenges) of responding with empathy to clients who are upset or afraid. Because even though research in behavioral finance has helped us better understand the natural human proclivity to make irrational decisions, especially in times of stress and fear, the objectivity with which these paradigms have been created has perhaps unwittingly made it too easy for advisors to judge their clients for their impulsiveness, and subsequently become dismissive of what are normal and understandable reactions to stress. And while it is an advisor's job to help their clients make good decisions, the real challenge is figuring out how to do so with kindness and empathy, and without behaving smugly with a sometimes-hard-to-resist "I told you so" attitude.

In our sixteenth episode of "Kitces & Carl", Michael Kitces and financial advisor communication guru Carl Richards explore different ways advisors can frame their conversations with clients when helping them envision and plan for a retirement they can actually look forward to, how to integrate relevant "what if" scenarios for a client that can help them truly understand the range of options available that they may not have otherwise thought possible, and practical ways to ask questions in a way that probes what clients love to do, what excites them, and what brings them joy – which, in turn, can spark retirement ideas that they will be truly motivated to pursue.

In our 15th episode of Kitces & Carl, Michael Kitces and financial advisor communication expert Carl Richards sit down to discuss the value of really listening to clients, and how, by simply talking less and listening more in client meetings, an advisor can improve the chances that a client will stick to their plan.

In our 14th episode of Kitces & Carl, Michael Kitces and financial advisor communication expert Carl Richards explore the various functions that a physical financial plan deliverable plays in the financial planning (and client relationship trust-building) process, share their viewpoints on how written financial plans can be used effectively to help clients, and discuss what ultimately matters most for clients, regardless of whether their financial plan is one page or requires a 2" binder and color-coded tabs.

So, in our (lucky) 13th episode, Michael Kitces and financial advisor communication expert Carl Richards sit down to discuss why it's important to send regular commentary, provide a specific example of an easy and effective way to let clients know that you are thinking about them and their challenges, and why it matters so much that it ultimately comes from you (versus any number of white-labeled, off-the-shelf offerings).

For our 12th episode of Kitces & Carl, Michael Kitces and financial advisor communication expert Carl Richards sit down to discuss if sending market commentary to clients actually helps solve any problems (or if it's just a relic of a product-centric industry), what sorts of clients benefit the most from proactive communication (and why), and ultimately, why sending investment market commentary to clients may be a good thing to do… even if the majority of your clients never even read it!

In our eleventh episode of "Kitces & Carl", Michael Kitces and financial advisor communication expert Carl Richards sit down to discuss the roots of various industry titles, why you might want to break the mold and call yourself something completely different (or not), and why the choice ultimately boils down to whether or not what you call yourself resonates with your target clientele.

In our tenth episode of "Kitces & Carl", Michael Kitces and financial advisor communication expert Carl Richards sit down to discuss some reasons you may need to start transitioning long-standing clients (some of whom may have given you a shot early on when no one else would, but consequently pay you far less than what it takes to service them) to make room so you can help others, some practical steps for communicating such a transition to those clients, and why arguably it's your duty to do so… in order to ensure that all of your clients are getting the level of service they deserve.

In our ninth episode of "Kitces & Carl", Michael Kitces and financial advisor communication guru Carl Richards sit down to discuss why some advisors wind up being unhappy in an otherwise "successful" practice, how some advisors have maximized their happiness by being intentional about building their business the way they want - or even "right-sizing" the advisory practice if necessary – and a few actionable ideas for advisors to do the same.

In our eighth episode of "Kitces & Carl", Michael Kitces and financial advisor communication guru Carl Richards sit down to discuss how financial advisors are spending their time, strategies that can help advisors focus more on what they're best at… and what might be accomplished by increasing your business (and personal) efficiency in the first place.

In our seventh episode of "Kitces & Carl", Michael Kitces and financial advisor communication guru Carl Richards sit down to debunk some long-standing myths around what it really means to be a "credible" financial advisor, why authentically owning up to your personal financial mistakes actually helps build trust and credibility (and might even end up helping you gain new clients), and why being relatable as a human being (who makes mistakes from time to time) may be one of the more important traits you can bring to the table as a financial advisor.

In our sixth episode of "Kitces & Carl", Michael Kitces and financial advisor communication guru Carl Richards sit down to discuss proactive steps advisors can take to prepare themselves to deal with and manage the stresses inherent in being a financial planning professional, some common but less-well-known sources of advisor stress, and how a subtle shift in mindset can help advisors make self-care a priority.

In our fifth episode of "Kitces & Carl", Michael Kitces and financial advisor communication guru Carl Richards sit down to discuss the question of whether advisors should even bother trying to communicate the value they provide when helping clients manage their "behavior gap", why attempting to convince prospects that you can help them manage their behaviors is perhaps an uphill battle, and how maybe the best way to overcome the behavior gap (and the perceived value of getting help with the behavior gap) is by shifting a client's perspective altogether.

In our fourth episode of "Kitces & Carl", Michael Kitces and financial advisor communication guru Carl Richards sit down to discuss the question of the extent to which financial advisors should or "have to" participate in social media (or not), why it might be a worthwhile endeavor if done correctly, some ideas that advisors can use immediately to get more out of their social media efforts, and why, ultimately, using social media successfully is ultimately about a series of "micro interactions" to better connect with other individuals.

In our third episode of "Kitces & Carl", Michael Kitces and financial advisor communication guru Carl Richards sit down to discuss the question of how important it is to be "likeable" as a financial advisor, why being your "authentic self" when it comes to communicating and interacting with clients might matter more, and why it's important for newer advisors to avoid sending mixed signals to clients when trying to differentiate themselves.

In our second episode of "Kitces & Carl", Michael Kitces and financial advisor communication guru Carl Richards sit down to discuss the question of establishing a price for your financial planning services, why many advisors feel such anxiety over setting (and sticking to) their pricing model, the ways in which advisors can communicate their value to prospects and clients to justify their price, and why, many times, problems around pricing are really the result of our own inward confidence problems.

Michael Kitces and financial advisor communication guru Carl Richards sit down to discuss industry topics from their own unique perspectives. And in this inaugural episode, Michael and Carl talk about the Value of Financial Advice, efforts to quantify that value, and why we may need to move past the asset-based model in order to define and communicate the real value of financial planning to our clients and the public in general.