Three Signs That Your Professionals Are Exceptional
As someone striving to make intelligent decisions about your wealth, it's crucial to ensure that the professionals you rely on—wealth managers, lawyers, accountants, and similar experts—genuinely add value to your financial life. This becomes increasingly important as your wealth grows and your financial goals and concerns become more complex.
Here are three signs that your professionals are exceptional, ensuring you receive the best possible guidance and support.
1. They Get to Know You Deeply
Exceptional professionals understand that genuinely practical advice goes beyond numbers and spreadsheets. They take the time to get to know you personally—your hopes, dreams, concerns, and anxieties. This deep understanding allows them to tailor their advice and solutions to your unique circumstances.
Consider these questions:
- Do your professionals understand you as a person?
- Can they explain concepts, ideas, opportunities, and solutions in a way that you find clear and understandable?
- Do you have a sincere and trusting relationship with them?
When professionals score high on these aspects, you can be confident they are deeply attuned to your needs and capable of providing personalized, practical advice.
2. They Assemble and Coordinate a Cohesive Team
Your financial life encompasses investments, tax management, estate planning, philanthropy, and more. It's unlikely that one single professional can handle everything. Exceptional professionals recognize this and assemble a team of experts who can work together seamlessly on your behalf.
This cohesive team approach ensures that all aspects of your financial life are covered, and the professionals work together to provide comprehensive solutions.
Ask yourself:
- Are the professionals you work with consistently able to access best-of-class expertise and solutions?
- Can they attain the expertise you need on an expedited and cost-effective basis?
- Do they take steps to catch and correct any mistakes or potential problems?
A well-coordinated team, led by a professional who can orchestrate their efforts, is a hallmark of exceptional service.
3. They Use Systematic Processes
Haphazard and disjointed approaches are the enemies of optimal results. Exceptional professionals use systematic processes to ensure that every aspect of your financial life is managed efficiently and effectively. One such process is stress testing—continuously evaluating and adjusting your strategies to ensure they remain effective and responsive to changes in your life and the broader financial landscape.
Reflect on these points:
- Do the professionals regularly employ "What if?" scenario thinking to identify possibilities and opportunities?
- Are they ensuring you stay on track and follow the best possible course of action or determining whether an alternative approach would be more effective?
Systematic processes help professionals deliver consistent and optimal results, keeping your financial life on track.
Striving for Excellence
Not all professionals possess these three drivers of exceptionalism, and those who don't are limited in what they can achieve for you. Strive for excellence by working with professionals who understand the importance of these drivers and have the resources to be exceptional on your behalf. It's one of the best ways to ensure optimal financial outcomes now and in the future.
By evaluating your current relationships with these criteria, you can identify areas for improvement and take steps to ensure that your financial team is exceptional. Your financial well-being, the ability to care for your loved ones, and the causes you care about depends on it.
