Financial professionals are trained to manage money, but we are really managing humans.

Money is easy to conquer. Humans are complex.

Managing humans and their investment beliefs is one of my superpowers. And yet, I find it easier to manage other humans than manage myself.

Coaching and therapy help me better navigate my own human nature. Besides providing general support and encouragement, those professionals play a key role in identifying my blind spots. They say things out loud that others in my life are probably thinking, but don’t voice for some reason or another.

In many ways, that’s what I do in client meetings. I support and challenge.

The immediate impact is often subtle. But over time, even the tiniest shifts in direction on a compass will lead you to an entirely different destination.

Because our memories are flawed, it’s hard for someone to remember every change and intervention, and nearly impossible to assess the value or impact of each one.

And while I’m focused on the series of small redirections that occur over the course of a client’s lifetime, it’s not uncommon for a financial advisor to earn a lifetime of fees by preventing a client from making a single mistake.

Cognitive and emotional challenges manifest differently for everyone. Find the person that can help you uncover your blind spots and advocate for your best interests. They’re worth their weight in gold.