The Human Side of Money cover image

The Human Side of Money

121: A Playbook To Master The Human Side of Advice with Michael Kitces

Sep 4, 2024
Michael Kitces, Head of Planning Strategy at Buckingham Wealth Partners and co-founder of XY Planning Network, shares invaluable insights into financial advising. He discusses the crucial skills needed to master the human side of advice, emphasizing the importance of empathy and understanding clients' true goals. Kitces reveals the reasons clients might not communicate their needs effectively and highlights the impact of branding choices—like his signature blue shirts—on professional identity. Learn how the three-year mark reshapes advisory practices and the delicate balance between technical knowledge and emotional intelligence.
01:54:40

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Mastering the human side of advice requires advisors to ask probing questions to uncover clients' true motivations behind their financial goals.
  • Financial advisors must balance technical proficiency with emotional intelligence, mastering the technical aspects first for deeper client conversations.

Deep dives

Understanding the Importance of Goal Clarity

The episode emphasizes that clients often struggle to articulate their true financial goals, frequently offering superficial reasons for their financial aspirations. For instance, a client may express the desire to retire at 65 with a million dollars without fully understanding the implications or reasons behind that figure. Financial advisors should delve deeper into these statements by asking probing questions to reveal the underlying motivations that govern their clients' financial decisions. This approach allows advisors to better tailor strategies that align with the clients' actual needs and desires rather than sticking to the initial goal provided.

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