Planning & Beyond® 28. When Plans Fall Apart: Navigating Client Disappointment and Your Own Emotional Response
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In this case consultation episode, Ashley teams up with fellow advisor and podcast host Yohance Harrison to tackle a challenge many financial advisors face: when carefully crafted plans fall apart due to circumstances beyond anyone's control. Yohance brings a real scenario involving clients whose homebuying dreams were derailed by skyrocketing interest rates and housing prices, creating emotional challenges for both advisor and clients.
This vulnerable conversation explores the often-overlooked emotional landscape advisors navigate when plans don't work out as expected. Ashley guides Yohance through a framework for understanding the three critical components of difficult client scenarios: the advisor's emotional response, the client's experience, and the relational dynamics between them.
Through honest discussion, you'll discover how to manage your own feelings of defeat and self-doubt when plans fall short, while learning practical strategies for supporting disappointed clients. The episode demonstrates how vulnerability and transparency can actually strengthen advisor-client relationships, even in challenging circumstances.
Whether you're dealing with market volatility, unexpected life changes, or external factors that derail client goals, this episode provides a roadmap for navigating these situations with emotional intelligence and professional confidence.
Key Takeaways:
- Recognize the Three Components: Every difficult client scenario involves your emotional response, the client's experience, and the relational dynamics between you—address all three for effective resolution.
- Validation Before Information: Clients need emotional validation before they're ready to receive technical solutions or alternative strategies.
- Ask Permission to Share Perspective: Pause and gain permission before jumping into advisor mode—this prevents wasted energy and creates space for clients to process emotions.
Resources and Guest Information:
- Yohance Harrison LinkedIn
- MoneyScript Wealth Management
- MoneyScript Podcast - available on all platforms
- Only Human Podcast - AI in financial services
- Becoming an Attending Podcast - for physicians in training
Connect with Host Ashley Quamme:
- Podcast Website: Planning & Beyond
- LinkedIn: Ashley Quamme - Licensed Therapist & Financial Behavior Specialist
- Beyond the Plan®: Financial psychology integration for advisory practices