The Mindful Investor: How a Calm Mind Can Bring You Inner Peace and Financial Security

Chapter 8. Client/Advisor Relations

The relationship between a client and an advisor has only one ultimate goal: to create financial success for both of you. A successful relationship takes on a life of its own, leading to greater trust, competence, and interest. Every move seems to propel you both forward. Together you can be much more successful than you would be individually. If you have any doubts, just take a look at what happens to unsuccessful relationships. As you likely already know, they quickly come to a stage where every move makes things worse. If like most people you've experienced the negative side of a relationship, you know it's now time to be mindful about your goals and what help you will need to achieve them so you can focus on creating a positive relationship that will work for you.

We like to think of the client/advisor relationship as a mini strategic alliance. Drawing on Maria's years of experience creating large corporate alliances, we'll demonstrate how the same principles and process can be applied here to select an advisor or improve relations between you and your existing advisor. Ideally the advisor you choose will be proficient in areas where you are weak, filling in any potential gaps and making your financial life stronger. You'll need to ensure that you and your advisor are strategically aligned and compatible, so that you can work in harmony toward the same goals.

STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT

Strategic alliances are key to the success of many companies and ...