“Am I really getting a good deal here?”
When it comes to buying a new car, it’s hard for either party to be truly objective. As the customer, that new car smell lures you in, beckoning you to make a rash decision so that you can drive home behind that shiny new wheel. And it seems, the salesperson simply wants to maximize his commission, sometimes by any means necessary.
It’s hard to be objective about some decisions, and especially decisions that have to do with our wealth. Wealth is a personal issue, and that’s why you need a person who can objectively assess your situation by asking the right questions that draw out the deeper motivations of your desires. That way you can pursue opportunities and overcome the challenges that trouble you.
Here’s an example of a woman who was worth a few million dollars. Her desire was to give as much as possible to her heirs and to charity while she was alive. The plan to accomplish this meant the dwindling of principle during her lifetime.
An objective advisor would be open to designing this type of plan. But, if her advisor were only compensated by the assets he had under management, it would have been difficult (perhaps impossible) to enact that kind of plan.
To remain objective, a specialist will charge a fee based on what the affluent family wants to accomplish and the complexity involved in making it happen. The fee should be clearly understood and based on the wealth-planning outcome of the process.
In other words, a true and honest specialist doesn’t have an undisclosed interest. His or her purpose is to serve you- putting you, your interests, and your money ahead of their own.
Wealth is more than money. Don’t just plan for your future, live it right now. Pass it on and share the insights like this that you find valuable.
-Abraham Maslow