Numbers May Not Be The Answer

What to ask clients who want to change their financial behaviors?

Do you have clients who want to change their financial behaviors? Here are seven questions to ask before jumping into the numbers and looking for logical ways to solve their
challenges.

1. Have you faced this same financial challenge before? Financial woes after holiday overspending: A tale of missed opportunities, mounting debt, and the looming specter of bankruptcy.
2. Ever feel like your brain’s got spending gremlins? Bad money decisions making you regret?
3. Stuck in a money rut, no matter what you make? Frustrated by the same old financial spot?
4. Know what you should do, but hard to start? Trouble turning plans into action for spending less, saving more, or getting organized?
5. Is it a struggle to appreciate and spend the money you have? That may mean you can’t use it to bring joy or benefit to yourself or others.
6. Are there people or circumstances in your life that hold you back from earning more or reaching your goals?
7. Does the thought of being financially secure or even wealthy have a downside for you?

If a client answers YES to any of these questions, it’s likely that a budget or financial plan and good intentions alone will not lead to success….something else is going on to sabotage their efforts.

Often this is at a subconscious level and clients don’t see the connection between some experience or message in their past and their behavior. If your expertise is financial knowledge, there’s no need to feel you must also be a therapist and connect those dots. However, if you really want to serve your client well, approach them with curiosity about their life and be prepared to be able to refer your client to programs or professionals that can help when necessary. You may also benefit from working in collaboration with counselors in non-profits, on campus, or with clinicians in private practice.

Although many people have a problematic relationship with money, most of your clients will be just fine. However, if taking this extra step helps even just one or two clients, it would be worth the extra effort and could be life-changing for them.

Syble Solomon
Creator of Money Habitudes®