COVER STORY
One way for a wellness specialist to connect with clients is by getting to know their workplace / benefits providers . … As it happens , workers place profound trust in their employers .
of today ’ s financial firm CEOs if they want to create peace of mind among both clients and advisory firm associates .
The Workplace One way for a wellness specialist to connect with clients is by getting to know their workplace / benefits providers . Work is where your clients make much of their money and get basic insurance . As it happens , workers place profound trust in their employers and the service providers they offer . The public relations firm Edelman , in its 2023 “ Trust Barometer ,” said that workers trust their employers more than government , media , advertising or other corporate sources .
How much do you know about your clients ’ benefits ? Or their spouse ’ s or partner ’ s ? Or the advisors who service their workplace plans ?
It ’ s also a natural place to get more involved and introduce advice and guidance light . If we leaned in , we might find out about things like employer student loan repayments , which , as we noted earlier , could help a next-generation client who is looking at student debt as an obstacle to wealth creation early in their financial lives .
At best , you ’ ll find educational resources for your client . At worst , you ’ ll uncover risks to your relationship in the form of competing products , services and advice .
The next thing you ’ ll want to be on top of is your clients ’ key life events — those inflection points when money is in motion . Studies suggest roughly two-thirds of consumers seek advice after a major life event ( a marriage , a child going to college or a death or inheritance ). These points present an opportunity for you to engage in advice and naturally place products , services and solutions . Workplace plans are getting smarter about using data to get in front of consumers in transition . How strong are your relationships and capabilities to help consumers to and through life changes ? Is this a practice vulnerability for you ?
Advisors focusing on wellness can also become more credible by choosing the right partners : trustworthy subject matter experts who offer you a deeper bench of knowledge . Different organizations can offer you support for issues concerning caregiving ( something tackled by the National Alliance for Caregiving , for instance ), general family financial health ( a field covered by the Financial Health Network ) and end-of-life planning ( for example , the organization called Going with Grace ).
How much do you know about your clients ’ health , family health history and potential caregiving obligations ? If the answer is “ not much ,” your clients may be at risk . The
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