When meeting with clients:
1. Understand their income flow. How can you recommend moving money into an annuity if you don't understand their finances? Find out not only where their retirement money is but also what that money needs to do to ensure their income needs are met.
2. Understand their dreams. Take notes and ask your clients to share their dreams for their retirement, their legacy and what they want to do with their nest egg. Let them share their goals and dreams, so nothing is left out. This information allows you to do the best job possible in choosing the right products and solutions.
3. Understand their emotions. Clients' decisions about their hard-earned money are intertwined with emotion. By understanding how your client feels about their money, you'll understand what solutions make sense for them and also respect the emotional aspect.
4. Don't jump the gun. Use the first appointment for fact finding. Find out income needs, where their money is, what they want the money to do and what emotions are attached to the money. It's natural to gravitate toward the same solutions time and again. But even if you've seen a situation a thousand times and know the answer, don't mention any one solution at a fact-finding meeting. Imagine a doctor giving you a diagnosis before even discussing why you are there. You would probably leave that office running.
