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“Why You Won’t Come See Me” By Andrew McNair
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Excuses People Give for Not Using a Financial Professional
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“Why You Won’t Come See Me” By Andrew McNair
9 Excuses People Give for Not Using a Financial Professional
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Index 1. “I’m too busy.”
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2. “My buddy at the water cooler or my Uncle Ted gives me financial advice.” 4 3. “You can’t help me.”
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4. “I already listen to a ‘guru’. ”
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5. “I don’t have any money.”
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6. “Money isn’t important to me.”
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7. “I’m a do it yourself-er.”
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8. “I wouldn’t know who to pick.”
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9. “I don’t trust this young punk.”
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1 “I’m too busy.” “Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of.” - Benjamin Franklin How can someone honestly be too busy to start planning for their future and getting their finances in order? Let today be the day you take back control. We all have the same twenty-four hours. The only difference between successful and unsuccessful people is how they manage those twenty-four hours. So how will you manage them? Which One Takes Longer, Flossing or a Root Canal? Preventive care is always better than emergency care. Financial health shares many similarities with medical health. In the beginning, the pain may not be significant without any intervention. But, before you know it, your medical concern has compounded. The same holds true for your finances. Why not invest forty-five minutes toward making sure you are doing all you can to build a healthy financial future? Life is a Balancing Act If you’re too busy with your work and home life, you can safely assume some part of your life is suffering. It might be your health, or your spiritual walk, but, more than likely, it’s your finances that are out of balance. Bottom Line Just like maintaining your physical health, you must make time for preventive exams. Let a financial professional take an x-ray of you.
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2 “My buddy at the water cooler or my Uncle Ted gives me financial advice.” “No enemy is worse than bad advice.” -Sophocles Have You Ever Thought? If your buddy at work was so good at giving financial advice, he probably wouldn’t be working with you! Most likely, he would be in the financial industry, don’t you think? Also, if it was truly his passion in life, he would dedicate his whole life to follow it. Ask Yourself The Following Questions: • Are they a practicing professional? • Are they licensed? • How much experience do they have? • Do they have a proven track record? • Are there any consequences if they give you bad advice? The answer to all these questions is probably “no”! What Really Happens Uncle Ted reads an article in a major money magazine and shares it with you. What is ludicrous about this scenario is that the same money magazine will most often present an opposing opinion on the same topic six months later. That is the substance of your financial advice. Bottom Line Watch out for the financial “fever of the week” that is pitched to the unsuspecting wildebeest at the local watering hole!
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3 “You can’t help me.” “Shame is pride’s cloak.”- William Blake Of the seven deadly sins, pride, more often than not, is a mask of shame and insecurity. If I have learned anything in life, it is to be open to new ideas. To become closed-minded is to simply refuse to grow. The Universal Law One universal law that holds true is that if you’re not growing, you must be dying. For example, let’s look at our personal relationships. If you do not consistently and continually strive to deepen your relationship with your mate or friend, then your marriage or friendship will deteriorate. Tony Robbins once said, “When you are green, you grow; when you are ripe, you rot.” Bottom Line If only to validate your plan, permit a professional to take a confidential and introspective look at your current financial plan to see if you are exactly where you want to be.
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4 “I already listen to a ‘guru’.” “An ignorant man follows public opinion.”- Chinese Proverb Stop & Think A person who says this typically believes that they have heard all the financial advice they need. I have heard them say things like; “I went to a financial seminar at my church,” or “I recently read a book by so-and-so and it’s changed my financial future!” These statements are so chock-full of fallacies that it’s humorous. Have you ever asked yourself who their audiences actually are? They are marketing to poor people. So let me ask you this, “are you inspired to be poor?” Of course not! Even if you are not inspired to be poor, let me check to see if I heard you correctly. What you’re saying is this: You took a three-to-six week course or read a 150-page book on financial matters, and you’re going to be ok from now on, is that right? So let me ask you another question: Where is the follow-up to keep you accountable? While 95% of their advice might be sound, without someone to keep you accountable, you are wasting your money! Common Man Rule The common man rule states that if the crowd is running in one direction you’ll probably be better off going in the complete opposite direction. If you want to be rich, listen to rich people that worked hard to be rich, not to those who got rich by selling advice to poor people. Bottom Line While these public icons and gurus mean well and have great material, if you believe you’re not being sold to, you’re sadly mistaken. Also the financial world is not static. It is ever-changing and is constantly being updated. Being held accountable requires help from a financial professional.
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5 “I don’t have any money.” “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”- Albert Einstein The Answer is in the Statement “I don’t have any money.” You just answered your own objection. If you don’t have any money, then you definitely need to go see a financial professional. Probable Reasons Ninety percent of the time it is our habits, misinformation, and life’s little surprises that put us where we are today. As you know, habits are hard to break – but it can be done! So, what better way to break a habit than to work with someone who can personally guide you down the right path? Because we live in the information age, it’s not a lack of information, but a lack of expertise that helps you differentiate between what is good and bad. It is a financial professional’s job to stay current with all the information and to help you find the right answers. Life’s little surprises are hard to prepare for but that’s why we believe protection is the foundation of every great financial plan. Bottom Line It’s insanity to continue to not plan, year after year, while hoping for financial security.
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6 “Money isn’t important to me.” “All I ask is a chance to prove that money can’t make me happy.” - Spike Milligan If this is what you’re saying today, you should drop it. Most people who typically use this line are either delusional or they are lying to themselves. Money isn’t everything, but it ranks right up there with breathing. Selfish Statement What a selfish statement to make: “Money isn’t important to me.” But, what about your wife and kids? Maybe they would like to be taken care of in the event you should kick the proverbial bucket or become disabled. Faith-based? If you base your decisions on faith principles – like I do – the Bible is clear. God wants you to be successful! In I Samuel 18 it states: “In everything he did he had great success, because the Lord was with him.” Also, in 2 Chronicles 26:5 it states: “As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success.” Bottom Line Money isn’t everything, but it does require stewardship. Let a professional help you keep money an object of discussion, not an object of concern.
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7 “I’m a do it yourself-er.” “No Man is an Island.” - John Donne “Hey, thanks but no thanks. I’d like to do it by myself without any help!” Translation Loosely translated, that statement means: “I’m scared to be held accountable and to allow someone to take an objective view to see if I’m on the right track.” If you do a good job of planning, what do you have to lose? If you work with a non-fee based planner (minus any sales pressure) then you have yourself a free accountability partner. What a deal, right? How Do You Know If You Are on the Right Track? Most financial professionals use very sophisticated tools to validate their planning strategies. If you possess a tool that works, that’s great. Ninety-nine percent of us don’t. Most people end up winging it. If you decide to work with Nautilus Financial, we use our own proprietary system called the Lifetime Income Process TM, or L.I.P. It’s one-of-a-kind because it is the only process that exists that provides you with a model that graphically shows the percentage of income you will need to save in order to reach your financial goals. The model is mathematically verifiable and is based on your income, goals, and current financial situation. It is not based on an arbitrary number like fifteen or twenty percent, like all the magazines tell you. We all have our own personal number. So, what’s your number? Be Skeptical Now, don’t misinterpret what I am saying. I encourage people to do their own homework, to challenge what people say. Challenge your current professional, too. Ask to see his personal plan. If he hesitates, it’s a good indicator that he doesn’t live what he preaches. If you are a visual person, try imagining a high school that allows the students to grade their own papers. How ridiculous does that sound? You, like everyone else, need help and accountability. Bottom Line No one can do it by themselves. There are just too many variables to track. Unless it is your profession, how do you have enough time to measure all the solutions? Why do we go see an orthodontist? The answer is because we are not qualified professionals. We know that even if we could put braces on our kids, we would still be unsure if their teeth would be straight in the future. We live in a culture that puts our trust in a professional to straighten our teeth, but when it comes to our finances, we gamble! So, never stop being a do-it-yourself-er. Continue to challenge what you hear, but get help from a pro.
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8 “I Don’t Know Who To Pick.” “When you have to make a choice and don’t make it, that is in itself a choice.” - William James Paralysis of Analysis Don’t let your inability to decide on a financial professional become the deterrent to getting help. When it comes to picking a professional, many people suffer from the so-called “paralysis of analysis.” Start by diligently following an action plan when looking for the professional that’s a right fit for you. Act Like An Employer Trusting your financial security to an individual is a serious agreement and should not be taken lightly. I encourage people to simply act like an employer. Treat the professional like a respectable applicant for a position within your company. Ask the questions that mean the most to you. If you can’t think of any questions, start with the questions listed below.
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The 7 Question Test 1. Is he competent? Beware of someone who continually uses jargon that is over your head. If they are trying to impress you with multiple terms, they are more than likely regurgitating straight out of a sales manual or a prospectus. 2. How long have they been in the industry? If they haven’t been in the industry long, don’t hesitate to ask what they did before. You don’t want just anyone taking care of your finances. Make sure they are passionate about what they do. 3. What credentials do they have? And why? Too many people put all their trust in this question alone. It’s not the alphabet soup behind a name that matters, it’s the value associated within a name, which leads to the next question. 4. Do they have integrity? Obviously, this is a no-brainer. However, it is the hardest answer to ascertain. Take a survey of what other people have to say about them. 5. Are they referable? Where does their business come from? If a majority doesn’t come from referrals, there might be a reason why. 6. What is their planning process and what is their objective? Sadly, many people who call themselves financial professionals are just professional “product pushers.” If there is no strategic plan in place, run! 7. Do they practice what they preach? We briefly talked about it earlier, but if they don’t practice their own advice, why should you? Bottom Line Don’t let the fear of picking the wrong person be your excuse for not getting help. Implement your action plan to find the right professional and start by using the seven-question test to narrow down your prospects.
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9 “I Don’t Trust This Young Punk.” “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” - Mark Twain Paradigm Shift This is an obstacle I personally face because I’m that “young punk” in many people’s eyes. Why has our culture decided that being young is equivalent to having no experience? I find it quite interesting that people will undoubtedly pick a professional according to how old they look rather than their track record in the industry. P.S. If he is a new agent or a younger individual, then simply look at the firm behind him. Any good firm will ask one of its seasoned professionals to work jointly with a new agent. “I’ll Still Be In My Prime” To deal with this objection, let’s go back to the basic reason you need a financial professional. You will need one to help you stay on track, make smart decisions, and hold you accountable. Then, what good will it do if your professional dies before you do? If you have a younger financial professional, he’ll be in his prime when you are in your golden years of retirement! Isn’t that when your family will need him the most? Bottom Line Don’t let age be a barrier. Many times a younger professional is beneficial because they’ll be around longer to help you. Who knows, maybe their youth will rub off on you!
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About the Author Andrew McNair was born and raised in Pensacola, Florida. He has been actively involved in the financial industry for over five years. He works closely with his mentor, David L. Anderson, founder of Nautilus Financial Strategies and the creator of the Lifetime Income Process. Andrew shares David’s passion which is, “to change or affect the core of the human financial paradigm.” If you have any questions or if you would like additional information, contact Andrew at: Phone: (850)-380-5137 or (850)-637-1585 Email: Andrew@nautilusfinancialstrategies.com Website: NautilusFinancialStrategies.com Find us on Facebook too! Nautilus Financial Strategies 7480-B Pine Forest Rd. Pensacola, FL, 32533 Phone: 850-637-1585 Fax 850-637-1593 a R.A.R.E. Company! Relationships Accountability Results Experience
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