Essential #1 - Communication is Everything

“The 12 Essentials of Planet Mark” are my CORE BELIEFS assembled from my 10+ years of experience working with real clients, with real money, in the real world. I believe these essentials are of paramount importance to any investor’s success over the long haul.

Communication, as defined by our friends over at Meriam-Webster Dictionary is: a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior.

The key takeaway here is, of course, the exchange of information. To the extent that we are having a back and forth discussion, we are communicating. 

In my mind, this is the financial advisor’s most important job. 

Not to be confused with transmitting information. One-way email messages or voice mails do not qualify under the above definition.

Looking eye-to-eye, sitting knee-to-knee and listening ear-to-ear are the most effective ways of communicating. 

Dr. Albert Mehrabian, the author of Silent Messages, recently conducted several studies on non-verbal communication. He found that 7% of any message is exchanged through words, 38% through certain vocal elements, and 55% through non-verbal elements (facial expressions, gestures, posture, etc). 

If as much as 93% of all communication is non-verbal, then having any meaningful relationship with your advisor should be firmly rooted in having in-person, annual reviews.

“You can talk with someone for years, every day, and still, it won't mean as much as what you can have when you sit in front of someone, not saying a word, yet you feel that person with your heart, you feel like you have known the person for forever... connections are made with the heart, not the tongue.” - C. JoyBell C., Author

One on one chats are highly valued by our clients