The Big Question #34: What Are My First 90 Days Like?

Hello everyone and welcome to this month's edition of the big question. The question we're often asked at the outset of a new relationship is a very practical one. What actually happens in my first 90 days as a new client? What really happens after I say yes? The short answer is this. We slow things down before we speed anything up. And we do that very intentionally.

For most people, saying yes to a new advisory relationship comes with a whole host of emotions, relief, optimism, and often a bit of uncertainty. What happens next? Who do I hear from? And how often? What's expected of me? How difficult or easy will this process be for me? And how quickly does everything move from here? Now, from the very beginning, our goal is to remove that uncertainty.

The first phase of the relationship is about understanding. Understanding your full financial picture, your goals, your concerns, your past experiences with and your future goals for your money, and just as importantly, what matters most to you, and what tends to keep you up at night. As part of this process, we don't rush to make changes just to feel productive. Instead, we focus on building context.

As that understanding comes together, we then move into planning, stress testing assumptions, making sure investments align with time horizons, identifying any gaps or risks and opportunities across areas like taxes and estate planning and insurance. Always clearly, always proactively, and always communicating along the way so you know exactly where things stand. Only after that foundation is in place do we then move into implementation. And even then, we move at a pace that feels comfortable for you.

One thing we hear often is that many firms and frankly many businesses treat the onboarding process as something just to get through quickly. Client says yes and attention immediately shifts to the next thing or the next client or getting the next client. And we don't see it that way. For us, the first 90 days matter deeply. Frankly, they set the tone for everything that follows. That's why we stay highly engaged during this period. You'll hear from us regularly. You'll know what's happening, what's coming next, and why decisions are being made. There's no guessing and there's no wondering something fell through the cracks.

By the end of those first 90 days, clients should feel three things very clearly. First, they understand their plan. Second, they understand the decisions that are being made because of that plan. And third, they understand what the next few years are designed to look like. That clarity creates confidence, and that confidence is what allows a relationship to work well, not just in the first few months, but over decades.

In many ways, those first 90 days are just a preview of what it's like to be a client here. Thoughtful, intentional, clear, and all centered around care and communication. That foundation is what everything else is built on. Thanks for joining me, everyone. Until next month.