Welcome to the Ten Talents Guiding Principles series! This article dives into Guiding Principle #2, “We pursue honest, yet sensitive, dialogue in all financial discussions.” If you haven’t read the introduction to the Guiding Principle series, you can check it out here.

Money Talk is Awkward

If you’re like most people, talking about personal finances is not particularly appealing. When we do it, it’s usually because there’s a problem or because our spouse tells us we need to have a money “talk”. While experts in human psychology can point to reasons why talking about money is so difficult, the point is, it’s difficult. Even worse, talking money with a stranger who claims to be a professional on the topic can be even more intimidating. Thoughts like, “They’re just going to tell us to stop spending money”, or “We’re just going to hear we aren’t rich enough to get real financial advice”, may have crossed your mind. Why waste your time or pay hard-earned money, just to get a lecture?

You Deserve Better

Guiding Principle #2 is about having honest, real money conversations while acknowledging that bruising frankness isn’t exactly helpful or productive. You don’t need a lecture, you need a listener. The best financial planners realize that money is emotional. This isn’t science so much as it is art. Money channels our values, our beliefs, and our desires. Therefore, money conversations should be handled with sensitivity because they strike to the core of who you are as a person. Yes, an honest assessment of where you are and where you want to go is necessary. Balancing direct honesty with sensitivity and emotional awareness is what Principle #2 is all about.

Moving Forward

So what does honest yet sensitive money conversation look like? It looks like this: A zero-judgment environment for prior financial decisions that you (or your spouse!) feel didn’t turn out so well. A genuine interest in understanding your relationship with money. Asking you questions to understand how your values align with your dollars. Seeking first to understand, then to be understood. By not presuming to already know who you are and your situation, the door is open for rich, honest, sensitive conversation. Conversation that will empower you and encourage you forward to a bright financial future.

– Kaleb Paddock, CFP®

You can learn more about Ten Talents and Kaleb, a financial planner based in Parker, CO, here.

This is part 2 of 7 of the Ten Talents Guiding Principles series. To learn more about the Guiding Principles series, please check out the Introduction here.