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Ruth Chang • 14 minutes • over 9.5 million views
Recommended by
Wayne Anderman
Founder & Wealth Advisor
Anderman Wealth Partners
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
We all make hard choices, and Ruth provides techniques for making those which shape our lives in a more productive, less emotionally charged way. As advisors, we guide clients facing difficult financial decisions. It resonates for us specifically since it’s about making decisions that align with one's values. We know financial decisions aren’t just about numbers; they’re about people's lives and dreams too. Understanding “how to make hard choices” aligned with our clients' values, we can then better help them as they pursue their financial goals.
Takeaway: Far from being sources of agony and dread, hard choices are precious opportunities for us to celebrate what is special about the human condition, that the reasons that govern our choices as correct or incorrect sometimes run out, and it is here, in the space of hard choices, that we have the power to create reasons for ourselves to become the distinctive people that we are.
Angela Lee Duckworth • 6 minutes • over 31 million views
Recommended by
Pamela Sams
Financial Advisor
Jackson Sams Wealth Strategies
Herndon, Va.
I recommend this classic TED Talk because it defines grit as passion and perseverance for long-term goals. These are traits that advisors need in our business. The passion for serving others and the perseverance to continue during the rough times. Grit is sticking it out day in and day out. You keep going because of the passion to make your client’s life better for the future. This is grit.
Takeaway: Across a variety of contexts, one characteristic emerged as a significant predictor of success. And it wasn't social intelligence, good looks, physical health or even IQ. It was grit.
Simon Sinek • 15 minutes • over 2 million views
Recommended by
Kyle Berg
Partner/Financial Planner
Affiance Financial
Minneapolis, Minn.
“People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.” This is the key message in this TED Talk. This idea has two major applications for financial advisors. First, to guide our clients’ financial decisions, we need to go deeper than simply asking what they want to accomplish. By understanding why a goal is important to them, we can connect with our clients on a deeper level, get to the root of their decision-making process and help bridge any gaps between their actions and their big-picture financial plan. Second, as advisors, understanding our why is a vital part of creating a unique value proposition. Being able to articulate why financial planning brings us joy and meaning will help illustrate the importance of financial planning for our future clients.
Takeaway: Your ‘Why’ is the thing you give to the world.
Tammy Lally • 12 minutes • over 2 million views
Recommended by
Elier Peraza
Director of Financial Services
Johanson & Yau
Campbell, Calif.
It doesn’t matter how much money clients have; most feel a chronic sense of “not enough-ness.” Since discussing money is still taboo, I appreciate this TED Talk’s message about breaking free of “money shame.” I love that we get to create a safe space for families to discuss money and make plans. We help them pursue their financial goals and live a life with purpose regardless of the size of their bank accounts.
Takeaway: Money shame: “The intensely painful feeling or experience of believing that we are flawed, and therefore unworthy of love and belonging, based on our bank account balances, our debts, our homes, our cars and our job titles.”
Brené Brown • 19 minutes • over 62 million views
Recommended by
Brent Weiss
Head of Financial Wellness
Facet Wealth
Baltimore, Md.
Financial planning isn't solely about numbers; it's deeply connected with emotions and life decisions. Brené Brown’s exploration of vulnerability teaches us that courage, connection and empathy are borne from embracing our vulnerabilities. By understanding and valuing vulnerability, financial planners can cultivate trust, address clients' fears and guide them through life's uncertainties with genuine compassion. This talk challenges planners to transcend traditional cultural norms to foster deeper, more authentic client relationships. It's a reminder that, at the heart of financial planning, lies human experience.
Takeaway: Shame is easily understood as the fear of disconnection: Is there something about me that, if other people know, makes me unworthy of connection?
Julian Treasure • 9 minutes • over 56 million views
Recommended by
Jeff Rose
Founder
GoodFinancialCents.com
Julian Treasure’s talk was transformative for my practice. It’s more than a guide to effective communication; it’s a roadmap to building lasting relationships with clients. It’s not just about sharing information; it’s about establishing a dialogue that truly connects and fosters mutual understanding. This talk is helpful for any advisor aiming to improve their communication skills to forge stronger, more genuine relationships with clients, ultimately contributing to both business growth and client satisfaction.
Takeaway: What would the world be like if we were speaking powerfully to people who were listening consciously in environments fit for the purpose?
Tom Wujec • 9 minutes • 4 million views
Recommended by
Peter Blatt
President
Center for Asset Management
Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Canadian author Tom Wujec talks about his exercise of asking people to draw the process of making toast. Depending on culture, occupation or age, everyone’s process looks different. I presented this video to our office team to help them learn about systems to visualize the problem-solving process.
Takeaway: The next time you're confronted with an interesting challenge, remember what design can teach. Make your ideas visible, tangible and consequential. It's simple, it's fun and it's powerful.
Shirzad Chamine • 20 minutes • over 390,000 views
Recommended by
Andrew Crowell
Financial Advisor and Vice Chairman of Wealth Management
D.A. Davidson
Los Angeles, Calif.
Chamine’s techniques are invaluable when having challenging client conversations. When embarking on a new relationship or simply navigating life’s twists and turns, understanding, and quickly identifying, saboteur voices early and replacing them with the inner “Sage” helps me create better outcomes. Clients sometimes express their feelings in an accusatory tone, as their “Judge” voice surfaces. Rather than allowing their “Judge” to activate my own in response, I’ve practiced activating my “Sage” response instead. Compassion, partnership and empathy surface as I listen intently to their concerns and respond constructively with a wise and informed action plan.
Takeaway: A war is constantly raging inside your head between your Saboteurs and your original true self, whom I call your Sage.
Karen Eber • 16 minutes • 2 million views
Recommended by
Melissa Weisz
Wealth Advisor & Associate Partner
Corient
Morristown, N.J.
In this TED Talk, we learn why storytelling is so powerful, and how stories can help build client relationships and support decision-making. The presentation also delves into how data can be coupled with stories for maximum impact. Vivid storytelling can bring financial planning concepts to life. A good story will communicate context, a conflict, and ultimately, a resolution, with an impact that can be felt and remembered. Stories are an engaging way to spur clients to action, to inspire and to motivate.
Takeaway: Data never speaks for itself. Our brains love to anticipate; and as we anticipate, we fill in the gaps on what we're seeing or hearing with our own knowledge, experience and bias. My understanding of data inevitably is going to differ from yours because we're all going to have our own interpretation if there isn't a unifying principle to guide us through.
Simon Sinek • 17 minutes • over 63 million views
Recommended by
Kyle Berg
Partner/Financial Planner
Affiance Financial
Minneapolis, Minn.
The main idea of this TED Talk—People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it—has two major applications for financial advisors. First, to guide our clients’ financial decisions, we need to go deeper than simply asking what they want to accomplish. By understanding why a goal is important to them, we can connect with our clients on a deeper level, get to the root of their decision-making process and help bridge any gaps between their actions and their big-picture financial plan. Second, as advisors, understanding our ‘why’ is a vital part of creating a unique value proposition. Being able to articulate why financial planning brings us joy and meaning will help illustrate the importance of financial planning for our future clients.
Takeaway: If you talk about what you believe, you will attract similarly minded clients.
