That statement is probably fake, and she has obvious problems that will preclude a good working relationship.



She is behaving like someone who wants to abuse your T&E budget,
not like somone who needs financial advice. Do you know people with
serious money who act like she does?



Usually doing 1on1 meetings screens out the platelickers, since most
people don’t have the balls (ovaries) to invite a personal meeting
unless they are serious. You got a chance to meet one of the few people
who will do it.


I would not have driven her to the doctors office, that’s her
problem and its not for you to get involved. Very obvious red flag,
among other signs (including the display of the statement, obviously
intended to push your buttons.) .

I think you know very well the answer to your own question, you just are hoping it isn’t so.  Hope, as we know, is no plan.

Tell her your next meeting is IN YOUR OFFICE, or no where.  Remind her you help people manage their money, and you only have initial ‘get to know you’ meetings (like your first one) outside your office.  And you certainly do not provide free portfolio recommendations to anyone who asks for them.

In other words, lay down the law of how you work and how things will be if she wants to work with you.  Then follow through, either way.  Either you will have a decent client who knows and is willing to respect your professionalism, or you will avoid wasting more time and money on someone who would not be a worthwhile client ANYWAY - even IF she has a million plus in her portfolio.  Not every prospect with a million dollars is a client you want - or should want.

And finally, once the issue with this particular prospect is resolved, resolve in your own mind what your process is and who you are willing to work with.

You’re NOT a prostitute who will do anything for money, and you do not give away your expertise, so be clear up front with prospects and clients alike EXACTLY what you willing to do.  Then stick to that, no matter how attractive a prospect.

That will both preserve your sanity AND improve your business.  People want to do business with successful, confident advisers who are not desperate.  Then watch how this change in your attitutude improves how prospects respond to you.

I agree with the above responses. However, I wouldn’t count her out

yet…if you can make the subtle change to tell her you need to get down

to business, you may be able to make it work. Just give her an allocation

(if she meets w/you in your office or some place where you stay in one

place) with no specifics…ex: 10% small growth (but not the fund/ETF

you’ll use). If this craziness of driving her around and buying multiple

meals occurred once a year or less, it may be worth the annoyance. For

the FA that already has a $100mil book, maybe not, but for those of us

still working towards that…just have to decide at some point if it is worth

the time and trouble.



But it is very true that you will be treated how you act and allow people to

treat you. Make sure any future meetings have an agenda that you both

understand will be followed. After a second meeting, I DO think you’ll be

able to tell her "this is how I do things, and I’d love to work with you if

______, _____, and ______."



By the way, I don’t think it is that bad that she didn’t talk about

investments, only herself…that means she wants YOU or someone else to

manage the $, and hopefully she’ll think you gave a damn about her.

the other problem, if this account is not an ira is capital gains. if you start selling off funds she may have owned for 20 years, that would not be good. maybe she could do a wrap account???

I also thought about the possibility that she has fake statement.  But is it possible someone would do that just to scam meals??!!  I can't imagine someone has the balls to do that....

But I do have a hunch she set the 2nd meeting to coincide with her need to go to the bank.  In San Francisco some people don't have a car and parking is a bitch.  We'll see.

I'm inclined to give it one more chance, but with a plan to cut things off.  Here is my plan:

9:30 am on Wednesday am I meet her.  She asks me to drive her to the bank.  Fine, my morning is shot anyway.

10:30 am she's done with the bank, we find a starbucks to sit down; she wants the biggest latte and whatever.  Fine, How much can she spend in Starbucks, right? 

Then I present the allocation she's asking for and see how she responds.  If she continues to dance around, drag things out, and suggests we go to lunch, that will be when I cut things off.

Does that sound like an adequate plan?

-----------------------

A separate question I have been thinking about...... If I am to cut things off at that point, what attitude should I do it with?

Should I still be as polite as possible and do it with respect? "Ms. xyz, I have to get back to office by.... and cannot do lunch.  If you want to continue this discussion you'll have to go to my office."

Should I be stern and just leave the door slightly ajar? "Ms. xyz, I'm getting the feeling that I won't be the right financial advisor for you.  I'm a professional money manager, I can't drive people around all day long.  If that's really what you are looking for, come down to my office where we can focus on money management."

Or should I tell her I know what she's up to and I don't want her as a client?

bluestar,
 Are you a very new broker who is taking any client he can get? This is the question. Even if the answer is in the affirmative, remember that YOU choose with whom you do business. My experience tells me that poorly behaved clients only get more so. This woman’s priority with you is NOT to tend to her investments.  Even if you succeed in moving all $1.2mm into new investments and score a windfall ticket(s) is it going to be worth this woman insisting on meeting you for breakfast, lunch and dinner to answer every question she has (and imagine her demands once you’ve gotten paid by her??) That being said, how desperate are you for new clients??? The ball’s in your court. No one here can call this one for you.

There’s an old joke that details a man asking a young, single woman if she’d sleep with him if he paid her $100.  Appalled, she said NO!  He persisted: how about for $10MM dollars?  She struggled with the idea but finally figured, what the heck - for that much money she’d be nuts to turn down this crazy offer - so she said yes.

The guy then asked, “OK, would you sleep with me for $1,000?” to which she replied, "hell no, what do you think I am?"

His response: "Since you were willing to sleep with me for money we know WHAT you are, the only thing we don’t know is what your PRICE is."

Really, bluestar, chauffeur people around and buy them coffee and lunch while giving away asset allocation advice all you want and  tell yourself whatever you want about being an adviser.  But your actions will speak louder than words.  In the end she’ll know exactly what you are and all that will be left to be determined is what your price is.

Re-read what I said earlier.  I did NOT say don’t give her another chance.  I said give her a chance to be a real client and come into the office.  If she won’t do that, you’re losing NOTHING but your delusions instead of your time, energy, pride and money. 

It’s up to you.  Either she’ll be trying to determine what you are, or she’ll be trying to determine what your price is.

So - what’s your price?

Since she found you through an advertisement, and not by referral from an existing client, there is an extra chance you are being scammed, even if it is just an innocent personality flaw.

Offer one more professional meeting at the office, only, for one hour, with a follow up meeting, if she wants. Call and reschedule to this arrangement, if needed, saving face by citing pressing work load concerns. If you can shape her behaviour and expectations a little, she might be a worthy client.

Deadwood and the others have given you good advice.  This woman is abusing your time and you look cheap and as if you have nothing better to do.  If she was a real prospect the fact that you are willing to be her chauffeur and grovel in front of her doesn't look good.

Stress to her that you are busy and have other client appointments and would be willing to set aside an hour of your time for a review IN YOUR OFFICE.  If she isn't willing to do this, then advise her that this is not how you do business and she should look for another advisor.

Would your doctor, lawyer, CPA, etc.. drive you around for your daily errands? Would you feel confident that they were qualified professionals if they did? Come on bluestar, have a little respect for yourself and our profession.

Offer her your time at your office. If she doesn't want to come and visit with you there, she isn't serious. Forget about her and move on. One million dollar accounts are nice; but are really just a small part of whats necessary to get a business up and running. The bay area has plenty of money, you'll find other million dollar accounts that actually want financial advise.

I still can’t decide whether to believe you ran this woman all over town.  Either your pipeline is not full and you feel the need to woo this prospect OR you are ignorant because you truly feel this is an actual prospect.  Either way, not a good situation for you.  If she won’t meet at your office, cross her off your list and move on.

Good points. And PWM, the difference is that because this is about money, clients do want a more personal relationship than with some other professionals. So the advisor need not feel unprofessional about having invested some personal time, now it's time to reel in the line and see if the hook will hold and if the fish is a keeper.

Bluestar, in my not so humble opinion, only invest personal time with good clients, through appreciation events and so on, and they will send you a lot of referrals. You have been around, what say you? The one million is probably wacky money, but be nice and see if it jumps into the boat, if you indeed want to let it jump in with you.

[quote=Quincy Teacher]

Million dollar accounts are not easy to find, in spite of what the collective wisdom of more than 39 months in the business have been saying.

The largest account I had used to routinely call and ask me to do something for him--just to see if I would do it.  He did not think less of me for having been cooperative with him, and I didn't think less of him for pushing buttons.

The question I have is why this woman doesn't have her own car?  If there is a logical reason for not having one then asking somebody who she will be hiring to shuttle her around a bit isn't that big a deal.

This is a sales business and in sales there is a saying worth remembering.  "The customer is always right."

If the customer wants you to stand on your head and whistle Dixie out of your butt you thank them for the opportunity to do something for them and comply.

I'm not saying you should do that for a $10,000 IRA rollover--but this woman is $1,200,000 at Fidelity plus who knows what else.

If the customer wants you to stand on your head and whistle Dixie out of your butt you thank them for the opportunity to do something for them and comply.

Who knows if she is whacky or could be a decent client. I have learned to invest a little time and try to learn from situations as well as gather assets. If you do a really good job with everything you touch, enough will stick over the years such that you will be doing only service and collecting the trails and referrals. There will come a day when there will be no chasing. Until then, go with your instincts, think for yourself.

The largest account I had used to routinely call and ask me to do something for him--just to see if I would do it.  He did not think less of me for having been cooperative with him, and I didn't think less of him for pushing buttons

Yes, he did think less of you and you should have thought less of him.  This is the worst advice I have ever heard.  I have good clients that I will go the extra mile for.....but I draw the line at being their go-fer and errand boy.  I'm a professional financial advisor not some flunky door man or whipping post.

The other main difference is that this is NOT a client yet or ever.

First, thank you for all your input.  Let me answer a few questions here:

1. Yes I did drive her to dr's office (shame on me).  But it was just 20 blocks away and in total a 30 min senic tour.  This request did not bother me because I do have a couple other clients of about same size acct that did this to me.  What's surprising to me is, those are CLIENTS and this woman is a PROSPECT who I met for the first time.

2. Living in SF without a car is not unique, especially for older people, since everything is rather close and parking is such a hassle.

3. I'm not new to business but I can always use an additional $1 m acct any time.  If driving her around once a month can get me this acct, I'd do it myself or send a car service.

I'm not concerned about the monetary and time investment I have to make to acquire this or any other account; I'm more concerned about the sick feeling I'd have if it turns out she is scamming me from the very beginning.

4. I agree even if she becomes a client this has potential to be a continuous headache down the road, but I figure it's too soon to make that assumption.

--------------------------------

One little detail I forgot to mention but that can be important.  At the end of our meeting she asked me to drive her home; I'm also to pick her up at her home for next meeting, so she was not afraid to let me know where she lives.  Does this detail mean anything?

Every situation is unique.

Go with your instincts and learn. Be persistant in this career, always do the right thing for the client. Respect yourself.

Let us know what happens, maybe we'll all learn something.

Ditto above…great case study in trying to read people.

I have several 1m+ accounts where the client is a little quirky. In fact, a high % of quirky clients have 1m+. Not that you want to fill your book with them, it is always about the marketing mix.

In this business, you get a shot at certain opportunites. Not all of them pan out for gold. If you don't recognize each unique opportunity, you may not accrete enough residue to pay the fixed costs and break through to profitability.

Over time, all of this needs to come in through recurring revenues, which is why you need an intelligent marketing mix - small accounts and large, conventional and quirky. At least, this is one forumula for success. There are many paths.