We’ve seen many financial advisors try and script their first meeting with a CPA with little to no success. For starters, we’re dealing with people and it’s hard to predict what others will do or say. Not to mention, there are many directions the first meeting can take. You might be getting introduced over lunch, a cup of coffee, or grabbing their attention for a few minutes after a Rotary meeting.
Instead of attempting to script this meeting, we recommend having a handful of questions you can ask to get the conversation rolling, demonstrate your expertise and most importantly, gain telling insights into their practice. You’ll want to ask questions to help you determine if this CPA may be a good potential partner.
Stephen Boswell and Kevin Nichols are partners with The Oechsli Institute, a firm that specializes in research and training for the financial services industry. @StephenBoswell @KevinANichols www.oechsli.com