A client is shopping for a financial planner and is too busy to review all information again. What should you do next?

A client is shopping for a financial planner and is too busy to review all information again. What should you do next?

• A. Try to get all the information from the other financial planner
• B. Explain the services you provide, the process of planning, and the documents required to do a complete financial plan
• C. Decline the client
• D. Try to work with the other financial planner on a joint engagement with the client

Answer: (B)

When a client is shopping for a planner and can’t review everything again, the best next step is to give a clear, concise briefing of what you offer: the services you provide, how the planning process works, and the documents needed to complete a full financial plan. This respects the client’s time and helps them compare options without wading through repetitive materials. It also builds transparency about scope, timelines, fees, and responsibilities, so the client can make an informed decision and know what to expect if they move forward. For example, you might explain that you offer holistic planning, outline the steps from data gathering to plan delivery, and list typical documents such as current statements, tax returns, insurance policies, debts, assets, and stated goals. Providing this snapshot helps the client assess fit quickly and reduces back-and-forth later. Relying on information from another planner or delaying until more information is available can mislead or pressure the client. Declining the client isn’t appropriate, and collaborating with the other planner is only suitable with explicit client consent and clear roles, but it doesn’t replace the value of a straightforward briefing from you.

When a client is shopping for a planner and can’t review everything again, the best next step is to give a clear, concise briefing of what you offer: the services you provide, how the planning process works, and the documents needed to complete a full financial plan. This respects the client’s time and helps them compare options without wading through repetitive materials. It also builds transparency about scope, timelines, fees, and responsibilities, so the client can make an informed decision and know what to expect if they move forward.

For example, you might explain that you offer holistic planning, outline the steps from data gathering to plan delivery, and list typical documents such as current statements, tax returns, insurance policies, debts, assets, and stated goals. Providing this snapshot helps the client assess fit quickly and reduces back-and-forth later.

Relying on information from another planner or delaying until more information is available can mislead or pressure the client. Declining the client isn’t appropriate, and collaborating with the other planner is only suitable with explicit client consent and clear roles, but it doesn’t replace the value of a straightforward briefing from you.