PODCAST 75: What Really Goes on in a First Visit?

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Below is a transcription of the Ask Gregory Podcast 75 – First Visit Process

Gregory Ricks  00:00

Hey, welcome. I’m your host Gregory Rick’s a financial advisor here to answer your questions and help you win with your money.

Podcast Intro  00:10

On today’s episode of the Ask Gregory Podcast, we’re going to talk about what goes on in a first visit. Joining us this week is Brandon Bergeron, a wealth advisor here at Gregory Ricks & Associates The Total Wealth Authority. Also, we have a complimentary download waiting for you on this topic, just go to gregoryricks.com/podcast75. Again, that is gregoryricks.com/podcast75

Gregory Ricks  00:36

something we’ve started this year where, and actually besides myself, as a licensed wealth advisor, we have five others on the team that are now rotating into the show as well. So it’s, it’s a way for you to get to know them. And they all have tremendous talents. And you know, at the core people that do this, what they want to do is from my viewpoint, and the team that we have, and I think I speak for all them as you enjoy being in meetings, you enjoy hearing people’s story, and helping them with their story, helping them reach those financial destinations and solve problems.

Brandon Bergeron  01:28

Absolutely. You know, Greg, I think that’s, that’s the main thing as far as what we do, we’re all passionate about what we do here. And so, a lot of times we sit down across the table from someone, and it’s just like a first meeting process, it’s just getting to know their situation, you know, and sometimes it doesn’t necessarily always lead to a second meeting. But if we can help them in any way that we can, you know, whether it be, you know, it makes sense for us to set a second meeting and continue working for them going forward or potentially improve that situation. We think that’s crucial and super important. And our role here is to, you know, kind of help people with whatever situation they’re currently in. So, yeah, we are very passionate about what we do. It’s something we come or all of us come to work every day, and we enjoy what we do. And you know, as far as helping people out, that’s the main objective is to help, you know, people get to their situation, and improve it ultimately,

Gregory Ricks  02:21

Well since you brought up that first meeting, and it may or may not lead to a second meeting. And of course, that’s the visitor’s choice, you know, and essentially what we ask for, is, do you want to come to a second meeting? Because, can you cover everything in a first meeting? Are you trying to give advice, get to know them? In the first meeting?

Brandon Bergeron  02:49

Absolutely not. The first meeting is really just more of a discovery process than anything else, you’re just kind of sitting down across the table from someone and kind of getting a feel where they’re currently yet. But also kind of figuring out what they’re looking for, you know, what are you what are you expecting help for? Where do you want to be in 10, 15, 20 years? And then so it’s more of a q&a than anything else? And then from there kind of decide, it doesn’t make sense for us to sit down across the table from each other, you know, week out or two weeks out? Does it make sense for us to continue talking? And we, of course, leave that up to the person we’re speaking with, because it’s kind of a mutual agreement that, hey, you know, here’s my situation. And, you know, kind of laying everything out in the table for us in they’re, as we’re kind of talking to them and getting to know them. They’re getting to know a little bit about our firm as well, to see if we are fit for one another? And should we move forward in the process?

Gregory Ricks  03:40

So on that first visit, are you trying to sell something? Are you trying to get them to move money? Or you’re jumping in the product discussion? Are you doing anything like that?

Brandon Bergeron  03:50

Absolutely not? Greg, I think that the first thing we’re trying to do is get to know their situation. That is first and foremost, we’re looking at really five core areas for them, which are income planning, investment planning, tax planning, healthcare, and estate planning. So we’re trying to do is basically see where they are so far in that process? And then how do we get them to the stage they need to be at in those five areas? So we’re really it’s more of a discovering anything else, just getting to know that person and their current situation? And then how can we improve their situation to get them where they need to be to that financial destination?

Gregory Ricks  04:23

So I’ll break that down a little bit. What we’re looking to do is find out what their concerns are, what might be causing them to lose sleep at night or what’s worried or it could be you know, one of the key questions is, we see it everywhere all the time on the show, when I do public events, when we collect surveys and concern sheets is, Will my money last? Do I have enough to retire? That’s kind of a core thing, but also through discovery, what, there’s unknowns? You know, it’s a phrase I kind of like to use. Once again, it’s you don’t know, what you don’t know. And that’s where we’re in the business. And we build plans every day. And we’ve been doing it for years and years and years. So it’s not something new to us. But we’re also on the hunt for how to improve you in several areas there. So it’s not necessarily just Will I make it there, but how are we improving upon taxes, you know, a state planning, health care. And, you know, you can focus and talk about investments. But the other side of that is income planning properly, and working within the means of what your assets and Social Security does. We’re going to put the client first looking out for their interest, nothing else just makes us go other than that. Now, what do we work from, we work from a process a specific process that we follow with everybody, there’s nothing done by the seat of our pants, or, Oh, this is like, Oh, we do this. And there’s no, you know, new flavor of the day, it depends on the client situation, what they need, and we work through a specific process. And the first meeting is a specific process, that meeting rarely will last more than 60 minutes. You know, our objective is kind of have that meeting, because, you know, when you think of if I relate it to grade school, high school, college, for the most part, all your classes, Brandon, and you graduated a few years back. So most, everything’s geared around an hour, isn’t it? Great? It’s kind of like more than an hour, you’re wearing me out? Well, I think the advisor has absorbed a lot in that hour, and has a lot to think about. And we as a team, talk about each case, and how we can help that client and bring value. So that’s why I was like, you know, it’s not gonna last more than an hour. If it is it’s just we’re wrapping things up. And the objective of that first meeting is to get to know you. So we can start putting together some planning, which is part of our process, that take us to that next meeting. And that meeting is a process as well, to show you how things can be improved things that need to be changed how you steps you need to take to reach it financial destiny, the nation that you’re looking for, and ultimately, that second meeting can possibly lead to a third. Does somebody half do you go like, Look, you got to move money today. You got to sign paperwork, do they have to do anything ever? Absolutely not. No. And I would be upset about it. If it was put into that position. We want it to be comfortable. And we want you to feel good about everything that we’re doing. But I think it’s always really important to understand that we work through this process, and whether they talk with you. They talked to Brandon Blanchard, Gerrod Galliano, Nicholas Rohde, or Devin, they’re all going through that process.  And it’s almost like if somebody met with you and Devin. They probably like like, wow, they’re like clones. Yeah. Now the the change up is the client’s situation. But there everything’s going to be very similar going forward. And I guess if anything I’m trying to get across here, it’s non-threatening. So once again, if you’d like to get started and have a relationship like that with a firm that has a number of advisors, has an owner which is me that never wants to sell but wants to grow this business that it’s self sustaining, and I believe we’ve reached that, call my office (504) 832-9200 And go check out the website. It’s Gregory Rick’s dot com.

Podcast Outro  09:42

Thank you to everyone who tuned into this week’s episode of the Ask Gregory Podcast. We’d like to give a big thank you to Brandon Bergeron for joining us on this week’s episode. And don’t forget we do have a complimentary download waiting for you on this topic. If you go to gregoryricks.com/podcast75 that is gregoryricks.com/podcast75

Gregory Ricks  10:03

Yeah, if you’re needing help on something like investment planning, estate planning, you know, the guided planning system that we use income planning, just start with a 15 minute conversation. (504) 832-9200 gregoryricks.com

Disclosure  10:19

Gregory Ricks & Associates is an independent financial services firm that utilizes a variety of investment and insurance products. Investment Advisory services offered only by duly registered individuals to AE Wealth Management, LLC. AE Wealth Management and Gregory Ricks & Associates are not affiliated companies investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal any references to protection, safety or lifetime income generally referred to as insurance products, never securities or investments. Insurance guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims paying ability of the issuing carrier. This podcast is intended for informational purposes only it is not intended to use a sole basis for financial decisions no should be construed as advice designed for the particular needs of the individual situation. Gregory Ricks & Associates is not permitted to offer no statement made during the show shall constitute actual legal advice our firm is not affiliated with or endorsed by the US government or any governmental agency, Gregory Ricks & Associates and WJ Blanchard law are not affiliated firms. The information and opinions contained herein provided by third party sources bleakie reliable but accuracy cannot be guaranteed by consensus