by Jim Stackpool | Feb 16, 2026 | Access Price, adviser fees, capacity to serve, Complexity, Delivering Value, value, Value Proposition, worth
Last week, I told you about a recent client – Carlos, the 50-year-old Melbourne-based writer who agreed to a $12,000 engagement for an advice relationship despite having only $135,000 in super. Advisers Matt and Kath could charge that fee because their fees are...
by Jim Stackpool | Feb 9, 2026 | adviser fees, Complexity
For most advice teams, Carlos isn’t an ideal advice client. 20 years ago, the Colombian fell in love with a gorgeous Australian working at his local bar in Barichara, Colombia. They hit it off, he immigrated, and they married. They started life in her hometown,...
by Jim Stackpool | Feb 15, 2024 | Advice Clients, Advice Conversations, Advice is not a Product, advice skills, Certainty Advice, Complexity, Corporations Act, Financial Governance, Financial Paths, Future of Financial Advice, Leadership, LIfe Choices, Rugged Individualist, valuable advice, Value of Advice, Value Proposition
Laurie wants to stop and retire. Originally from New Zealand, he built a landscaping business from nothing in 1986 to the best on the north coast. He reckons he is working harder than ever. Finding and keeping staff is getting harder. Dealing with their attitudes is...
by Jim Stackpool | Jan 31, 2024 | Advice Clients, Advice Conversations, Advice is not a Product, advice skills, Certainty Advice, client conversations, Complexity, Financial Complexity, Financial Paths, Financial Stress, Future of Financial Advice, Pricing Advice, skills
Bella has run her small architecture firm for over 20 years. As the demand for her work grows, so do her costs. At 52 years old, she had hoped for more options. Since a messy divorce seven years ago, she has spent all reserves from the settlement and parent’s...
by Jim Stackpool | Jul 14, 2022 | Advice Clients, Advice is not a Product, Advice Products, Best Interests, Brand Development, Certainty Advice, client conversations, Complexity, Consistent, Consultative Approach, Delivering Value, Engagements, Financial Complexity, Financial Governance, future of advice, Greater Good, Hayne Royal Commission, Impact, Leadership, Professionalism, Serve the Greater Good, valuable advice, Value Proposition
I used to coach a guy I call Adviser Tony. Nice guy, experienced, founder of a successful advisory firm and well-respected in the advice industry. Tony once told me that when his clients ever squabbled about how they wanted to spend their retirement monies, he...
by Jim Stackpool | Jun 22, 2022 | best practice, Business Performance, Business Planning, Complexity, Growth Stress, Leadership, LIfe Choices, Priorities, stages of growth, Successful On Purpose, Uncertainty, Valuable Lessons, wobble theory
With apologies to my first favourite author – Dr Seuss. No is no foe to grow. For grow without no is the toughest of grows. In his book “The Cat In The Hat Comes Back”, Cats A through Y unleashed incremental mayhem until the tiniest Cat Z makes...
