Of course, all of these people are there in spirit and consciousness, not in body. Obviously. But think about it. Your clients and their money carry these people with them wherever they go. We do, too. We are all alike in this, as we are inextricably tied to one another through money and the money forces. Part of the job is to know those who are the most powerful.
This requires us to think about money, what it is and what it does. Where does it come from and why? As noted in the subtitle to this article, the term "my money" is an oxymoron. There is no such thing. Money is social and cultural. Money requires others with whom to exchange.
What is more, it does not stop there. This force we call money operates worldwide among all people. Its realities are not always pleasant ones.
Certainly, the absence of ample quantities and qualities of money creates severe hardships for individuals, communities and countries. Nonetheless, there are few that are unaffected by it.
This means considering humanity at large when we are thinking expansively. Your clients do not hold their financial resources in isolation but in a context with all of humanity. Nor are the ripples of their decision-making processes confined to their particular concerns. Rather, their money decisions will have strong ramifications for others. In a very real sense, all of humanity is right there with you in that tiny little room. All of humanity has a vested interest in the work and choices that will emerge from it.
If you had hoped only to crunch the numbers with your client, too bad. The one thing you need to know about all those people in the room is this: They will be heard. In some manifestation, they are engaged with thought processes, actions and implications. They expect understanding. If they ain't happy, ain't no one gonna be happy.
So the key is wondering: Who else is in the room? What are they trying to tell you? The room can get crowded because there is no such thing as "my money." It always involves others, even behind closed doors.
Richard B. Wagner, JD, CFP, is the principal of WorthLiving LLC, based in Denver. He is the 2003 recipient of the Financial Planning Association's P. Kemp Fain Jr. Award, which recognizes a member who has made outstanding contributions to the profession.