2018, 4th Quarter, In Closing
The last quarter of 2018 was a pretty bumpy ride, and this was the time we found that Monk Financial Strategies Group shines. Hopefully the new year will usher in calmer waters. We believe our investment strategy and core beliefs around asset protection is still the key strength we offer to our clients and their families. Additionally, and intentionally, the firm has continued to grow and evolve in practice management offerings to better serve our clients. Over the last decade we have grown significantly in areas such as family education, philanthropy and now our Private Client program.
With our capability to serve in so many areas, we often find it difficult to explain to people what we do in one sentence. Therefore we recently set out to redesign our brand to better position our newest services. After speaking with our own advisory board, we learned that we were actually in need of some paring down. When delivering our current pitch to our advisors we were stopped midway. We came to the conclusion that it was a run-on sentence and just a list of services. “Your clients lost you, the elevator stopped, and they got off. It’s fairly obvious that you offer a plethora of financial services to your clients, but the key is to whom are you typically providing these services?” We set out to create a new elevator speech.
After a bit of discussion, it became very clear of how to position ourselves with existing and potential clients, “We work with people who are serious about their money, or wish to be and don’t know where to start. Our clients want to enjoy their financial success, we strive to help them accomplish that”.
There are a multitude of ways to accomplish this for our clients, but the factors that stood out the most was client awareness and education. These days (the fast-paced lifestyle sort) it can be difficult to engage clients consistently and at a level that provides a detailed and clear snapshot of what’s really going on without getting lost in the weeds. In the end, having the client engage in thoughtful conversation about family values, goals, and best practice financial management is paramount. This time together can be quite powerful! Therefore, we have set out to provide a broader spectrum of educational opportunities for our clients throughout the year, as well as developed our Private Client program.
On a more important note, as we look forward to 2019, I am especially proud of the relationships we have built with our clients over the last several years. As we enter our 11th year as a holistic planning firm it is these relationships that have allowed us to grow and become who we are today; and for that opportunity we thank you whole-heartedly.
As always, it is an honor and privilege to serve you and your family. May 2019 be your best year yet!
Brian P. Monk, Principal
