Grief Smart Professional

Each are worth 2 points: ?? Comfortable and confident talking with people who are grieving ?? Know exactly what to say and not say ?? Understand which questions and feedback lend support ?? Practices scripting, body language & listening skills if grief scenarios ?? Recognizes that loss is not always death and can act accordingly Bonus: ? 2?? Normalizes grief conversations in every day life, invite their story and thank them for sharing their loss with you! No one taught us the language of loss. We feel awkward, or we fear saying something to make it worse or truly we don't know what to say. Let's go beyond "so sorry for your loss", and become grief literate - A life skill! #griefliteracy #empathy #leadership #financialprofessionals #estateattorney #cpa #insurancebroker #financialadvisors #communicationskills

$54 trillion of the great wealth transfer will go to the surviving spouses. According to Bank of America Institute's report, 95% are women. Financial professionals are on the front lines of bad news "firsts". The call, the service, the gift, and the first office visit. Here are 3 things to consider for the first office meeting: ?? Ask them where they want to meet. Suggest 3 options (their home, your office or a neutral place like a coffee shop). ?? Create an office space that is inviting, conversational seating, offer a beverage, have tissues nearby, remove any distractions and don't use your computer/phone. ?? Acknowledge their loss right away. Say their spouse's name and ask permission to talk about them. Your role is to listen, stay present, make them feel safe, heard and respected. Prioritizing the initial tasks, organizing the paperwork, and the financial conversations can be be summed up in an email or a one-page take home sheet for the next check-in. Your job is to be present, listen, take written notes and connect at a human level. Hope this helps! You have a tremendous opportunity to help a widow move forward in grief and loss. The truest calling as a leader! #widowhood, #financialadvisor, #wealthtransfer, #financialprofessional, #estateattorney, #insurancebroker #financialadvisors #fintech #empathy #griefliteracy #womeninwealth

Do your clients and employees THINK, FEEL and KNOW that you help them before, during and after loss? 3 questions to ask yourself: ??? Marketing - Do I have blogs, articles, case studies and research data on the "when this happens" life events. ??? Communication - Do I have specific grief email templates, important dates/anniversaries on my calendar & know what to say/not say. ??? Resources - Do I have resources to share with a client experiencing loss of spouse, divorce, caregiving, retirement, job loss, mental health, etc. Be the ONE person that your client thinks of "when" the sad things happen in life. You build a reputation as a caring, trusted professional and your client feels supported and respected. Everybody wins. Become a Grief Smart Professional! I'm here to help ??? #griefliteracy #leadership #compassionateleadership #branding #financialadvisors #insurancebroker #estateplanning #managers

Forget the sympathy aisle - get 20 blank cards and write a heart felt personal message! From not knowing what to write to 100 Ways to Write a Condolence Card. I created heart felt, grief literate examples for a variety of scenarios such as: ?? client with a serious health diagnosis ?? a young couple experiencing infertility or miscarriage ?? a colleague who's son died by suicide ?? a friend who just lost her mom ?? clients experiencing a divorce ?? an employee who is caregiving for a parent ?? a client's spouse is experiencing cognitive delay If you are interested in this toolkit: https://lnkd.in/guzptMpa #griefliteracy #empathycards #bereavement #condolencecards #financialadvisors #wealthmanagment #financialprofessionals #estateplanners

Grieving clients or employees? How would it feel to be comfortable, confident, authentic, prepared and present? This is the truest calling of leadership! We were never taught the language of loss.....until now. #empathy #griefliteracy #communication #financialadvisors #financialservices #insuranceagent #estateattorney #widowclients #clientservices

Do you have clients who just retired and are disenchanted with their new future? This life transitions bring a sense of loss which leads to grieving pieces of their career that they miss. Advisors help clients prepare for a financially confident retirement and are well versed in these conversations. Yet what is the empathy etiquette when a client is struggling with this life transition? So often, you justify rather than listen. Justifying their abundance of time, freedom and money doesn't land when they feel a sense of loss. ACE this conversation: ACKNOWLEDGE without justifying CONNECT in the emotion (lonely, stuck, alone, bored, uncertain, regretful) EMPOWER by asking future driven questions to help redefine their path forward Here is a sample: Client: "I miss the impact and influence I had with people in my career". Advisor: A: "Having influence with people is something you do well" C: "Missing the people and your influence with them must be hard" E: "Where in the community or your family could you see yourself having more impact and influence? By ACE-ing this conversation, you help your client engage with you at a deeper emotional level (where trust lives!) Want more Empathy Etiquette for ALL types of loss? https://lnkd.in/g92-YXE ps: What sport does the term "ACE" come from? #empathy #griefliteracy #financialadvisor #financialprofessional #retirement

Are you a financial profession and want to LEAD your clients through their darkest times? Grief literacy communication is THE skill set that you may be missing. L - Literate (modern understanding of grief/loss & needs of client) E - Empathy (emotion driven conversations/say/not say) A - Action (action steps before, during and after a loss) D - Distinction (brand compassion and solidify trust) You help more clients, make more money and create HUGE impact and become known as a grief SMART professional! Win - Win! This is what I do! https://lnkd.in/g92-YXE OR message me on LinkedIn. (online and in-person training) #financialadvisor #wealthmanagement #fintech #insurancebroker #estateplanner #griefliteracy

Thank you Lucy Lazarony and Next Avenue for this article helping widows and widowers with the financial side and showcasing the emotional side to the professionals who serve them! Understanding the money mindset of the surviving spouse is critical! #financialadvisor #wealthtransfer #clientcentric #griefliteracy https://lnkd.in/gTXxjXiA

Acknowledging Clients Grief and/or Loss A grief literate professional who demonstrates empathy, compassion and the communication skills that connect will have a lot of business! Grief and loss are everywhere and your client needs your E-game! (Empathy) Here are a couple examples from my Empathy Etiquette download https://lnkd.in/gP5ZTV_F FYI - not all loss is death. ?? I know it has only been a year since Jon’s death. We miss him. Every time my kids see an airplane they think of him and remember his life as a pilot. I will continue to reach out yet now response is necessary. Just want you to know we care. ?? Your Dad, Dean has been in our thoughts daily since you shared about his dementia. I am here to support and listen as you face difficult and painful decisions ahead. The love and care you are showing your Dad is remarkable. Thinking of you and your family. ?? Thank you for sharing your feelings about your recent retirement. Having too much time on your hands while your friends are still working must feel different. You had such a purposeful career and this new schedule must feel challenging. I am here to support and listen. ?? I’m thinking of you in your divorce. This must be a difficult decision as you have many shared memories. As you navigate what lies ahead, please know I am here for you and offer a listening ear. You are not alone and I am thinking of you in this difficult transition. Grief literacy training is what I LOVE to do and I am happy to help! #griefliteracy #financialadvisor #wealthmanagement #financialservices

Widow Clients? A study by Kathleen M. Rehl, Ph.D., CFP?, CeFT? Emeritus determined 5 financial mistakes that widows make. But these missteps might not be what you think. The housing decision is a huge emotional dilemma. Here are some possible reasons they may want to sell or keep it that has nothing to do with money: ?? the spouse died in the home ?? they no longer feel safe alone ?? their children grew up in the house ?? they want to move closer to family Understanding widowhood and the emotions behind the actions will help you relate, serve and empower your client moving forward. Financial professionals who can become grief literate and set the PACE with grieving clients will set the STANDARD for all grieving clients. Preparation - Action - Communication - Empowerment ?? Grief Literacy is what I teach financial professionals. ?? Team workshops/consulting/event speaking Have you grabbed your "100 Ways to Write a Condolence Card"? ?? https://lnkd.in/gP5ZTV_F #financialadvisor #wealthplanner #fintech #financialservices #cfp #insurancebroker #insuranceagent #griefliteracy