Gifts of Knowledge: 6 Essential Books Every Financial Planner Will Appreciate This Christmas
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Tis the season of giving, and what better gift to unwrap than the timeless knowledge tucked between the covers of a good book? Recently, we tasked Tony Slimmings to share his top picks for essential reading for financial planners. Something an avid reader like Tony found somewhat of a challenge!
I was asked to write a 500-word piece on my 5 books that would make it on my essential reading for a financial planner list…I managed to get it down to 6 and still missed dozens of other good reads!
Firstly, I know there are some great and obvious financial planning-related books, just a few being:
However, in this article, I wanted to touch on books that I believe are essential reading for financial planners because they are good for the client!
I am 59 and have been involved in the world of financial planning for 30+ years, so some of these titles may be a little dated or have been superseded but they are still relevant today.
As a starter for ten (well 6) if there is a financial planner alive who has not read Thinking Fast and Slow by Danial Kahneman just go buy it! I would regard this as almost as essential reading as any technical exam you might have taken.
One of my favourites is The Number by Lee Eisenberg... Too many people are focused on accumulating wealth without a true understanding of what the destination will look like. Just give this book to each of your prospects and clients and ask them to call you when they have read it and are ready to talk!
How Clients Buy by Tom McMakin and Doug Fletcher is aimed squarely at the dark art of selling! Not selling a product but selling the benefit of you as a consultant. These days the psychology of clients and how they think about their money is as popular as ever (believe me it was not always so). Sometimes, however, just understanding how your client makes their ‘buying’ decisions can be more useful. If they never buy ‘you’ they will never benefit from you.
How To Be More Pirate – Sam Connif and Alex Barker is a brilliant little book about challenging the prevailing paradigms. Financial services and financial planning folks tend to be quite conservative and accept new concepts very slowly. I really believe the future of financial planning will look a lot different to the one we inhabit today, and it will be the ‘ethical pirates’ who achieve this.
It’s Not About You by Bob Burg and John David Mann is another wonderful little book that anybody in business or dealing directly with customers should read. A light-hearted read with a powerful message.
Finally, The Richest Man in Babylon by George Clason. An absolute classic using fables to get across all you ever need to know about the essence of financial planning. Every apprentice, graduate, and new employee setting out on life’s journey should be given this book to read. Financial Planning is not about numbers, it is about understanding sound financial management and this little book has?this by the bucket.
Sorry, 550 words – what books would you love to receive this Christmas?
Happy reading and wishing you all a festive season filled with knowledge and joy!
Tony Slimmings
?My essential reads!
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