When I was a new advisor years ago, I hosted a seminar at my local library. I remember one woman in the audience who shared a story that stuck with me.
Her husband had always told her, “If anything ever happens to me, call our advisor.” He trusted this man deeply and praised him for years. After her husband passed away, she did exactly what he asked. She called the advisor—left message after message. But he never called her back.
Sadly, that wasn’t the only story like it I’ve heard in my career.
If you do this job long enough, you end up walking with people through some of the hardest chapters of their lives. I’ve been at a client’s bedside helping finalize their wishes. I’ve sat with grieving kids trying to make sense of finances after their mother died suddenly. I’ve had clients tell their loved ones, “If something ever happens, go to this drawer, grab this folder, and call Gwen.”
That kind of trust is not something I take lightly.
What I’ve learned over the years is that being a financial advisor isn’t just about the products or the markets. It’s about being someone people can rely on when it really counts. It’s about showing up. Listening. Following through. Being there—not just in the good times, but when life takes a turn.
That’s what makes this work meaningful.
Do you have a good relationship with your advisor? and would you trust them to be there for your family in a crisis?