What is it about direct connection that fosters clarity, trust and next action?  I wonder …

Today I facilitated an online financial Q & A program for the Boston.com chat and the Financial Planning Association.  A few weeks ago I answered “hotline” calls from individuals all over the US for the National Association for Personal Financial Advisors. Completing the program today, I wondered about the connection with each person and the questions they struggled with concerning their finances.  In all cases there was an interior personal discovery component that called for attention; this is an area to highlight as the invisible interior (deeply held beliefs) is not always obvious.  Most often the catalyst for connection was a rather simple financial question that caused the questioner concern.  Should I pay down my mortgage? Should I contribute to my 401(k) or my son’s college savings when I do not have enough income for both?  If I plan to purchase a home in one year, where should I invest the down payment? I’ve paid off my home mortgage; should I take out a low interest bearing mortgage and invest in stocks? And the questions continued.

Completing the online chat I thought there has to be a plethora of FAQ’s on every financial type website that would answer these specific questions.  But then it dawned on me that the sterile FAQ offerings do not directly connect to a person.  Money carries such a weight that the “boiler plate” answer doesn’t touch us.  We want direct connection; we want to be seen and felt; we want to believe that our unique question is, in fact, unique.  It seems that direct connection, even if only from an online chat or a random voice on the phone, enables one to be seen, generates trust, and can ignite energy to move toward a goal.

When it comes to money, what do you require as a catalyst for connection to foster clarity, trust and actions?