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BFinancial services as an industry is moving at warp speed to embrace psychology. The trick is that we have a definition problem when describing the field that encompasses the mind, behavior, and money. If you look at the media coverage of finance and psychology, most content focuses on cognitive errors in decision-making related to investments. In other words, most of the media and most financial services concentrate on behavioral finance. However, this focus is …
Individual personality traits can (and do) impact whether a client achieves financial goals. Behavioral assessments can help uncover client personality, values, attitudes, and beliefs. In turn, you can use this information to help provide the client with personalized guidance, education, coaching, or nudging to help them follow the financial plan and otherwise achieve goals. Below, we will discuss best practices in implementing behavioral assessments in a financial planning client workflow. Let’s start with a …
One of the hallmarks of a millionaire-next-door client is that they use their resources wisely. The “frugality chapter” of The Millionaire Next Door highlighted how frugality was part of the millionaire journey of small business owners, c-level millionaires, and others. If you’re familiar with the books, many continued those practices even after they passed the $1 million mark. The Science of Frugality In general, the more frugal you are, the more likely you will …
Financial psychology is the study and application of psychological theories, methods, and practices in the areas of personal finance and financial services. The field takes into account two areas. First, financial psychology includes how we relate to and make decisions about money. In other words, financial psychology includes what psychologists refer to as “individual differences” in money-related behaviors and decisions. Second, financial psychology covers the client-advisor relationship, that is, the application of psychology in …
If you have ever taken a quiz entitled “How to tell if your boyfriend is cheating on you” or “Answer these five questions to learn to see if you’re a good friend,” then you’ve probably taken something akin to what we call a “Cosmo test.” Your answers to just a few questions will result in a detailed analysis of your personality, along with a lengthy set of advice on improving your life (or a …