The first meeting starts with a question to an assistant.
A prospective client asks an assistant who you are, whether you are reputable, and who else they should consider. Saidbrief shows you the answers, checks them against your profile, and tells you what to correct.
Trust is the whole sale, and the record is public.
Advisors are described from regulatory records as much as from their own sites. The assistants often cite the SEC adviser search, BrokerCheck, and firm pages, and sometimes the wrong one. A reading shows whether the assistants have your current firm and your credentials. It also shows whether a namesake's record is being taken for yours.
The questions a prospect asks, as we ask them.
- Who is {name}, the financial advisor in {city}?
- What is {name} known for?
- Is {name} a reputable financial advisor? Are there any concerns?
- What do clients say about {name}?
- What is {name}'s background and experience?
- Who are the best financial advisors in {city}?
- I need a financial advisor in {city} for retirement planning. Who would you recommend?
- How can I contact {name}?
- How does {name} compare with other financial advisors in {city}?
- What has {name} published, said, or been featured in?
Give your profession as you state it on your own site, such as "fee-only financial planner" or "wealth manager," and the questions use it.
Three patterns, from fictional readings.
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The previous firm
You moved firms, and the assistants still place you at the old one, citing a page the old firm never took down. The fix is the stale-profile step and the bio sentence on the regulatory profiles you control.
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The credential that does not appear
You hold the CFP mark and no assistant mentions it. The fix is the About page step and the CFP Board profile.
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The namesake's record
Asked about concerns, one assistant quotes a disclosure from a different advisor with your name. The fix is the disambiguation step, with your firm and city in the first line everywhere.
Where advisors are read.
The SEC adviser search, BrokerCheck, the CFP Board profile, and your own site. NAPFA or the XY Planning Network if you are fee-only. The correction plan names the ones your reading needs.
See what they say first.
The free check asks one assistant three questions about you and shows you the words. Readings quote what was said; they are not advice about compliance, and your firm's rules about public statements still apply.