It’s time to get naked – but before you go reporting this post for inappropriate content, hear us out. We’re only asking you to get undressed financially. What this means is that you operate with complete and unflinching transparency when it comes to sharing financials with the relevant specialist (e.g., accountants, financial advisors, outsourced CFOs and cash flow experts). These experts are equipped to help you strengthen your finances, but they can only do so if they understand them. Without your total honestly, it hinders the expert from doing their job and effectively wastes your money on a service that cannot reach its full potential. Don’t worry, it’s not these experts’ jobs to judge you, your choices, or your expenditures. It’s their job to work for you to make your business as great as it can be.
We know it’s easier said than done, but trust us: it’s worth it. It’s also important to go into business with a financial specialist that you can trust. Trust is a two-way street, and if you can’t pave both lanes then your business partnership isn’t likely to have a bright future.
Finding a trustworthy advisor
This is an important first step in building a relationship that’s not only long-lasting, but maximizes revenue, savings, cash flow efficiency or any number of other financially oriented goals. Here are a few things to look for:
- Experience
This may seem like a given, but it’s an area that is all too often overlooked – especially when it’s hidden behind a flashy sales pitch or tales of recent successes. Ideally, you’ll want someone with decades-long experience. This can say a lot about a person, including A) they’re good enough to have stayed in business this long with the same name B) they’ve seen trends come and go and understand best practices C) they know how to work with all kinds of people and how to approach each unique relationship. - Multiple Roles
Someone who’s held multiple roles has an elevated understanding of a business’s financial standing and knows how to view it from multiple angles. They are better equipped to think critically than somebody who’s only looked at finance through the same unmoving lens for their entire career. These well-versed individuals can think on their feet and offer valuable and unique insights. - Has Operated a Successful Business
This is easy to check, as any successful business operated by a financial specialist will be prominently displayed in either their website bio or LinkedIn profile. It’s also one of the most straightforward litmus tests of their abilities – real-life proof of their operational abilities. - Public Speaking
When they have public speaking on their resume, specifically as a guest speaker at events and seminars or on podcasts, it tells you that they not only know what they’re talking about, but that business leaders trust them enough to risk their reputations by inviting them to speak. It means that their knowledge has value to others, knowledge that is actively sought after.