3 Fears of Letting a Professional Manage your Finances

I saw my doctor the other day. He's a great guy and runs a good practice. I really appreciate how efficient and accommodating he and his staff are. But having said that, there are some aspects of visiting my doctor that I don't like so much.

One of these is all the personal questions he's always asking me. Another is taking off my clothes to be examined. I would really prefer not to do that.

And once I turned 50, he gave me another fun activity that he insists I do every 5 years. Talk about humiliation!

And yet what do I do? I show up every time he asks and do exactly what he says.

And why do I do this? Because even though I don't particularly enjoy the experience, I know that it's in my best interest, that it will result in better health, and ultimately will lead to a better life. Now I'm not bringing this up just to brag about what a good doctor's patient I am.

The point I want to make is that I know many of you know that seeing a Financial Advisor or Planner can be in your best interest. But instead of seeking out strong financial advice, many of you are avoiding the issue and it's causing you problems.

In fact, did you know that according to Think Advisor the number one stresser in the lives of three out of four US adults is money? That is a full 75% of the population! 

One reason so many Americans feel stressed about money is because they aren't saving enough. Did you know that, according to a study done by Marketwatch, the average American couple has only put away $5,000 for retirement? 

It shouldn't be any surprise that most Americans are stressed around money matters. Who wouldn't be under these conditions?

If we can all agree that you're likely to have better health if you see a doctor on a regular basis, it's probably not much of a stretch to accept that you could improve your financial situation, and maybe you're stress and anxiety level, by working with a Financial Planner or Advisor.

But if working with a Financial Planner could help so many people, what's getting in the way?

Disclosure Anxiety

Many of us are simply uncomfortable sharing our personal and private information with another person. It is the same way I feel with my doctor.

Not only is it an uncomfortable experience, what if she actually asks me to make changes in the way I normally do things? What if I begin working with a Financial Planner and they ask me to save more and spend less?

Evaluation Anxiety

The second is evaluation anxiety. This fear follows right on the heels of Disclosure Anxiety. This is when we are concerned with what others think of us.

In this case, we are afraid of what will happen after we take the risk and disclose our personal information to another person.

Will they look down on us? Will they judge us harshly and think less of us?

These are uncomfortable thoughts to consider.

Shame

And then there is shame.

Shame is a terribly corrosive emotion. It tells us we are inadequate and/or unworthy. It fills us with regret and paralyzes us. Shame can make it impossible to move forward and do what we know is in our own best interest.

In addition to being corrosive and debilitating, shame is also a surprisingly interesting emotion.  I find shame interesting because it can manifest so differently in different people. In fact, shame can harm different people for exactly opposite reasons.

Some people feel shame because they haven't saved enough. They feel inadequate because they haven't done enough and they believe that there could never be enough time to try to improve things. What could possibly be the point of trying to turn things around? It is hopeless they believe.

But other people feel shame for exactly the opposite reason.

It's almost like they have done too much or been too successful.

These people worry and wonder how they can be so fortunate when so many others are suffering.

But whichever version of shame might be troubling you the result is the same. Shame can stop you in your tracks and make it impossible for you to move forward and improve your financial situation.

The Solution

Albert Einstein famously said that the definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over but expecting different results. Sadly, this is how many Americans are approaching their financial lives today.

But it doesn't have to be this way.

The way to break free of these fears is by reaching out to friends and relatives who seem to have their financial affairs in order.

Ask them if you can have a conversation with them about finances. Let them know that you think highly of them and feel you could benefit from a short conversation.

Pick their brain. Ask them how they got to the good place they are in now. Find out who they are working with.

Do this with several people and make a short list of respected Financial Planners and Advisors and then go out and meet with them. Most advisors will offer a free get acquainted meeting. Make sure you take advantage of this opportunity and once you find one you feel comfortable with, face your fears and move forward.

The bottom line is, you can feel uncomfortable doing nothing and knowing nothing is going to get better. Or you can feel uncomfortable moving forward and doing the things you know need to be done and that will ultimately lead to a better financial situation and life.

Both choices are uncomfortable, but one leads to a better future. The choice is up to you.

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

 - Nelson Mandela