10 Ways to Support Clients With Health Struggles

Here’s a situation you’ve likely faced, or, if not, it’s only a matter of time: Your client is sick. If not them, perhaps their spouse is having medical problems.

The greatest asset we have in our lives is good health. I often like to point out the human body is possibly one of the only things on Earth that can run for 100 years on its original parts. But sometimes clients or friends get really, really sick. What should the advisor do?

You might wonder if you should get involved. Some matters are private concerns. When my wife is feeling older or is concerned about her health, I remind her that, according to our financial plan, she’s projected to live to age 107! It’s right there on the printed page! After more than 25 years of working together, our financial advisor has a long-term relationship with us. And it’s projected to run a lot longer!

Your client might be putting investment decisions on “pause” while there is an illness in the family. But if this is important to them, it should be a top priority for you. You want to show you are concerned, yet not appear to be hovering, waiting for business to resume.

When you see your client’s situation as you would a close relative or immediate family member’s illness, the steps to follow become obvious. You may feel like you’re investing a lot of time and effort, but you are making a big difference. Regardless of the outcome, the client or their spouse will know you were there when other people seemingly forgot about them.

Check out the slideshow for 10 ways to show your concern for a client dealing with an illness.