New Financial Planning Assessment Tool Helps Financial Planners Find Their Clients' Psychological Money Profiles

MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- A new financial assessment tool called the MAP (Motivated Asset Pattern) Assessment from Mindful Asset Programs will help financial planners and other investment professionals determine their clients' psychological profiles in less than 20 minutes so they can advise them on their wealth building and retirement plans.

The assessment tool, based on sound psychological and neuroscience principles, will help financial planners discover what motivates their clients about finances and what kinds of issues they have with money so the advisors can best determine how to guide them.

"Planners can show clients they care about them as people before they dare to advise them on financial decisions. The MAP Assessment reveals what motives matter to them, so advisers can prioritize and convey it in a few short minutes. The MAP Assessment saves time, strengthens trust, and eases implementation," said Susan Zimmerman, Chartered Financial Consultant and licensed therapist.

The tool gives planners insights into the client's motivations for such factors as prestige, spontaneity, peace, simplicity, virtue, security, control, and growth.

"This succinct money personality tool helps financial planners get to know clients more thoroughly within minutes," said Zimmerman, co-founder and owner of a Registered Investment Advisory firm. "It helps uncover clients' desires, what habitually has steered their behavior, and what is out of their comfort zone.   Planners find it helps clarify what products and services are the best fit for each client, and what kinds of risk the client is willing to take."

Unlike other financial assessment tools that take days to learn in remote training centers and hours to implement, the MAP profiling tool can be learned in a few hours in their offices and takes less than 20 minutes to conduct with a client.

The financial assessment tool helps financial advisors build good will among clients and improve plan implementations, she said.

For more information and a free trial of three assessments in the Tri-Pack for practitioners, go to the "products" tab at: www.MindfulAssetPrograms.com. Use the code: FreeTrial2013.This offer ends April 30, 2013.

"Clients have a historic style and preference driven by their money motives, which have often been on "unconscious auto pilot" mode. The MAP Assessment and Training Guide help structure conversations. Planners will know clients more deeply and in less time with the MAP money personality program. The process heightens clients' awareness of their authentic preferences and integrate their motivational patterns into financial planning recommendations," she said.

Each MAP assessment creates a customized report with a summary version to help the practitioner present findings to clients. A detailed report for the client then provides them with descriptions and checklists to raise their awareness of emotional and cognitive management of financial decisions.

Graphics provide a memorable visual for individuals or couples that help them assess recommended actions.

Zimmerman, LMFT, ChFC

Susan Zimmerman blends the best strategies from the therapeutic and economic worlds and creates customized applications for client business growth. Consistent results are improved persuasive communication skills that increase revenues, and sustainable, energetic leadership.

Susan is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Chartered Financial Consultant.

Known for her creativity and pragmatic solutions, Susan is author of "The Power in Your Money Personality" and other books including "Rays of Hope in Times of Loss", a gift book for people grieving due to loss of a loved one or significant life transitions.

Susan's work has been featured in various media, including Fox 9 TV, the Wall Street Journal, Woman's World, the Minneapolis Star/Tribune, First for Women, the LA Times, the St. Paul Pioneer Press, and Bankrate.com. Founder of her company, Mindful Asset Programs, she is an author, coach, trainer, and keynote speaker.

SOURCE Susan Zimmerman