When people think of financial advisors, they often picture spreadsheets, charts, and retirement calculators. And while those tools are part of the job, the true value of an advisor’s work lies in something deeper.
It’s about reducing uncertainty. Offering a plan. Helping people sleep at night. And they do that by being great communicators.
Speak their language
Emotional intelligence is part of the interpersonal cluster of the CFP Board’s Financial Planning Competency Framework. As financial planning continues to evolve, it has become a more personal and holistic process. This quality, alongside technical skills, drives trust in the relationship with an advisor.
Which makes it incredibly important that advisors can speak the language of their clients. Whether they’re a software engineer, small business owner, or teacher, their finances are deeply personal—and they’re trusting you with their future. That trust is earned not just by showing what you’re doing with their money, but by helping them understand why.
What the financial planning process really looks like
In theory, the financial planning process follows a clear structure: gather data, define goals, analyze, present a plan, implement, and monitor.
But in practice? It’s messier and more fluid. Clients come in not knowing how to articulate their goals clearly, life events throw everything off course, and some may have a complicated emotional relationship with money. Conversations can start to veer from retirement to long-term care to questions like, “What if I lose my job?”
In these moments, clients want reassurance and answers on their terms—not in industry speak.
The best advisors become translators, taking financial models and calculations and turning them into real-world answers to questions like, “Can I afford to retire at 60?” and “Will we be okay if we help our daughter with grad school?”
Answering those questions requires technical skill, but presenting those answers in their language is what builds trust.
Tools that support conversations
Advisors often meet clients at critical financial moments like approaching retirement, navigating a career shift, selling a business, or receiving an inheritance. These clients may have done a lot right: they’ve saved, avoided major debt, and made careful decisions. But now, they’re facing big questions and want reassurance that they won’t “screw it up.” That’s where the right guidance, and the right conversation, can make all the difference.
Too often, traditional financial planning software tools spit out spreadsheets and complex data that you’d never actually share with a client. They’re overloaded with technical detail that most clients can’t follow and don’t find helpful. Advisors are left doing extra legwork to interpret the results and translate them into a plan you feel confident in presenting.
Advisors need tools that support the conversations they’re having. Moneytree is designed to produce clear, client-ready financial plans that help you show the “why” behind every recommendation.
Tools
What-if scenario planning
These interactive tools help clients explore possibilities and make informed decisions. Maybe a client plans to retire at 62—but the advisor asks, “What if we could get you there by 58?” Scenario planning allows you to model that shift and clearly show what it would take to make it happen.
Reporting
Moneytree’s reporting tools include both summarized and detailed views. You can easily create them, and clients can easily follow the charts that map out growth, cash flow projections, and whether they’ll have enough assets to cover expenses. For those who want more detail, comprehensive reports are also accessible for clients to view.
Onboarding and data sharing
Moneytree integrates with CRMs and custodians like Redtail, Schwab, and Cheetah to import asset and client data—saving time and reducing errors. And soon, clients will be able to upload their own personal information directly, creating a smoother, more collaborative onboarding experience.
The value of your work
In a world full of apps and dashboards, clients aren’t looking for more data. They want to understand how the numbers connect to their lives, see themselves in the plan, and believe in it. With Moneytree, you can help clients make confident decisions in a language that makes sense to them.
Snapshot of what Moneytree can help do for you:
- Offer comprehensive financial planning services, making you more competitive
- Work collaboratively with your clients
- Gain a holistic understanding of your client’s investments and other assets
- Provide a complete financial picture
- Deliver plans for any stage in your client’s wealth journey
Let Moneytree do the heavy data lifting while you focus on growing your client relationships. Start your free trial today and explore how our platform helps you deliver more value to your clients.
