Your Business

Did you know that you are actually in the stress reduction business? Your profession is often spoken of as rewarding and fulfilling, but hardly ever referred to as stress-reducing. But your work actually decreases stress—for your clients.

The Research

I came across a large study that found how financial stress affects both mental and physical health. In fact, the authors discovered that stressing over money was tied to long term, adverse changes in health; greater than bereavement, illness and divorce. Specifically, the researchers found that “financial strain was associated with the riskiest health profiles in the long run.”

Your Clients

Stressing over money is what your clients do every day, which is why they rely on you to give them a true picture of their financial position and data to make informed decisions.

While your reports, schedules and documents make perfect sense to you, don’t assume your clients understand all the nuances and ramifications. They may over or under-emphasize certain aspects of their financial position. They may pay too much attention to something that isn’t as relevant as other items they neglect. You have an opportunity to direct them to what is most important and what to do about it.

Sometimes, clients demonstrate their stress by appearing to be short, harsh or difficult. These are sure signs that they are anxious and feel out of control, not knowing what to do. Other times, they may put their heads in the sand and procrastinate, hoping to avoid facing reality. Don’t be fooled into believing you and your work don’t matter. Your contributions are critical and necessary.

Your Profession

Yes, yours is a noble profession in ways you may not have considered. It’s one where your deliverables and conversations provide assurance to your clients, reducing the mental and physical impact of stress. Therefore, you can hold your head high and, with humble gratitude, be proud of yourself, your firm and your noble profession.