Tonight, during one of my evening drives, I picked up someone who reminded me of my past.

She was a financial adviser.

I could tell almost immediately.

Maybe it’s something you don’t quite lose once you’ve been in the trade.

As we spoke, she quickly shifted into what I would call “adviser mode.”

Within minutes, she was asking me:

Do you have a will?

What happens if something happens to you?

Have you planned for your future?

Now, to be fair…

These are not wrong questions.

In fact, they are important.

But something didn’t sit right.

There was no connection.

No ease.

No sense that I was being seen as a person first.

I felt like I had suddenly become a “case” to be handled.

And I realised something.

This is why many people feel uncomfortable around financial advisers.

Not because they don’t need help.

But because they don’t feel safe.

As she continued speaking, I noticed she was doing most of the talking.

There wasn’t much space to respond.

Everything felt rushed.

Almost like she was trying to fit an entire consultation into a short car ride.

I’ve been there before.

I understand the pressure.

The need to perform.

The desire to close.

But I also remember what truly worked.

It wasn’t aggressive questioning.

It wasn’t impressing people with knowledge.

It was connection.

People don’t just want answers.

They want to feel understood.

At one point, I asked her if she would like some unsolicited advice.

She said yes.

So I shared with her, gently:

“Slow down.

Listen more.

Let people speak.”

Because in this line of work, you are not just dealing with numbers.

You are dealing with people’s fears, their uncertainties, their lives.

She also mentioned she focuses on investments.

And while that is valuable, I was reminded again of something I learned long ago:

👉 Preservation comes before growth.

Before we talk about multiplying wealth, we need to ensure it is protected.

Tonight wasn’t just another ride.

It was a quiet reminder of who I was, of what I learned, and perhaps of something that is still in me.

Maybe not in the same role anymore.

But still there.