Road to Exchange: Turning the Bage

Asked to explain Shaping Wealth’s “human first” approach to financial planning, Bage said, “Its an acknowledgment that at the heart of our relationships there is a human being.” He explained that when meeting clients, they are going through their own struggles and challenges, and trying to make the most out of the hand that life has dealt them.

It is easy to put labels on people, such as “client,” but acknowledging the humanity first is critical. “If we remove the barriers and welcome in the human being, warts and all, the dynamic shifts, and ultimately the benefit for the client and for you as the financial professional sitting on the other side of the table are dramatically improved,” Bage said.

Last year, as a keynote speaker, Bage gave an address. He discussed his ideas in his speech, but for 2025, he’s excited for the opportunity to have more of an interaction. Discussing the differences between last year and this one, Bage said, “Like any keynote address, it was just me talking. This time, its time to roll our sleeves up and get our hands dirty.”

He and Shaping Wealth’s Co-Founder Brian Portnoy are doing a two-hour workshop. Accordingly, it will involve hands-on working, it won’t just be Bage and Portnoy lecturing. Attendees will have the opportunity to do the work and improve their skills. “If you show up for this, you’re going to do the work. But trust me, you are going to leave feeling so much more enriched,” Bage said.

“This industry has been in a transition,” Bage noted. The role of a financial advisor is transforming to meet the new demands of simply existing in reality. “What got us here isn’t going to keep us or sustain us going forward. We need to pivot in the way we engage with the people we are here to serve.”

Register for Exchange today and take advantage of Shaping Wealth’s workshop to learn valuable skills and experience all that the conference has to offer.

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