SSB&T Wealth Management is a fee-only financial planning and investment advisory firm that provides wealth counsel to individuals, families, and businesses. We offer a thoughtful and transparent perspective on the financial planning process in conjunction with an evidence-based approach to investing.

California Lutheran University is considered to be among the country's most intensive and comprehensive master-level programs for financial planning. I am teaching a course in Track 2 designed for students pursuing their MBA who currently hold the Certified Financial Planner(R) Designation. The Social Psychology of Leading Clients teaches students that influencing financial planning clients is a leadership event. Understanding the influential tactics that clients respond to is one of the key success skills financial planners must master. Understanding the values that their clients have, how to identify those values, understand the goals of the clients, and succeed in getting clients to change their spending, saving, and learning strategies to achieve those goals is crucial to helping both planner and client succeed. This course focuses on the social psychology of leading and influencing clients through behaviors that the planner displays, developing skills in evaluating client values, and preparing a plan for further development of their leadership skills. The course emphasizes theoretical approaches and models as well as practical application relevant for financial planners. Using a combination of readings, online class discussions, and execution of a term project, students will gain key skills and understanding of financial planning client behaviors related to achieving financial goals.