Pick One:

A. Clients love numbers, which is why they hired someone else to create a financial plan for them.

B. Financial Planners desire to show-case their skills by showing every page of the financial plan to every client.

C. The plan is presented to "justify the fee."

This reminds me of a tax accountant I had many years ago who, after completing my corporate tax return, insisted upon reviewing it with me page-by-page.  He described, in painful detail, every tax deduction, tax calculation, & depreciation schedule.  About an hour into our meeting I stopped him just long enough to tell him this, 

I trust you and know you are highly skilled.  That's why I hired you.  Is important for me to know any of this?  I thought that was your job!  I just want to sign this thing and get out of here.

He looked at me as though I had slapped him in the face.  After gathering up his pride he said "fine. Just sign here."  After signing the tax form I went back to my office to begin my search for a new accountant.

Have you considered why you "present" the financial plan to your clients, if, in fact, you do?  What are they going to do with it anyway?  

I fully agree that every one of your Ideal Clients need a comprehensive written lifetime financial plan.  My only suggestion to you is that the individuals who really need to see the detailed plan are the client's financial professionals (tax advisor, estate planning advisor, money managers, insurance consultants, etc).  All the client want (or needs, in my view) is a step-by-step implementation plan-of-action. In other words, the clear action items resulting from the plan.

Why do I have to know "why?"
Isn't that what I'm paying you for?

Consider this with your next client, when they ask things like "Can I accomplish my goals?" or "What do I need to do financially?"  What they aren't asking is "Educate me about financial planning," nor are they asking "please bore me with numbers you've crunched."

After satisfying themselves that you are competent and worthy of trust, most clients would prefer to know things like:

• Increase your bi-weekly retirement plan contributions by $422.
• Pay your property tax bill before December 31st.
• Refinance your mortgage, currently with Wells Union Bank, to a new 30 year fixed mortgage with First National Bank.
• Change the styling on your Sterling United Credit Union joint account from "Joint Tenants With Rights Of Survivorship" (JTWROS) to "Joint Tenants In Common" (JTTEN), for estate planning purposes.
• etc,
• etc.
• (more specifics!!!)