The Trusted Advisor Huddle

Better Conversations. Better Coordination. Better Outcomes.

Most business owners already have advisors.

They may have a CPA.

A Financial Advisor.

An Attorney.

An Insurance Professional.

A Banker.

A Business Consultant.

The challenge is not finding advisors.

The challenge is getting advisors to communicate.

When professionals work independently, opportunities are often missed.

When professionals work together, planning becomes more effective.

The Trusted Advisor Huddle™ was created to provide a simple framework for bringing the right people together at the right time to discuss important client decisions.

What Is The Trusted Advisor Huddle™?

The Trusted Advisor Huddle™ is a structured conversation among professionals serving the same client.

The purpose is not to create additional meetings.

The purpose is to improve communication, coordination, and decision-making.

A Huddle™ can occur:

In person
By phone
Via Zoom
During a planning meeting
Before major financial decisions
During annual planning reviews

The format is flexible.

The objective is always the same:

Help the client achieve better outcomes through collaboration.

Why The Huddle Matters

Business owners make decisions that affect multiple areas of their financial lives.

For example:

A retirement decision may impact:

Taxes
Investments
Cash flow
Estate planning
Business succession

A business sale may impact:

Capital gains taxes
Retirement income
Family wealth transfer
Insurance planning
Charitable giving

When advisors discuss these issues together, blind spots are reduced and opportunities become more visible.

The Cost Of Poor Communication

Many planning failures occur not because professionals lack expertise.

They occur because professionals lack communication.

Common examples include:

Tax strategies implemented without retirement planning input
Estate documents created without investment coordination
Succession plans developed without tax analysis
Insurance decisions made without understanding broader financial goals

These disconnects create what we call:

➡️ The Planning Gap™

The Huddle™ helps close that gap.

Who Should Participate?

Every Huddle™ is different.

Participants may include:

The Business Owner
CPA
Financial Advisor
Insurance Professional
Attorney
Banker
Business Consultant
Valuation Expert
Other Subject Matter Experts

The goal is not to include everyone.

The goal is to include the right people for the decision being discussed.

The Trusted Advisor Huddle™ Process

Step 1: Identify The Opportunity

Determine the planning issue requiring coordination.

Examples include:

Retirement planning
Business succession
Tax planning
Estate planning
Risk management
Business growth decisions

Step 2: Identify Key Advisors

Use the Trusted Advisor Relationship Map™ to determine who should participate.

➡️ Trusted Advisor Relationship Map™

Step 3: Gather Information

Ensure participants understand the client’s goals, concerns, and priorities.

This often includes:

Financial information
Tax information
Business information
Existing planning documents

Step 4: Conduct The Huddle™

Review opportunities, concerns, assumptions, and potential strategies.

The focus should remain on the client’s objectives.

Step 5: Create Action Items

Determine:

What decisions need to be made
Who is responsible
What follow-up is required
What timeline should be followed

Step 6: Monitor Progress

Planning is an ongoing process.

The Huddle™ creates accountability and improves implementation.

Benefits For CPAs

CPAs frequently have the deepest understanding of a client’s business and tax situation.

The Huddle™ helps CPAs:

Deliver greater value
Identify planning opportunities
Strengthen client relationships
Enhance professional referral networks
Improve implementation rates

➡️ For CPAs

Benefits For Advisors

Financial Advisors benefit from broader visibility into the client’s overall planning landscape.

The Huddle™ helps advisors:

Improve planning quality
Reduce blind spots
Increase collaboration
Strengthen client trust

➡️ For Advisors

Benefits For Business Owners

Business owners gain the greatest benefit when advisors communicate.

The result is often:

Better decisions
Better planning
Better implementation
Greater confidence
Improved outcomes

How The Huddle™ Fits Into CPA Game Plan

The Trusted Advisor Huddle™ works alongside several other CPA Game Plan frameworks.

Continue Exploring

➡️ The Collaboration Process™

➡️ The Planning Gap™

➡️ Trusted Advisor Relationship Map™

➡️ Financial Planning Gap Analysis™

➡️ The Blueprint for Financial Success™

➡️ Wealth Advisors Network

The Trusted Advisor Huddle™ transforms isolated expertise into coordinated planning, helping business owners benefit from the collective wisdom of their trusted advisors.