Every Business Owner Already Has A Team. The Question Is Whether The Team Is Working Together.
Most successful business owners rely on multiple professionals.
They may have:
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A CPA
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A Financial Advisor
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An Insurance Professional
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An Attorney
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A Banker
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A Business Consultant
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A Business Coach
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A Valuation Specialist
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An Estate Planning Attorney
Each professional provides valuable expertise.
Unfortunately, those professionals often operate independently.
As a result, critical planning opportunities can be overlooked.
The Trusted Advisor Relationship Map™ was created to help identify, organize, and strengthen the professional relationships that influence a business owner’s financial life.
What Is A Trusted Advisor Relationship Map™?
The Trusted Advisor Relationship Map™ is a visual framework that helps business owners and professionals understand:
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Who is currently involved
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What role each advisor plays
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Where responsibilities overlap
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Where planning gaps may exist
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Where communication can improve
The objective is simple:
Create greater coordination among the professionals serving the client.
Why Relationship Mapping Matters
Most business decisions affect multiple planning disciplines.
Consider a business owner preparing for retirement.
That decision may involve:
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Tax planning
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Investment planning
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Cash flow planning
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Succession planning
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Estate planning
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Insurance planning
No single professional typically manages every aspect of the decision.
Without communication, important issues may remain unaddressed.
The Relationship Map™ helps ensure everyone understands the broader picture.
The Business Owner At The Center
The Relationship Map™ places the business owner at the center of the planning process.
The goal is not to elevate one advisor above another.
The goal is to coordinate expertise around the client.
Every relationship should support one objective:
Helping the business owner make better decisions.
Common Members Of The Advisory Team
CPA
The CPA often serves as one of the most trusted advisors.
CPAs frequently have visibility into:
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Income
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Cash flow
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Business operations
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Tax issues
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Ownership structures
As a result, CPAs often become natural coordinators within the planning process.
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Financial Advisor
Financial Advisors help clients align financial resources with long-term goals.
Areas often include:
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Retirement planning
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Investment management
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Cash flow planning
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Risk management
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Legacy planning
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Attorney
Attorneys assist with:
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Estate planning
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Trust planning
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Asset protection
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Business structures
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Succession planning
Their work often intersects with tax and financial planning.
Insurance Professional
Insurance specialists help address risks that can disrupt financial goals.
Areas may include:
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Life insurance
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Disability insurance
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Long-term care planning
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Business continuity planning
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Buy-sell funding
Banker And Lending Professionals
Access to capital frequently plays a critical role in business growth and transition planning.
Bankers often provide important insights regarding:
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Business financing
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Real estate lending
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Credit structures
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Cash management
Identifying Planning Gaps
The Relationship Map™ often reveals areas where no advisor currently has responsibility.
Common examples include:
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Business succession planning
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Estate planning coordination
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Retirement income planning
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Risk management reviews
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Family governance discussions
These gaps frequently become opportunities for collaboration.
From Relationship Map To Action
Identifying advisors is only the first step.
The next step is creating communication.
CPA Game Plan supports this through:
The Collaboration Process™
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Financial Planning Gap Analysis™
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The Trusted Advisor Huddle™
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The Blueprint For Financial Success™
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The Ultimate Goal
The purpose of the Trusted Advisor Relationship Map™ is not simply to identify advisors.
The purpose is to improve outcomes.
When trusted professionals communicate, coordinate, and collaborate, business owners gain:
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Greater clarity
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Better decisions
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Fewer blind spots
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More comprehensive planning
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Stronger long-term results
Continue Exploring
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The Trusted Advisor Relationship Map™ helps transform disconnected professional relationships into a coordinated team focused on helping business owners achieve better outcomes.