When No One’s in Charge
Late last year, a friend of mine (let’s call her Carla) found herself in the middle of what I’d describe as a perfect storm.
A recent divorce had her spinning emotionally. Even when things are “amicable” for the sake of the kids, it still hurts. It always does. The divorce led to the sale of property, which ultimately led to her relocating to a new state. And all of this came on the heels of losing a parent, who left behind a messy estate and a trust that hadn’t been properly funded.
Each of these events on its own is life altering. Taken together, they become overwhelming. By the time she reached out to me, her CPA would later acknowledge that this could have resulted in complex tax considerations if not properly managed.
After she got settled, Carla called me to unload and ask a few questions. But beneath the surface, there was a deeper frustration. At one point she said something that stuck with me:
I have three financial advisors, an attorney, and a CPA. Who do I even ask about how much I’m required to take from my dad’s account this year? And why don’t these people just talk to each other? My accountant is in another state now—do I need to find a new one? I don’t have the time, knowledge, or desire to deal with this.
That’s exhausting. Three financial advisors—one of whom was a CFP®—plus an attorney and a CPA, and no one was talking to each other. At some point, you start to wonder if you’re the problem for expecting a reasonable level of communication.
But she wasn't the problem
Fragmentation Is the Norm
What Carla was experiencing isn’t unusual. In fact, it’s the norm.
Most people don’t lack access to expertise. They have a financial advisor. They have a CPA. They may even have an attorney. On paper, it sort of looks like a team. But in practice, it’s often a group of professionals working in parallel, not in coordination. No one is taking the lead. That coordination between professionals may be limited at times which can lead to decision-making being more complicated and the client not having a clear path forward.
So the responsibility lands where? You guessed it – right in your own lap.
You become the one connecting the dots. You relay information between professionals. You try to interpret advice that was never meant to stand alone. In effect, you become the general contractor of your own financial life—without the time, context, or desire to do the job. That’s where things begin to break down.
Clearing the Clouds
When Carla asked me to get involved, the first thing I did was call her CPA.
He seemed a little jolted at first. Not because he wasn’t capable—he absolutely was—but because this kind of coordination doesn’t happen very often. When I sent him the tax calculation I had run, he asked if I was a CPA. I clarified that I’m not. “You’re the smart one here,” I told him, and that seemed to lighten the mood.
Then we got to work.
He refined the details. I adjusted the planning accordingly. Along the way, I suggested a few other strategies that he explained wouldn’t apply in this situation, and he asked questions about IRA rules that I was able to clarify.
It wasn’t about one of us being right. It was about working on the same problem together.
Over time, the coordination process improved and decision-making became more streamlined.
What Coordination Actually Feels Like
After that conversation, we agreed to coordinate twice a year on Carla’s behalf. Not because it’s required, but because it may help improve communication and planning outcomes in certain situations as they arise.
There’s now a shared understanding of what we’re trying to accomplish. Decisions are made with context, not in isolation. And perhaps most importantly, Carla is no longer stuck in the middle trying to piece everything together herself.
When I asked Carla how she was feeling later, she said she’s relieved to “just leave it to the nerds.”
The goal in these situations is often to improve clarity, organization, and coordiation.
A Better Way Forward
If your financial life feels fragmented, it probably is. And it’s not because your advisors, CPA, or attorney aren’t capable. Usually, it’s because no one has prioritized coordination.
At Forge Financial, we believe in coordination over fragmentation. This isn’t a slogan; this is the language we use internally to remind us what’s important. Because the best decisions don’t happen in isolation. They happen when everything and everyone is properly aligned.
If you're someone encountering similiar situations may want to consider a new financial planning approach.
Schedule an introductory meeting, and experience what coordinated planning actually feels like.
Any opinions are those of Forge Financial and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Expressions of opinion are as of this date and are subject to change without notice. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected, including diversification and asset allocation. Prior to making an investment decision, please consult wth your financial advisor about your individual situation.
This is a hypothetical story and not indicative of any specific situations or client. It is presented only as an example and not intended as investment advice. Investing involves risk and there is no assurance that any investment strategy will be successful.
