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Happy "root canal"

by Conrad

Following what I thought would be a standard visit to the dentist this past week; I was somewhat alarmingly referred to someone called a 'root canal specialist' for a consultation. I entered the specialist's office later in the week feeling more than a bit hesitant, only to be told several minutes later that there was no need for a root canal; a standard filing would do the trick!

I was happy and relieved to say the least because rarely do these types of things turn out to be less bad than anticipated. Leaving the office on such a positive note, I thought that if ever I had another problem I would definitely come there to have it taken care of. At the end of the week, I am still marveling at the Doctor's honesty and her ability to turn away what would have, in all likelihood, been a sizeable fee.

The lesson I learned here applies to Asset Management firms as well, the expectation is that the firm's goal is simply to make as much money as possible. However, in terms of retirement planning, the most honest advice that can be given is usually to maximize 401Ks before other options are explored, even if that means losing some business in that moment. As seen with my experiences earlier in the week, that type of honestly shows integrity and builds trust, which is sure to pay off in the long run.