As a medical or spa professional, you’re no stranger to precision, trust, and expert care, especially when clients rely on your guidance to look and feel their best. Your financial life deserves the same level of intentionality.
June 2025 L+A Report
The Modern Man’s Guide to Medical + Spa Aesthetics
Let’s just say it—men want to look hot. Period. They’re not confused. They’re not timid. They’re not “warming up to the idea.” They’re here, they’re booking treatments, and they want results. If you want more male clients, here’s a guide to getting my guys on your treatment table.
It’s 2025, and guys are part of the same ultra-visual society as everyone else. They see themselves on Zoom calls, on IG Stories, in gym selfies, on dating apps. They know what they want to improve—and they don’t need a permission slip or a pep talk to book a facial, laser treatment, or neurotoxin.
So let’s stop making men’s aesthetics feel like a special event or a delicate subject. It’s not. If your marketing is still trying to “make men feel comfortable,” maybe check in on your comfort level with it. Because here’s the truth: Men don’t need coddling. They need results, just like every other client.
So, what exactly is a financial planner—and how do they differ from the accountant or bookkeeper who helps you with your taxes or daily transactions? A financial planner is a professional who helps you create a long-term strategy for managing your money. They consider the big picture, including retirement, investing, debt payoff, insurance, tax strategy, and even business growth. Think of them as your financial architect, while your accountant or bookkeeper acts more like the builder or contractor, handling the day-to-day numbers, tracking expenses, and filing taxes.
Contribution by Christine Luken
Christine M. Luken, the Financial Dignity® Coach, is a Certified Divorce Specialist® and a Certified Financial Counselor with almost two decades of coaching experience. Connect with her at www.christineluken.com
You might consider hiring a financial planner when your financial life starts to feel more complex—maybe your income has grown, you’re planning to expand your practice, or you want to make sure you’re truly set up for the future. If you’re earning a good income but aren’t sure how best to manage, protect, or grow it, it’s probably time to bring in that extra layer of expertise.
Whether you’re building a thriving business, navigating cash flow highs and lows, or planning for a well-earned retirement, a financial planner can be a powerful partner in helping you manage money with confidence. But here’s the truth: not every advisor is the right fit. In fact, choosing the wrong one or staying too long in a mismatched relationship can cost you time, energy, and peace of mind.
This guide will walk you through how to hire the right financial planner, cultivate a strong working relationship, and, if needed, how to gracefully exit when the partnership no longer serves you.
Hiring with Confidence: What to Look For
Hiring a financial planner should be a thoughtful process, not a rushed decision. Start by seeking someone who walks their talk. Ask what investment strategies they use for themselves or their own family. If they’re recommending things they wouldn’t touch personally, that’s a red flag.
You’ll also want to understand how they’re compensated. Are they fee-only, charging a flat rate, or a percentage of assets under management? Or are they commission-based, earning money by selling you financial products? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here, but transparency is key. You deserve to know exactly how your planner is paid and whether that compensation aligns with your best interests.
Emotional intelligence matters just as much as credentials. Ask potential advisors how they’ve handled tough conversations with clients, like pushing back on a risky idea or walking someone through a financial panic. Their response will tell you whether they’re grounded and empathetic, or more focused on transactions than trust.
Another crucial area to explore is their approach to risk management. How do they protect client portfolios during market downturns? How do they respond when the unexpected happens—because it always does?
And finally, don’t be afraid to get personal. Ask them about their financial journey: What mistakes have they made? What lessons have they learned? The right advisor will be honest, human, and humble—not defensive or evasive. You’re not just looking for a technician—you’re hiring a thinking partner.
Nurturing a Strong Financial Relationship
Once you’ve chosen a financial planner, the relationship shouldn’t be “set it and forget it.” Like any professional partnership, it works best when there’s open communication, mutual respect, and regular check-ins. Be clear about your expectations from the beginning. Do you want quarterly meetings? Email updates? Help with business financials as well as personal ones?
A good advisor will listen to your goals and fears, explain things in clear, non-jargon language, and help you stay aligned with your values, not just your balance sheet. They’ll help you pivot when circumstances change, and they won’t judge you if you make a mistake (we all do). The best relationships are rooted in trust and built over time, so don’t hesitate to speak up if something isn’t working.
When It’s Time to Walk Away
Even with the best intentions, sometimes a financial advisor relationship needs to end. Maybe you’ve outgrown their services, or your priorities have shifted. Perhaps you’re not feeling heard or supported. Whatever the reason, you deserve to feel empowered—not guilty—about making a change.
Some common signs it might be time to part ways:
· Your advisor is hard to reach or frequently unresponsive
· They dismiss your concerns or talk down to you
· You’re getting a sales pitch instead of thoughtful advice
· You leave meetings feeling more confused than confident
If your anxiety about money hasn’t decreased since hiring them (or worse, has increased), it’s a clear signal that something’s not right.
Another red flag is a lack of transparency. If you’re unclear on how they’re being paid or if their advice always seems to align with a product they’re selling conveniently, it’s time to ask some hard questions. You should never feel pressured, patronized, or uninformed.
And yes, it’s okay to “break up” with your advisor. Do it respectfully, ideally in writing, and request a smooth transition of your accounts or documentation. You’re not being difficult; you’re being a good steward of your financial future.
You Deserve a Thoughtful Partner
The right financial planner isn’t just someone who crunches numbers. They’re a sounding board, a strategist, and sometimes even a source of calm when the financial world feels chaotic. Choose someone who aligns with your values, respects your intelligence, and empowers you to lead your financial life with clarity and confidence.
You already help others feel confident in their own skin—now it’s time to give yourself that same gift in your finances.
Are you due for a financial fresh start?
Use this guide as a checklist the next time you’re hiring (or evaluating) a financial planner. You deserve nothing less than a relationship that feels supportive, professional, and deeply aligned with your goals.