Last week I listened to a podcast from 2022. Back then, I spoke about my work as a financial concierge and corporate wingman. These days, I’ve refined these concepts further. So here’s an update, drawing together everything I’ve learned over the past three years.
Let’s start with the financial concierge. It’s a high-value service which I offer all my clients. Here’s the gist:
- As your financial concierge, I develop a deep understanding of you and your business. I identify your long-term financial goals, and I work with you to grow your business to meet those goals.
- We establish the right structure for your business from the start.
- I work with real numbers. Using your accounts, Tamara and I build 24-month rolling forecasts for you. Using my trademarked Strategy to Cash methodology, I identify those key numbers that grow your business – your lead indicators. They tell me how much money you’ll be banking in three months’ time. If those numbers look like slipping, we can start fixing the problem before it hits.
- We develop investment strategies which match your business’s lifecycle. There’s a time to grow, a time to consolidate, a time to expand even more. Maybe you’ll invest in commercial property; maybe you’ll buy a complementary business. It all depends on your goals, and the best way to reach them.
- As your business grows, I help you optimise its efficiency. This means developing a strong leadership team and clear workflows, so your business functions smoothly – even in your absence.
- When you need professional help that’s outside my areas of expertise, I’ll connect you to the right people. For example, if you need to review your employment contracts, I’ll refer you to a skilled employment lawyer.
- Don’t forget my ironclad callback guarantee. If I can’t take your call immediately, I’ll ring you back within ninety minutes. And I don’t play phone tag. If we don’t connect, I’ll send you a calendar invite for a specific time, so you’ll have my full attention.
- I work with you over the long term. I have clients who’ve been with me for 30 plus years. And we’re setting up the business systems we need for Evan Bulmer and Associates to providing ongoing financial concierge services, even after I retire.
- Speaking of retirement, when the time is ripe I can help you sell your business. As your financial concierge, I have all the financial information I need at my fingertips. I’m an accredited business valuer, so I know what your business is worth. In recent years I’ve proven my ability to get top dollar for my clients when they sell, and to develop innovative alternatives to help sweeten the deal.
- Once the business has sold, I help manage your money so you can enjoy the golden years you’ve always dreamed of.
Here’s an example of my financial concierge service in action. I’ve written before about Geoff, the plasterer. He recently purchased a painting business. I walked him through every detail of that purchase. This business, which links in seamlessly with his plastering business, came with a talented 2IC. I’m working with Geoff and this 2IC to finetune their process for obtaining leads, quoting, and following up. The whole nine yards from lead acquisition to conversion.
There’s a real synergy between these two men, and I can see a clear path for future growth. In addition, Geoff’s wife brings some genuine business chops to the table. So we’re working out a role for her to play which keeps the business moving forward at a pace.
Sure, I’m an accountant, but the role of financial concierge goes way beyond bookkeeping and tax compliance.
Here’s another example. I have a client who has made some vanity real estate purchases to please his wife. These properties are money pits, they’re never going to provide a decent return. My job? To tell his wife he needs to sell those properties. Otherwise, his business goes down the drain.
Yes, sometimes clients delegate the tough jobs to their financial concierge. That’s OK, because I’m as committed to the success of their business as they are.
Merry Christmas from our family to yours
I know how hard small business owners and entrepreneurs work, all year round. My team has been working just as hard to provide you with the financial support and accounting services you deserve. It’s a privilege to be your financial concierge. I’ll never take it for granted.
With Christmas just around the corner, it’s a chance for us all to kick back and enjoy some quality time with family and close friends. So however you choose to spend your Christmas – at the beach, in the bush, at home or overseas, on behalf of Tamara, Rachelle and all the team at Evan Bulmer and Associates, I’d like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!
See you in 2026!