Ep. 07: Setting Expectations: How Transparency Builds Financial Trust with Ian Bloom
Trust in financial services isn't built through credentials or polished sales pitches. It’s earned through transparency, consistent communication, and a genuine willingness to help—even when there's nothing in it for you. But what happens when those elements are missing? The contrast can be stark, stressful, and leave you wondering if you got a fair deal.
Ian Bloom, a financial life planner, knows this better than most. Through two vastly different mortgage experiences (one that exemplified trust-building at its finest, and another that left him scrambling in the dark), Ian reveals what separates professionals who inspire confidence from those who create chaos.
What You’ll Learn:
How transparency during complex processes builds lasting trust.
Why starting from a place of trust doesn't mean blind faith.
The danger of being "salesy" versus providing genuine value first.
How trust transfers (and weakens) when passed between people.
The power of the "preview-review" method for guiding clients through complicated work.
Ideas Worth Sharing:
“People want to be heard. So if you ask them about themselves — if you have a real back-and-forth conversation — that builds trust really quickly.” - Ian Bloom
“The mark of a good professional is someone who can take a very difficult process and make it seem simple.” - Ian Bloom
“I think actually one of the errors that early career professionals make is you meet with a client for the first time and you just talk the whole time about what you do... instead of just asking the client, so what are you hoping to get from this meeting? People want to be heard.” - Ian Bloom
About Ian Bloom:
Ian Bloom is a financial life planner and founder of Open World Financial Life Planning, where he helps clients achieve financial literacy through long-term planning. Combining his certifications as a CFP® (Certified Financial Planner) and RLP® (Registered Life Planner), Ian specializes in making complex financial processes simple and approachable. He's the author of the "Gamer's Guide to Money" series, with his latest book, Achieving Accumulation, recently released.
Resources:
Achieving Accumulation: A Gamer's Guide to Money: Level 2 by Ian Bloom
Ep. 04: Earning vs. Building Trust: What Really Creates Psychological Safety — Cashflow Podcasting
Follow Ian:
Website: Open World Financial Life Planning
LinkedIn: Open World Financial Life Planning | LinkedIn
Personal LinkedIn: Ian Bloom, CFP®, RLP®
YouTube: Open World Financial Life Planning - YouTube
Facebook: Open World Financial Life Planning | Raleigh NC
X: Open World Financial Life Planning (@openworldfp) / X
Follow Anne:
LinkedIn: Anne Claessen
Connect With Us
If you enjoyed this episode, follow The Rise and Fall of Trust wherever you get your podcasts. Got a story about trust being built, broken, or tested? We’d love to hear it. Reach out or pitch yourself as a guest at The Rise and Fall of Trust
And if you’re thinking about launching a podcast that builds trust and drives results, that’s our jam. Schedule a free call at Cashflow Podcasting to learn more.