Keith Klein- Business that Put Customers First

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Kevin Price, Host of the Price of Business on Business Talk 1110 AM KTEK (on Bloomberg’s home in Houston) recently interviewed Keith Klein .

About the interviewee

Keith Klein is a Wealth Management Advisor and Principal at Turning Pointe Wealth Management, a company that he founded in March of 2011 after 12 years at Northwestern Wealth Management Company. A graduate of Eastern Michigan University with BS in Economics, Keith is a student of the industry.  In addition to being a Registered Investment Advisor, he has also completed some of the most rigorous certifications that the industry has to offer: ChFC® (Chartered Financial Consultant), CLU® (Charter Life Underwriter), CFP® (Certified Financial Planner), and most recently the CASL® (Chartered Advisor for Senior Living).  These designations are not just book learning, the substance of the certifications are applied to the business to bring real world, practical solutions to people that want to solve problems.

TPWM offers high quality investment and wealth management programs and services for high net worth clients. The company’s mission is to develop enduring relationships with clients by providing expert guidance for all the turning points in your life.

Tell me about your firm (number of employees, location, type of companies you work with, etc.):

My firm, Turning Pointe Wealth Management, was founded on the premise of providing independent financial advice, without ties to proprietary products.  We work with successful individuals from a few key markets. (medical professionals, successful women, highly paid sales executives from the medical and technology fields, and business owners).  Our goal and responsibility is to help people take action to meet the turning points in their lives.

All the advice in the world does not mean anything unless you help individuals take actions to reach their goals for themselves, their families and businesses. We are a growing firm with 4 people on our current team.

Tell us about what it means to you to “put customers first”?

Ultimately, “putting customer first” means keeping their needs at the forefront of all conversations. In the end, we get paid to help people live a better life with less stress and hassle, particularly when it comes to their finances.  When they go off track, we have to be able to have the tough conversations to bring them back to their stated goals and needs.  We balance that with being adaptable to help with changing circumstances and desires.

What mistake do businesses make when it comes to taking care of customers?  

Some businesses do not empower their employees enough, especially to help their clients and prospects at the decision making point.  When something goes really well, or in the case of when a mistake is made, you have to give your employees the power to make the most right decision for the client and the business.  You also have to let your employees know that you have their backs and will support them.

What is your firm doing to demonstrate your beliefs in this principle?  

We have had to take a very tough position on occasion: We have fired clients that have not treated our employees well or have tried to take advantage of our employees.