As of this writing, Russian forces are reorganizing in eastern Ukraine, and fighting is well into its second month. Supply chain disruptions continue, gas prices are reaching all-time highs, inflation has become a constant concern, and some analysts are predicting that the Fed will aggressively raise rates.

When I meet with a financial advisor in her office, I look around and think, “What do the displayed items tell me about you? Who or what is in the pictures, and why do they matter?”

One advisor whom I coach uses a color-coded checklist with every client to track which areas of a financial plan have been completed and which tasks are pending. It’s a brilliant way to shift a client’s attention from portfolio performance to the larger, more important elements that make up a holistic financial plan.