Lifequakes

Most adults will experience 30 to 40 disruptors in life.

And about 3 to 5 of those will become lifequakes.

That says a lot.

Because it means major life disruption is not rare. It is part of life.

A disruptor might be:

• a move
• a health issue
• caregiving
• retirement
• a job change
• a shift in family dynamics

A lifequake is bigger.

It is the kind of moment that shakes:

• identity
• confidence
• relationships
• routine
• decision-making

Examples might include:

• divorce
• loss
• illness
• retirement
• a business exit
• an advisor change
• a sudden financial shift

These moments do not just affect someone’s life.

They affect:

• how they think
• how they feel
• what they fear
• what they avoid
• what they can process
• how they make financial decisions

This is why these moments matter so much in advice.

A client can look composed and still be carrying:

• fear
• grief
• overload
• uncertainty
• family tension

And when that happens, the meeting is no longer just about the agenda.

It becomes:

• a trust moment
• a relationship moment
• a moment that can deepen the connection, or quietly weaken it

Because if an advisor misses what is really happening, the cost is not just emotional.

It can lead to:

• delayed decisions
• poor decisions
• silent disengagement
• weakened trust
• lower retention
• missed opportunities to help clients when they need it most

But when an advisor recognizes what is happening in the room, slows things down, and responds with clarity, steadiness, and care, these moments can become some of the most meaningful in the relationship.

That is a big part of why we created Advising Humans.

Episode 1, When the Room Changes, is about the moment the agenda stops being the real thing, and the advisor has to recognize what is happening underneath the visible conversation.

If you care about the human moments that shape trust, retention, and client experience, I hope you’ll listen.