The funniest wealth management stories of 2024

December 13, 2024 4:53 PM

Financial advisors have some funny stories to tell. Financial Planning rounded up the best ones of 2024.

Wealth management is not generally known as a funny business. But it is a people business, and that means some funny stories are going to come out of it.

All year round, wealth managers have face-to-face interactions with clients, colleagues, prospects and sometimes plain old strangers who wander into their offices. Sooner or later, some of those interactions are going to get a little strange.

The results are some great anecdotes. Last year, as 2023 came to a close, we asked financial advisors for their funniest jokes. This year we asked for their funniest stories, and they didn't disappoint. We heard about bizarre clients, gross misunderstandings, small-time scams and other absurd moments.

As it turns out, wealth management can be pretty hilarious. Here are the funniest financial planning stories of 2024:

A bellyaching customer

Robin Hovis, financial advisor at

LPL Financial

in Millersburg, Ohio

When I was a new advisor, I stayed after closing the office one evening. The phone rang, and I answered it. An elderly woman's agitated voice burst onto the line.

"Well, that stuff you sold me is no good!" she shouted.

I cringed, thinking it must be a new client whose mutual fund or stock shares had dropped, and she was probably telling all her friends. I did not recognize the voice, but I didn't want to ask who she was because it was clear that she thought I knew.

"Please tell me more," I said as calmly as I could. "What has happened?"

"Well, it just hasn't done anything!" she said. "I still have diarrhea!"

Stifling my laughter, I asked, "Where do you think you have called?"

She replied, "Isn't this the drugstore in Wall?"

"No, ma'am," I replied. "This is a stockbroker's office in Ohio."

There was a long silence, and then a click.

Savings vehicle

Pamela Jacobs, certified financial planner and co-founder of

Frontier Wealth Strategies

in Walnut Creek, California

I once took an elderly client to buy a new car. The salesman looked at me and asked, "What type of car are you looking for?"

"Don't ask me, ask her," I replied. "She's the one who'll be driving it."

When it came time to figure out the finances, the salesman asked the client if she felt the price was manageable.

"Don't ask me, ask her," she said, pointing to me. "She'll be paying for it."

Hitting a wall

Nicholas Bunio, CFP at

Retirement Wealth Advisors

in Downingtown, Pennsylvania

Years ago at the firm I first started in, it was around the holidays and things were a bit hectic. Advisors were trying to finish up year-end client meetings, compliance items and other last-minute business.

When one advisor was talking on the phone, in a hurry, he turned and walked right into a wall. Full force.

My colleague next to me saw it as well.

"That's the craziest thing I've ever seen," she said.

That escalated quickly

Michael Hansen, CFP and co-founder of

Frontier Wealth Strategies

in Walnut Creek, California

A couple booked an appointment with me to discuss their plans for retirement. They had a substantial portfolio of real estate, and they wanted to transition from being landlords to living off their wealth.

One spouse wanted to keep the portfolio intact, and the other wanted to just be a passive investor. As I informed them about their various options, it became clear that they had two very different views of what was the best way forward.

One spouse just wanted to cash out and enjoy retirement instead of dealing with tenant issues. As the conversation wore on, this person got increasingly frustrated.

"I guess we either hire you or we're getting a divorce," the spouse said.

At the end of the meeting, I asked the couple to think it all over and get back to me.

Two weeks later they got back to me. They had opted for the divorce.

Holistic services

Ron Strobel, CFP and founder of

Retire Sensibly

in Meridian, Idaho

I was alone at the office one day and an older woman pulled up in front. She walked in and I assumed she was a client, but she told me she was just driving by and had run out of gas. She said she had tried to call her family for help but nobody had answered.

It was summer and was probably in the 90s outside. I told her I would go fill up a gas can for her so she could make it home. I felt bad making her wait in her car in the heat, but I couldn't just leave her alone in our office.

I drove down the street to the gas station. All they had was a tiny little plastic gas can that cost something like $20. I didn't have time to drive home to pick up my own gas can, so I begrudgingly paid for the tiny, expensive little gas can, filled it up, and drove back to the office.

I pulled up, and to my surprise she was sitting in her car with it running. The windows were all rolled up and the air conditioner was keeping her nice and cool.

"Wait, weren't you out of gas?" I asked.

She clarified that no, she was just running low and didn't like to pump her own gas.

It almost seemed like a regular thing for her, so I wonder how many times she had done that before. She did tell me that our business would be blessed due to my kindness, so maybe it was worth the $20.