A few months ago, I met someone whom I had put in some significant amount of advice and work to formulate an investment portfolio. After much advice to that person, I received a telephone call indicating an interest in my proposal. I was happy because I thought that my hard work was going to pay off. My happiness was short live.

The person was still keen to take up whatever my recommendations but …. (you cannot believe it!), was unwilling to pay me a single cent of commission. The reason given was that the client was not willing to pay for the fees until the portfolio make money. My response was that when I visit a doctor for consultation, I pay for the consultation fee and medicine even though the doctor provides absolutely no guarantee that my sickness will be cured. The client did not reply to me ever again.

It is quite normal for people not to be keen in a recommendation but this was my first time encountering a case in which the person is interested in the recommendations but unwilling to pay a single cent of fees.

I think I’ll just invoice that client for all the work already done.