The Trusted Advisors is a non-profit organization made up of experienced business professionals working in a variety of substantive areas who meet regularly to build and maintain relationships so that each member is a resource for the other and for their clients. Groups consisting of 20 to 30 members are geographically located in centers of commerce. Each member typically enjoys exclusivity for their particular area of expertise within their group. Each group forms in accordance with a professional matrix designed to maximize potential value for clients and members.
Trusted Advisor Definition
A trusted advisor is a mature professional who has strong relationships with his or her clients and business contacts such that he or she is regularly consulted for advice and counsel both within and outside their specific professional expertise. As such, a trusted advisor has influence over their clients' activities, maintains a robust professional network to help meet their clients' needs and appropriately introduces them to other professionals as needed.
Meetings and Formats
There are two types of meetings for each group. Regular meetings are MANDATORY and occur every other month at the lunch hour. Social meetings are optional and are typically scheduled during months when there is no regular meeting. They usually occur in the evening following the work day. Guests are welcome at both regular and social meetings.
Regular meetings have a standard format where a timely educational topic is presented by one of the members designed to illustrate their competence and expertise following introductions which include a current event discussion. After the educational presentation, members offer testimonials typically describing recent experiences working with each other as well as seeking the help of the group at large if desired. At the end of each regular meeting, members are assigned one-on-one meetings ("TwoPays") for breakfast, lunch or coffee which are required to take place prior to the next regular meeting.
Social meetings have no set format and usually take place in a "Happy Hour" type setting. Both the social meetings and TwoPays can take on a creative element limited only by the individuals involved. The overall objectives of the meetings and the TwoPays is for members to have regular, but not too frequent contact with each other to develop strong relationships with exceptional committed individuals who bring real value to the organization.
Meeting Venues
Regular meetings take place in large conference rooms of a host member with the location remaining the same each time. Lunch is served and organized by the host member although paid for, in advance, by members and guests. Social events take place at local restaurants or professional clubs but can and do move around to suit a particular theme or time of year. Currently there are Trusted Advisors groups in San Diego and Orange Counties in California. All members are welcome to attend regular or social meeting of any group.
Membership Open to Professionals
Experienced professionals invited and sponsored by a current member are welcome to join the Trusted Advisors. Additional groups are planned for San Diego and Orange Counties and wherever enough interest is expressed by one or more individuals committed to forming and growing a new group.
Membership and Fees
The Trusted Advisors charges a modest administrative fee to cover the costs of maintaining this website and requires payment in advance for lunch at regular meetings annually. If interested in membership in The Trusted Advisors, please visit our Membership page to learn more.