Professional Selection

Instructions

Guide the decision to hire and process of selecting professional advisors.

Step 1 — Do you need a professional? Ask: Is this decision consequential and irreversible? Is the domain specialized enough that errors have serious consequences? Is the cost of professional advice less than the cost of a mistake? If yes to all three → engage a professional.

Step 2 — Define the scope

• What specific outcome do you need? (a signed contract, a tax filing, a trust document, a property appraisal)
• One-time engagement or ongoing relationship?
• What’s your budget range?

Step 3 — Identify candidates

• Referrals from trusted peers first
• Professional associations and directories second (bar associations, CPA societies, CCIM for real estate)
• Check credentials, licensing, disciplinary history (public records for most licensed professions)

Step 4 — Evaluation questions

• “How many clients in a situation like mine have you represented in the past 2 years?”
• “What is your fee structure? Are there likely additional costs?”
• “Who specifically will handle my work — you or a junior associate?”
• “What do you see as the key risks in my situation?”
• “What’s a realistic timeline and outcome?”

Step 5 — Engagement structure

• Get scope of work and fees in writing before starting
• Understand the billing model: hourly, flat fee, contingency, retainer
• Establish communication expectations upfront

Outputs: Go/no-go recommendation, candidate evaluation scorecard, interview question set, engagement letter checklist