Real-Life Communication
You chose to work with a credit counseling agency because you wanted
to help people on a very basic level. Little did you know when you began in
this career four years ago how many people other than your clients you would
have to deal with.
Your daily work finds you contacting people in financial
institutions, credit companies, family services and other companies where
people create debt. You even carry on conversations with people inside your
organization on a daily basis. From meetings to training classes, you are
always communicating with someone.
Today, you find yourself writing
a report for a client. You've met with the client, Sheila Jameson, several
times. During these meetings, you have learned that her debt-to-income ratio
is not high at all. Only about 40 percent of her income is paid out in bills
each month.
However, the client has a spending behavior problem. She
spends all of her remaining money on impulse purchases. What she needs and
wants is a budget that she can stay with, and a way to save and invest her
money more wisely.
In your report, you outline these facts, which you
are both already aware of, and you suggest that she use the budgeting sheet
that you will attach to the report.
You also suggest that she invest
at least 20 percent of her monthly income into a mutual fund program, called
Easy Mutual Funds. It takes a small amount up front and then requires a monthly
draft from her account each month.
The fund that you are referring
her to has an average annual return of around 17 percent. You estimate that
she will make several thousand dollars in interest each year if she follows
this plan. You need to recommend strongly that she follow through with the
plan you have outlined for her.
Try writing this report. Remember to
be professional, but friendly and firm. Also remember that grammar and punctuation
are important in presenting a professional image.