About Ed

Ed Jacobson, Ph.D., is a psychologist, business coach, consultant and public speaker based in Madison, Wisconsin. Ed works with individuals and organizations to help them to identify, plan for and achieve important goals that truly matter. He focuses his practice on serving the financial planning community; he believes that planners make a profound difference in the lives of their clients and the wider community, and he enjoys contributing to this “Heart’s Core” work.  
 
Ed's work in recent years has increasingly focused on the use of "Appreciative Inquiry” (AI) processes. He has introduced his application of AI to financial planning, calling this approach “Appreciative Financial Planning (AFP).” Appreciative Financial Planning involves the use of appreciative questions, conversations, and relationships – those that highlight and build upon the positive forces and strengths within and outside us  --  to inspire financial planning clients to create and achieve fulfilling and rewarding "lives well-lived."

In addition to his own coaching, consulting, training and public speaking, Ed serves the Kinder Institute of Life Planning as a mentor and trainer for financial life planners, and collaborates with Money Quotient, Garrett Planning Network, and Sudden Money Institute on a wide variety of initiatives, including webinars, workshops, and training sessions. Also, he coaches and consults with financial planning practices on various business and personal development issues including integrating an appreciative orientation throughout the firm, and transitioning to a financial life planning model. In addition, he customizes and conducts Client Appreciation Events and Staff Retreats for financial planning firms., as well as organizations in many other sectors.

Ed received a doctorate in clinical psychology from Indiana University and an M.B.A. from The Wharton School. For the last 25 years he has worked as a consultant, coach, and trainer, including 11 years with KPMG Peat Marwick in Chicago. 

His book, Appreciative Moments: Stories and Practices for Living and Working Appreciatively , has just been published, and is available through him (for a signed copy, email him via the "Contact Ed" page) as well as through Amazon.com. He is currently at work on his next book, The Handy Book of Appreciative Questions for Financial Advisors, and looks forward to its publication in 2009. He also writes a free, monthly e-column, "This Appreciative Moment©”, which he sends out via email to more than 1,000 subscribers. To receive the column, Contact Ed.

 See a sample column.