At Searcy Financial Services and Allos Investment Advisors, we believe that understanding people is the foundation of great teamwork, powerful client relationships, and effective collaboration. That’s why we’ve made tools like the Predictive Index (PI) and CliftonStrengths (formerly StrengthsFinder) a core part of how we work; with our team, our clients, and even our referral partners.
Playing to Our Strengths
We started using the Predictive Index internally as a tool to help our team members work in their “flow” – the zone where natural strengths align with day-to-day responsibilities. Everyone has unique behavioral drives and motivators. PI helps us understand those, not to box people in, but to elevate them.
Fortunately, our team is diverse not just in experience and background but also in the ways we think and work. Tasks one person doesn’t care for might be something another teammate thrives on. Over the years, we’ve realigned responsibilities, restructured workflows, and hired intentionally to fill talent gaps, all informed by what we’ve learned from PI (and previously the Culture Index Survey).
It’s a win-win. When people are empowered to work where they’re strongest, they’re more productive, more fulfilled, and more likely to stay. And when the team functions better, our clients feel the difference.
Adding the StrengthsFinder Perspective
In addition to PI, every team member also completes their Top 5 CliftonStrengths (previously known as StrengthsFinder). This tool, based on the research in Now, Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton, helps identify our team’s most dominant natural talents.
Whether someone leads with Strategic, Achiever, Empathy, or Communication, this knowledge brings a powerful level of self-awareness. It helps us align roles, improve collaboration, and even manage potential friction points.
When you combine the behavioral insight of PI with the talent-focused lens of CliftonStrengths, you get a more complete picture of how someone thinks, acts, and builds relationships. We’ve found that using both tools together strengthens our team culture and empowers everyone to contribute in the way that feels most authentic and energizing.
Beyond Hiring: Culture, Coaching, and Communication
Sure, Predictive Index is well-known for its use in hiring, and it’s a valuable tool for that purpose. But we’ve found its greatest power comes after the hire.
We revisit PI and Strengths profiles during one-on-ones, team reviews, and project planning. These tools give us a common language to talk about how we each work best; what gives us energy, what drains us, how we communicate, and how we make decisions. That’s helped us reduce friction, improve collaboration, and celebrate the diversity of strengths across our team.
We also use these insights in leadership development. If someone wants to grow into a new role, we can use PI and StrengthsFinder to help guide that growth intentionally. If there’s a behavioral or strengths-based mismatch, it doesn’t mean the opportunity is off-limits, it just helps us plan the right support and development path.
A Deeper Discovery with Clients
We’ve found that the Predictive Index adds real depth to our discovery process with new clients.
While no assessment is 100% accurate, PI sparks valuable conversations. We walk through the results together and ask, “Does this feel true to you?” Sometimes the answer is yes. Sometimes it’s “sort of,” and that opens up meaningful dialogue about how they make decisions, how they manage stress, and what they value in a relationship with their advisor.
That insight helps us tailor our communication and planning process to each client’s preferences. Do they want all the data and time to analyze? Or would they rather cut to the chase and make a quick decision? Do they love exploring new ideas, or do they prefer structure and consistency? When we understand that, we can better serve them – not just with the right financial plan, but in a way that feels natural to them.
Finding the Right Fit with Referral Partners
We’ve even extended our use of PI to how we connect with referral partners. When we meet someone new, we might invite them to take the PI so we can learn how they work and who they might be a great match for.
Let’s say we’re referring a client to a CPA, attorney, or therapist. If we know both profiles, we can make more aligned referrals, pairing someone who values process and precision with a similarly wired professional, or connecting a fast-paced entrepreneur with someone who thrives in high-energy relationships. It’s not about limiting options; it’s about increasing the chances for chemistry and long-term trust.
People First, Always
At the end of the day, these tools are just that, tools. But in the right hands, and with the right mindset, they become something more. They become a bridge to deeper understanding, better teamwork, and more meaningful service.
We don’t believe in putting people in boxes. We believe in empowering people to bring their best selves to the table. Predictive Index and StrengthsFinder help us do just that.
If you’re curious about how they work, or if you’d like to take one of these assessments yourself, let’s talk. We’d love to share more about how they’ve helped us grow; not just as professionals, but as people.
Curious About Your Predictive Index Results?
If you’d like to experience the Predictive Index for yourself, we’re happy to provide access. Whether you’re a current client, a prospective partner, or someone simply interested in learning more about how you work best, you can use the link below to complete your own PI assessment. It takes just a few minutes and offers powerful insight into your natural strengths and work style.
Click here to take the Predictive Index Behavioral Assessment.