Getting StartedUnderstanding Households
Understanding Households
Understanding Households
In Sterling, a Household is the central organizing unit for all your work. Every piece of client data, document, and recommendation lives within a household.
Key Concept
Think of a household as a container. It holds everything related to a client relationship: people, facts, documents, interactions, and advice.
What Can a Household Represent?
A household is flexible. It adapts to how you structure your client relationships. There are three common types.
- Individuals: Represents a single person. Use this for clients who manage finances independently, such as unmarried professionals or retirees without dependents.
- Families: This typically includes a primary client, spouse, and dependents. Family households let you see the complete financial picture.
- Entities: Represents a legal structure like trusts, family limited partnerships, or foundations. Use this when the entity itself is the client.
What Lives Inside a Household?
Every household contains the same core sections. These sections organize all client information in one place.
| Section | What It Contains |
|---|---|
| People | Household members and their personal details |
| Facts | Financial data across eight categories such as income, expenses, assets, and liabilities |
| Documents | Uploaded files, statements, and records |
| Advice | AI-generated recommendations |
| Interactions | Email and transcript history |
| Tasks | To do list items that represent action items, work flows, custodial paperwork, and follow-ups |
Why Households Matter
The household structure drives everything in Sterling. Here's why it's important.
- Unified View: See all client data in one place instead of scattered across files
- Coordinated Planning: All data in one location allows for powerful and accurate AI advice generation
- Clear Ownership: Know exactly which team members have access to each household
- Organized History: Track all interactions and changes over time