I met with a tough-talking attorney some years ago. He interviewed me to determine whether he wanted my little firm to handle his retirement plan. We sat in his conference room and discussed where I’d been and my approach and his objectives.

Our conversation ranged from the general about qualification rules to the specific about hypothetical transactions. It didn’t take long for him to ask me a question I couldn’t answer.

“I don’t know,” I began to reply, “but I can find out and get back to you.”

“No need,” he said. He leaned back in the leather chair and grinned. “You’ve got the job.”

I smiled.

“You said those three magic words I want to hear from any consultant:

I Don’t Know.”