"I understand your perspective about referring clients elsewhere if we can't figure things out, but I believe questioning is a crucial part of the learning process."

"Let's aim to create an environment where we can openly discuss challenges without the fear of judgment. If you don't have the answer, that's okay—we can work together to find it. It's about helping each other grow rather than causing unnecessary stress.

Looking forward to your thoughts on this."

When you ask the same thing of the same group multiple times, it's pretty clear you are not understanding the responses from that group and should seek help elsewhere. When I first started teaching, I learned that describing the same thing different ways is what allowed for that variability in understanding; at each try, there would be an "ah hah" moment from a different student.

I will suggest a strategy I use: Take your taxpayer client to the CPA or retirement professional you decide to learn from. Tell your client you are paying for the consulting session, because this is a new field for you, and you want to invest in your expansion of your skills. Now you've established your value, your client sees that investment and has a direct benefit, and you make a new professional resource. That's the best networking.