Trust Quotient (TQ)

On Advisory Navigator, every match is calculated dynamically based on fit. In competitive matches where multiple advisors possess similar capabilities, your Trust Quotient (TQ) serves as the ultimate tiebreaker.

Your TQ is a composite score derived from two distinct components: the AI-generated Master TQ Baseline (calculated algorithmically by AIMM based on your profile structure) and your live Platform Trust Score (earned natively through engagement, responsiveness, and client reviews).

When you save or regenerate your profile, the AI Matching Model (AIMM) analyses all structured and unstructured data you've provided. It produces a baseline evaluation across four psychological and professional dimensions:

• Value Orientation: Evidence of delivering tangible, quantifiable business outcomes rather than just output.
• Ethical Alignment: Transparency, verified credentials, and clear, realistic boundary-setting.
• Communication Clarity: Brevity, structured thinking, and professional communication style in your bio.
• Empathy: Understanding of client pain points, expressed through problem-centric language.

Each dimension is scored and combined into a Master TQ Score ranging from 0–100. This score feeds directly into the overarching CAST matching algorithm.

AIMM ingests your profile hierarchically. Optimizing the primary signals will yield the highest return on your score.

1. Write a specific headline: Use precise terminology (e.g. "Senior Go-to-Market Strategist" instead of "Business Consultant").
2. Write a detailed bio: Lead with your value proposition. Quantify impact (e.g. "Scaled revenue from $1M to $10M") and mention exact industries served.
3. Add at least 3 Career Highlights: Focus on measurable outcomes, explicitly stating the year and the result.
4. List Credentials: Add relevant certifications along with their issuing organizations.
5. Update Work Experience: Prioritise your most recent/current advisory, board, and strategic consulting roles.
6. List Languages: Accurately indicate your proficiencies.
7. Set Exact Location: City-level matching earns maximum proximity points during algorithmic filtering.
8. Curate Expertise Keywords: Use industry-standard terminology to guarantee taxonomy overlaps.
9. Link LinkedIn: This is the absolute minimum requirement for baseline trust.
10. Link a Scheduling Tool: Add a Calendly (or similar) link to demonstrate availability and reduce friction.
11. Maintain Availability Status: Keep your accepting requests toggle accurate to avoid declined match penalties.
12. Be Responsive: Accept suitable connection requests promptly (+3 Platform Trust points each).
13. Cultivate Reviews: Encourage satisfied requestors to leave post-engagement reviews.

Your Platform Trust Score is the living, behavioral component of your TQ. It operates independently of the AI analysis, reflecting your reliability on the platform.

• Baseline: All new advisors begin with a score of 50.
• Connection Accepted: Earn +3 points every time you accept a match request.
• Connection Declined/Ignored: Lose -1 point for declining or letting a match expire.
• Monthly Renewal: Active advisors receive a +1 point bonus each month as a reward for sustained platform presence.

This score (capped at 100) merges with your Master TQ to define the final "Trust" metric used in matching.

• On Profile Save: Your TQ is automatically recalculated in the background (capped at 2 background recalculations per day).
• Scheduled Refresh: Every 14 days from your initial publish date, AIMM automatically recalibrates your profile to catch subtle taxonomy shifts.
• Platform Events: Trust score adjustments (+3, -1) happen instantly the moment you interact with a match.

TQ does not operate in a vacuum; it is the capstone of the CAST Match Framework.

• Capability: 55 points max
• Availability: 15 points max
• Specialization: 25 points max
• Trust (TQ): 5 points max

A perfect Master TQ (100) translates to the full 5 Trust points during a live match. More importantly, CAST employs a Fundamental Capability Gate: if you do not score at least 20 Capability points for a specific request, you will not match, regardless of a perfect TQ. Additionally, you must demonstrate alignment with at least one of the request's challenge types.