/ by Don Connelly / Prospecting / 0 comments
People trust recommendations from people they know, and the lifetime value of a new referral customer is higher than of a client acquired in another way. Despite this, advisors shy away from asking for referrals – citing that to be one of their most awkward tasks.
The good news is that, if asked at the right time, most clients would be happy to advocate on your behalf. Less than a third of advisors ever ask though. Don’t act like the majority – because referrals are at the core of growing your business.
In this post we’ll look at some best practices for gathering referrals.
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When Do People Get a Financial Advisor?
/ by Don Connelly / Best Practices / 0 comments
No two clients are exactly alike. People generally get a financial advisor for a number of reasons. Therefore, you need a flexible process in place when it comes to approaching different prospects in accordance with their reasons for seeking financial advice.
Here are some cases when people get a financial advisor, along with their reasons for doing so and some recommendations on moving things forward.
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The First Client Meeting: Are You Making Any of These 10 Common Mistakes?
/ by Don Connelly / Managing the Relationship, Prospecting / 0 comments
It’s all too easy to slip up in the first meeting and lose any opportunity to open the account – and this is especially true for new advisors.
In this post we’ll help you identify mistakes you could, without realizing it, be making. Take an honest appraisal – do you recognize yourself doing any of the following? If so, take action to fix these mistakes.
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7 Things You Can Do for Clients to Show That You Care
/ by Don Connelly / Managing the Relationship / 0 comments
If you are to be a successful financial advisor, you need to do more than simply manage money. You need to be great at managing relationships – in particular, you need to show your clients that you truly care about them.
If you care more than people expect you to care not only will clients remain loyal to you, but they’ll feel comfortable about referring you to friends, family and colleagues.
Here are 7 ways to show you care.
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Sacrificing Instant Gratification
/ by Don Connelly / Best Practices / 0 comments
I was talking with an advisor in Beverly Hills and she asked me a question. She actually made an observation, but it was in the form of a question. She said to me that she finds it a bit odd that financial success is a function of delayed gratification in a world that insists on instant gratification. Do I have any thoughts about that? And the answer is ‘Yes, I do!”
Listen to this audio episode or read the transcript below to learn what Don Connelly thinks about sacrificing instant gratification.
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5 Traits You Need to Have If You’re to Build Strong Relationships with Clients
/ by Don Connelly / Managing the Relationship / 0 comments
Your personal likeability and trustworthiness are more important than your professional knowledge when it comes to winning and building enduring client relationships. Professional credentials, while important, are only a backstop to the forging of strong personal connections. Focus on developing your soft skills.
Here are five traits you need if you want to create long-lasting relationships with clients and become more referable.
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5 Questions Prospects May Ask You before Deciding to Hire You as Their Financial Advisor
/ by Don Connelly / Prospecting / 0 comments
Just as there are many questions you need to ask a potential client, prospects will have plenty of things they’ll want to know before they consider doing business with you too. Here are five questions you’re likely to receive.
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Three Types of Prospects Most Likely to Object and How to Win Them Over
/ by Don Connelly / Prospecting / 0 comments
During your career, you will meet with prospects who are ready with a reason not to invest. It’s up to you to recognize what camp they fall into objection-wise, so you can counter with the right response. Make it your aim to deal with their objections before you give your presentation.
Here are three types of prospects – and objections – to look out for.
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Don’t Sell Investments – Focus on The Relationship
/ by Don Connelly / Presentation Skills / 0 comments
I believe in my heart someone should transfer their entire account to you without any investment recommendations. We’re not in the investment business, investments are our products. We’re in the business of getting kids through school, minimizing taxes, and getting people retired. We have to focus on the relationship, not the money. If you sell investments, sooner or later your clients will be angry. All investments have their bad days as well as their good days. So don’t discuss investments, it’s not necessary.
Listen to this audio episode or read the transcript below to learn a story that illustrates how focusing on the relationship without discussing investments will help you open the account.
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11 Best Practices for Gathering Referrals
/ by Don Connelly / Prospecting / 0 comments
People trust recommendations from people they know, and the lifetime value of a new referral customer is higher than of a client acquired in another way. Despite this, advisors shy away from asking for referrals – citing that to be one of their most awkward tasks.
The good news is that, if asked at the right time, most clients would be happy to advocate on your behalf. Less than a third of advisors ever ask though. Don’t act like the majority – because referrals are at the core of growing your business.
In this post we’ll look at some best practices for gathering referrals.
Read more
How to Prepare Your Clients for The Next Market Correction
/ by Don Connelly / Managing the Relationship / 0 comments
The Natixis Investment Managers 2018 Global Financial Professionals Survey revealed that 57% of advisors believe investors are unprepared for a downturn. This illustrates how difficult it is to convey the nature of turbulence to clients – and that volatility is an unavoidable part of the investment process.
Take the lead – prepare and educate your clients on the nature of market volatility. Then it will be far easier to counter their anxiety when the next market correction comes.
Here are 5 things you can do right away.
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