January 6, 2020 / by Don Connelly / Managing the Relationship / 0 comments
Great client service should be a given. But according to a recent study from Cerulli Associates, less than a third of advisors strongly agreed that their practices go above and beyond to serve their clients, or that their clients offer repeatable and consistent client experiences.
At the same time, 72% of advisory firm principals say client service is a key differentiator.
Folks, if 72% say great service is a differentiator, it’s no longer a differentiator. It’s now the industry standard.
That said, some firms are clearly doing a better job than others. And those are the firms that are attracting bigger clients, with more assets to manage.
Let’s have a look at what they do differently and what are some key components to delivering great client service.
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In this category you will find blog posts about clients relationship management – including but not limited to establishing trust, building a relationship, ending an advisor-client relationship, and more.
The 4 Pillars of Great Client Service
January 6, 2020 / by Don Connelly / Managing the Relationship / 0 comments
Great client service should be a given. But according to a recent study from Cerulli Associates, less than a third of advisors strongly agreed that their practices go above and beyond to serve their clients, or that their clients offer repeatable and consistent client experiences.
At the same time, 72% of advisory firm principals say client service is a key differentiator.
Folks, if 72% say great service is a differentiator, it’s no longer a differentiator. It’s now the industry standard.
That said, some firms are clearly doing a better job than others. And those are the firms that are attracting bigger clients, with more assets to manage.
Let’s have a look at what they do differently and what are some key components to delivering great client service.
Read more
Can Trust Be Established Early?
December 23, 2019 / by Don Connelly / Managing the Relationship / 0 comments
I got a really interesting question from a subscriber named Jeffrey, who said he is a new advisor and he’s having a problem gaining trust with people during the initial visit. He asked if establishing trust up front is possible and if it is, how he can do that. Furthermore, he asked if it is possible to open an account without the establishment of trust.
Listen to this audio episode or read the transcript below to learn Don’s 4 suggestions on establishing trust early on in the relationship.
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How to Turn New Clients into Loyal Clients
December 16, 2019 / by Don Connelly / Managing the Relationship / 0 comments
You have just opened a new account and you are excited to start working with this new client. Of course, you are more than qualified to provide them with the services they need, but how are you going to ensure that your relationship with them will flourish over time?
Here are few good ways to create a loyal bond between you and your client.
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What Is Buyer’s Remorse and How to Overcome It in 3 Easy Steps
December 2, 2019 / by Don Connelly / Managing the Relationship / 0 comments
Buyer’s remorse is defined as ‘a feeling of regret experienced after making a purchase – typically one regarded as unnecessary or extravagant’ (Oxford Dictionary).
Most of us have experienced this type of feeling at some point – maybe after buying a pair of expensive shoes that with hindsight we considered an unworthwhile purchase.
But buyer’s remorse doesn’t just apply to shopping – it’s possible your clients might feel similarly disenchanted about their decision to hire you.
Make sure your clients don’t experience post-hiring disappointment by doing the following three things.
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5 Reasons Why You Need to Connect with Clients on an Emotional Level
October 21, 2019 / by Don Connelly / Managing the Relationship / 0 comments
As an advisor you’re no doubt good with numbers; you’re an objective thinker. But to succeed in this business you also need to be able to create meaningful relationships with your clients. You need to have not only a high IQ but a high level of EQ (Emotional Intelligence).
According to a study by Harvard Business Review emotionally connected clients are more than twice as valuable to your business as ‘highly satisfied clients’.
Here are 5 reasons why rather than focusing on their financial plans you should get to know your clients on a personal level.
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5 Reasons Why Clients Might Not Want to Refer You
July 8, 2019 / by Don Connelly / Managing the Relationship, Prospecting / 0 comments
The best way to gather new clients is via referral, especially since many wealthier investors find their financial advisors this way. If you are failing to acquire referrals, you need to address this issue as a matter of importance. Lack of success invariably boils down to a number of reasons – in particular an inability to get along with people.
Here are 5 reasons that could explain why clients aren’t lining up to refer you.
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How to Help Clients Make Good Decisions
April 29, 2019 / by Don Connelly / Managing the Relationship / 0 comments
Your job is as much about managing relationships as it is about managing money. You need to establish close ties with your clients so you can become a positive influence in their lives over the long term. Unless you can steer your clients into making good decisions you not only risk losing them as clients – but you are doing them a disfavor – because you are allowing them to make potentially disastrous financial decisions.
Here are a few things you can do to influence your clients’ decisions positively.
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The First Client Meeting: Are You Making Any of These 10 Common Mistakes?
March 11, 2019 / 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
March 4, 2019 / 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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5 Traits You Need to Have If You’re to Build Strong Relationships with Clients
February 18, 2019 / 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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