/ by Don Connelly / Managing the Relationship / 0 comments
Of all the truisms associated with our industry, none is more valid than, “People do business with people they like and trust.” That’s why we devote a lot of space here to the importance of building rapport with clients.
We often discuss the need to master communication and soft skills, such as active listening, asking open-ended questions, mirroring body language and tone, telling stories, and showcasing empathy. That will never change as it forms the critical foundation for building rapport and trust.
We also discuss best practices, such as regular check-ins or sending holiday greetings to build client relationships. While these strategies work, they can sometimes feel impersonal or predictable. To truly stand out, it’s crucial to employ creative, lesser-known methods that resonate with prospects and clients on a deeper level.
Here are five innovative approaches to help you build meaningful relationships, earn trust, and foster long-term engagement.
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What Advisors Say That Sounds Right — But Lands Wrong
/ by Don Connelly / Complex Client Conversations / 0 comments
The meeting feels productive. You explain the strategy with precision and care. The client nods and says, “I understand.” Weeks later, the same questions resurface, action stalls, and the recommendation sits untouched. You leave believing you’ve been understood. The client may leave having heard something quite different – filtered through uncertainty, past experiences, and the very personal emotions surrounding money.
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Why Clients Agree—But Don’t Follow Through
/ by Don Connelly / Managing the Relationship / 0 comments
You’ve no doubt experienced this before: The meeting ends with enthusiastic nods and a clear plan. The client says all the right things, and you walk away confident that real progress is about to happen.
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Why Clients Avoid the Conversation That Matters Most
/ by Don Connelly / Complex Client Conversations / 0 comments
Long-term care conversations are often emotional, not logical. Clients rarely avoid these discussions because they are irresponsible or unconcerned. Understanding the emotional realities beneath the surface allows advisors to approach these conversations with greater empathy, patience, and effectiveness.
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The Hidden Challenges Financial Advisors Face during Market Volatility
/ by Don Connelly / Best Practices / 0 comments
If you haven’t experienced it, you’ve probably seen it—a sudden 10% plunge in the S&P500 over 48 hours, a gut-punch drop that sends headlines screaming and client inboxes buzzing. But what really goes through a financial advisor’s mind when markets turn chaotic?
Beyond the dizzying charts and numbers, sudden extreme volatility exposes a gauntlet of challenges—some client-driven, some self-inflicted—that test even the most seasoned professionals. Here’s a deep dive into the five biggest challenges Financial Advisors face during market volatility, and how to navigate them.
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Beyond Compliance: Cultivating a Culture of Ethical Decision-Making for Financial Advisors
/ by Don Connelly / Best Practices / 0 comments
It’s taken nearly two decades for the financial services industry to overcome the massive trust deficit that sprung from the 2008 Financial Crisis. The good news is financial advisors are once again viewed as the most trusted source of financial advice, with nearly two-thirds of retail investors expressing a high level of trust. The bad news is that it takes just one ethical lapse, intentional or not, to erase that hard-earned goodwill.
However, as highly effective advisors know, clients don’t simply hand over their trust; advisors must earn it. Ethical conduct is one of the most critical factors clients consider in building trust with their advisors. Regulatory compliance may establish a baseline and guardrails to keep you on the straight and narrow path of ethical practices. However, ethical decision-making transcends the checklists and rules, aiming to prioritize client interests above all else.
In this post, we’ll explore actionable strategies for cultivating a culture of ethics in financial advisory practices and demonstrate how this approach strengthens trust, enhances client satisfaction, and builds long-term success.
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Building Rapport with Clients: Unique Strategies for Financial Advisors
/ by Don Connelly / Managing the Relationship / 0 comments
Of all the truisms associated with our industry, none is more valid than, “People do business with people they like and trust.” That’s why we devote a lot of space here to the importance of building rapport with clients.
We often discuss the need to master communication and soft skills, such as active listening, asking open-ended questions, mirroring body language and tone, telling stories, and showcasing empathy. That will never change as it forms the critical foundation for building rapport and trust.
We also discuss best practices, such as regular check-ins or sending holiday greetings to build client relationships. While these strategies work, they can sometimes feel impersonal or predictable. To truly stand out, it’s crucial to employ creative, lesser-known methods that resonate with prospects and clients on a deeper level.
Here are five innovative approaches to help you build meaningful relationships, earn trust, and foster long-term engagement.
Read more
How Financial Advisors Can Use AI to Free Up Time for More Client-Facing Activities
/ by Don Connelly / Best Practices / 0 comments
Despite the shortfalls of artificial intelligence (AI) in the financial advisory business in that it cannot replace advisors as relationship builders, there are several ways advisors can embrace AI to achieve higher efficiency and have more time for the human element of the business.
We know that AI is rapidly transforming industries, and the financial services sector is no exception. Financial advisors are often overwhelmed by managing multiple tasks at once, especially when much of their time is consumed by administrative and back-office duties. And, with the increasing complexity of financial markets and compliance requirements, advisors must spend more time on data entry, paperwork, and compliance at the expense of more client-facing activities.
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Future-Proofing Your Financial Advisory Career: The Power of Soft Skills in an AI World
/ by Don Connelly / Best Practices / 0 comments
Financial advisors are bracing for the “next big thing” as artificial intelligence (AI) is playing an increasingly prominent role. The rise of AI-powered tools and robo-advisors is automating many of the routine, data-driven aspects of financial planning, creating more efficient and accurate solutions.
Robo-advisors, for example, offer algorithm-based portfolio management services that can reduce the need for human intervention in certain advisory functions. AI tools can sift through massive datasets, analyze market trends, and generate investment strategies, all at a fraction of the cost and time it would take a human advisor.
However, as AI takes over the technical aspects of financial advising, the human touch remains irreplaceable.
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Financial Planning Challenges for Financial Advisors
/ by Don Connelly / Best Practices / 0 comments
In today’s saturated market, financial advisors must offer holistic financial planning for several reasons: It’s a sure way to differentiate themselves from those who only offer investment management. It can build deeper, more trusting relationships with clients, and it leads to better financial outcomes for clients. It can also attract a broader client base and retain those who might otherwise seek these services elsewhere.
Financial planning should unquestionably be a cornerstone service offered by financial advisors. However, performing the service is not without its challenges, particularly as it relates to communication and relationship skills. Awareness of and overcoming these challenges through focus, practice, and sound execution is critical to providing effective guidance and building enduring relationships with your clients.
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The Perils of Lacking Empathy: Why It Matters for Financial Advisors
/ by Don Connelly / Managing the Relationship / 0 comments
Nothing can form a human connection quite like the genuine expression of empathy. That human connection, which is the basis of trust in a relationship, is what clients want from their advisors. Failure to make that connection quickly can drive clients into the arms of a more empathic advisor.
Why empathy is so powerful
Empathy is the ability to see the world through someone else’s eyes, understand their emotions, and connect with them on a deeper level. But to your clients, it’s much more than that. When you express genuine empathy with a client, they feel like they are the most important person in your life at that moment. You took the time to step inside their shoes, walk around, and make them feel understood without judging them.
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