September 28, 2020 / by Don Connelly / Presentation Skills / 0 comments
Yes, I’m a huge believer in stories, and in taking time to build value in your services, your brand, and in taking a detailed fact-finder, so you can make your engagement truly client-centered and set yourself up for the close.
But as we all know, many times there just isn’t enough time.
Sometimes you don’t have a leisurely lunch appointment. Sometimes it’s just a meeting engagement: A shared Uber ride, a shared elevator. That’s why you need an “elevator speech.”
Before we get into what constitutes a good elevator speech, let’s think about what you want your elevator speech to accomplish for you.
In 30 seconds or less, a good elevator speech should accomplish the following:
Establish your unique value proposition (UVP).
Establish a reason to initiate contact later.
Establish the means to initiate that contact.
Set up the expectation of contact.
Let’s look at each one in turn.
Read more
Why Client Communications Must Be Your Highest Priority
January 24, 2022 / by Don Connelly / Managing the Relationship / 0 comments
Going into the new year, financial advisors need to take stock of their business and determine the one critical aspect they need to focus on that could make or break their year or even their career. Acquiring new clients is always a top priority, but there is even a higher priority for advisors hoping to break through to the next level. That’s because if you can’t retain the clients you have, you’ll find yourself in a deep hole, trying to claw your way out.
Read more
Create an Elevator Speech that Wins
September 28, 2020 / by Don Connelly / Presentation Skills / 0 comments
Yes, I’m a huge believer in stories, and in taking time to build value in your services, your brand, and in taking a detailed fact-finder, so you can make your engagement truly client-centered and set yourself up for the close.
But as we all know, many times there just isn’t enough time.
Sometimes you don’t have a leisurely lunch appointment. Sometimes it’s just a meeting engagement: A shared Uber ride, a shared elevator. That’s why you need an “elevator speech.”
Before we get into what constitutes a good elevator speech, let’s think about what you want your elevator speech to accomplish for you.
In 30 seconds or less, a good elevator speech should accomplish the following:
Establish your unique value proposition (UVP).
Establish a reason to initiate contact later.
Establish the means to initiate that contact.
Set up the expectation of contact.
Let’s look at each one in turn.
Read more
Communication in a Post-Pandemic World: How to Connect with Prospective and Current Clients
June 22, 2020 / by Don Connelly / Managing the Relationship / 0 comments
All of us are affected by the coronavirus and the shutdowns. The virus is slowly running its course but social distancing will be with us for a very long time to come.
That means most of us are going to have to change the way we market and sell our services. “Meet and greet” networking events will be out of the picture for a while. When they do come back, they’ll be different. They may look more like ‘show and tells’ with slide shows than mingling sessions.
Even walking into businesses and asking for the owner is going to be fraught. The small ‘handshake’ ritual that has been with us since antiquity will be changed as we figure out our new forms of etiquette and social conventions.
So, what’s the best path forward?
Read more
Becoming a Financial Advisor at 40? Yes, You Can!
April 27, 2020 / by Don Connelly / Best Practices / 0 comments
This is for all you career-switchers, and those considering a career change move into financial advisory services:
Don’t listen to the nay-sayers and the haters: You absolutely can become a successful financial advisor as a second career. In fact, as a career-switcher, you’ll have many advantages over your younger peers in your training classes.
Here are some of the many pros of becoming a financial advisor mid-career – and a few of the obstacles you may encounter.
Read more
4 Things You Can Only Achieve with Effective Communication Skills
June 3, 2019 / by Don Connelly / Best Practices / 0 comments
Effective communication skills are essential if you are to achieve successful outcomes for your business. Here are 4 relationship goals you should be striving for, along with the requisite soft skills you must possess if you are to realize them.
Read more
Financial Advisors Who Lack These Soft Skills Often Fail
June 20, 2016 / by Don Connelly / Best Practices / 2 comments
The ability to master soft skills is key to your future success as a Financial Advisor. In fact, it’s easily as important as how much technical knowledge you have. However, advisors often struggle to develop the key soft skills required to build relationships with prospects and clients – and consequently their business suffers.
Perfecting your soft skills should be your number one priority. This post will help remind you to get back to the basics by focusing on five soft skills that could make or break your business.
Read more
Effective Communication Is an Acquired Skill
March 17, 2014 / by Don Connelly / Marketing Yourself / 0 comments
Effective communication occurs when the listener understands everything you just said. You made the complex simple. That’s not an easy thing to do.
It takes a long time and a lot of practice to become simple.
The effort is worth it. There is nothing more important to a Financial Advisor than being understood. After all, if everyone understood everything you said, you would be one of the highest paid and most influential people in the world.
Fortunately, effective communication is an acquired skill, not an innate skill.
Read more