fired by a client Archives - Don Connelly & Associates

Addressing Communication Breakdowns: 5 Common Communication Challenges Financial Advisors Face Today

/ by Don Connelly / Managing the Relationship / 0 comments

We spend a lot of time and space here harping on the importance of client communications because, more than anything else you do in this business, it can make or break you.

We’ve discussed that 72% of clients who fire their financial advisors do so due to poor communication. We’ve pointed out studies that show clients value solid communications the most in an advisory relationship, yet many feel they’re not receiving it.

We’ve also outlined the reasons why it’s critical to build a systematic communications structure designed to keep your clients engaged, cultivate loyalty, and instill confidence in your advice and then provided a framework for building it.

Above all, we’ve stressed the importance of continuously working on your communication and requisite soft skills for building trust and solidifying your relationship.

However, all that will do you little good if you don’t recognize the communication challenges you face on a daily basis, especially the communication breakdowns that lead to conflicts, such as miscommunications, misunderstandings, and a lack of clarity.

Here are five of the most common communication challenges financial advisors must recognize and overcome to build and maintain solid client relationships:

How to Turn New Clients into Loyal Clients

/ 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.

Three More Niches Financial Advisors May Want to Consider

/ by Don Connelly / Marketing Yourself / 0 comments

Many new entrants to this industry believe it makes sense to ‘cast a wide net’ in the fear that picking a target market will limit business opportunities. But in fact, this is far from the case. The most successful financial advisors are those that focus on a particular niche.

In a recent post we looked at some relatively under-represented niches that could be worthwhile considering. Here are three more to put on your radar.

5 More Questions Prospects May Ask You before Deciding to Hire You as Their Financial Advisor

/ by Don Connelly / Prospecting / 0 comments

Choosing a financial advisor is a big decision for potential clients, especially if they’re new to the world of investing. Not only will they be looking for someone suitably qualified, they’ll be searching for someone who shares their goals and comes across as caring and authentic.

To try and deduce whether you’re the right fit for them, they’ll undoubtedly have questions. In this follow up to a previous post, let’s look at 5 more questions you may get asked in that first meeting.

Poor Communication Is The #1 Reason Advisors Get Fired

/ by Don Connelly / Managing the Relationship / 0 comments

The chief reason clients fire their advisors is not, as you may have thought, poor performance – it’s poor communication. A survey by Financial Advisor Magazine revealed that 72% of clients said they fired their advisors due to their advisor’s failure to communicate on a timely basis.

The best advisors put their communication strategy at the very heart of their business – and so should you. Not only should you build in time to communicate with clients – but take time to develop your soft skills so that you communicate effectively.

Don’t Let Clients’ Concerns Escalate: Tackle Issues Head on

/ by Don Connelly / Managing the Relationship / 0 comments

Meeting your clients’ expectations is the least you can do – it’s simply part of your job – so don’t expect to get a pat on the back for it. If you want to retain clients for the long term, you need to step up your level of service way beyond this and be more proactive than other advisors. Offer your clients a heroic standard of service by taking ownership of their problems before they become detrimental to your business.

Here are four ways to ensure you keep things on track.

How Do You Pick Yourself Up When You’ve Been Fired by a Client?

/ by Don Connelly / Best Practices / 0 comments

It can be a challenging and depressing experience especially if clients leave without telling you the reason. But getting fired happens to even the best of advisors at some point. And it’s not all bad news.

In fact losing a client can give you a chance to re-evaluate yourself and determine what you have to offer clients. It can be a perfect time to re-focus, take a good hard look at yourself and change things to do what you need to do to get back in the game.