learn to listen Archives - Don Connelly & Associates

5-Step Approach to Addressing Mistakes with Your Clients

November 14, 2022 / by Don Connelly / Best Practices / 0 comments

Any successful person would agree that making mistakes—and learning from them—is as vital to one’s growth and development as any training or life experience. That’s good because we’re human, and we all make mistakes. Even the brightest and most conscientious financial advisors make mistakes periodically. While mistakes that impact clients can be serious, they don’t have to be the end of the world or a career.
In fact, advisors who quickly own up to their mistakes and rectify them often find that it can solidify their client relationships and strengthen client loyalty. Being conscientious and forthright are appealing traits to clients. And, if mistakes are quickly resolved, they’re no worse for the wear.

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.

Make Yourself Irreplaceable by Making Yourself Different

September 16, 2019 / by Don Connelly / Marketing Yourself / 0 comments

If you do what every other advisor is doing, you’ll be just like all other advisors. To become successful, you need to offer something different – something that makes you worthy of being talked about.

Don’t be intimidated by self-perceived ‘smarter’, ‘more experienced’ or ‘more confident’ advisors. Don’t try to ‘better’ them. Think instead about what you can do differently.

Make it your aim to do what other advisors don’t do, and you’ll attract and retain clients for the long term. Here are a few things you can do to make yourself different.

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.

What Does It Take to Turn a Prospect into a Client?

December 10, 2018 / by Don Connelly / Prospecting / 0 comments

If you’re booking plenty of appointments, that’s great news. But if you’re not consistently opening new accounts as a result, it’s a wasted effort. Read on to find out what you need to do to turn a prospect into a client.

Poor Communication Is The #1 Reason Advisors Get Fired

July 2, 2018 / 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.

Maintaining Meaningful Relationships Is Hard but Essential Work

November 27, 2017 / by Don Connelly / Managing the Relationship / 0 comments

As a financial advisor you need a wide range of skills, not least the ability to prospect and win new business. However, another area of expertise – and one which is frequently overlooked – is the ability to maintain a meaningful ongoing relationship with your clients. Here are a few ways to do this.

Help Clients Understand Why They’re Paying You a Fee

August 21, 2017 / by Don Connelly / Marketing Yourself / 0 comments

Before you can convince your clients of your worth, you need to convince yourself of your own value. Always remember your fees reflect the five-star service you can offer. That’s what makes you stand out in an increasingly commoditized industry.

Here are some ways to help you communicate your value – both to yourself and to your clients.

Your Selling Skills Are a Reflection of Your Self-confidence

July 24, 2014 / by Don Connelly / Marketing Yourself, Prospecting / 0 comments

Would you open an account with a Financial Advisor who was nervous and unsure of himself? Neither will your prospects.

Your livelihood is dependent upon your ability to sell yourself.

How well you sell yourself is in direct proportion to your self-confidence. The more success you have, the more you believe in your abilities and the higher you go. Top tier Advisors are supremely confident in their ability to influence and persuade. They have overcome the fear of failure.

It takes self-confidence to move another person to take action.

How You Present Is as Important as the Information You Are Presenting

July 17, 2014 / by Don Connelly / Presentation Skills / 0 comments

The facts and figures you present to your clients may not be as important as you think they are. Clients don’t want more information. Clients want someone they can trust. While you are giving your presentation, they are not deciding on the accuracy of the numbers. They are deciding about you. Can I trust you? Will you always do the right thing? What are your values? Are you on my side? They need to trust you, not the numbers.
How you say something is as important as what you say.

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