Financial

It’s easy to roll your eyes and moan about the state of business communications. There’s everything from incomplete, inaccurate and confusing emails and memos to meeting minutes and reports that don’t make sense. Ineffective business letters, most of which are peppered with the first person singular pronoun, are fodder for the recycling bin. All this results in errors, causes confusion, …

Take your business to the next level by creating an “It’s All-About-Them” (IAAT) experience for your clients. A company that is founded on the IAAT principle will have valuable services right out of the gate. Ask any successful financial advisor, and they will tell you.  In order to get new clients and keep the existing ones coming back for more, …

As financial professionals, if we’ve heard it once, we’ve heard it a thousand times: Boomers are turning 65 at the rate of 10,000 a day and will continue to do so through 2030.  But as I talk with independent producers across the country, the reality of this opportunity really hasn’t sunk in.  And for those who it has, they are …

Success is something everyone wants but only a few achieve. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. No matter where you are in your career, from job seeking to having held the same position for an extended period, there are principles you can apply to ensure your success. Below are seven sure-fire success principles you can start using right …

Financial professionals and entrepreneurs are rarely happy with moderate success.  Some business people tend to relax once they have earned a certain amount of money, but having spent so much time and effort getting your business to this level, why not take it all the way to the top? The task may sound daunting and it undoubtedly is, but it’s …

Networking is the art of building and sustaining mutually beneficial relationships. The goal of networking is to communicate with a stranger and make a connection.  Depending on the firm you work for, networking events may be mandatory for you to attend, so it’s good to look for ways to make networking easier for you and more comfortable. When you are …

If you’re starting a business, you begin with a plan. Over the years, that plan is modified about 20 to 30 times before your business runs as smoothly and effectively as you first anticipated. You have high hopes and aspirations to not only make a good living, but to eventually live the life you had always dreamed of as long …

Imagine a competitive weapon that allowed you to dramatically upgrade your service levels, lower your costs, improve your ability to problem-solve, and better keep up with fast-changing regulations, policies and services. And despite the game-changing nature of this weapon, it’s free and few of your competitors make use of it. What is this weapon? Ideas from your front-line staff. Every …

There are many advisors that volunteer, give back to their community, and use their skills and talents to become board members for not-for-profits, foundations or endowments. They bring their strong financial background to the table and usually take on the role of treasurer or part of the finance committee for the charity. Their intention is to contribute in a meaningful …

As a sales strategist, I have witnessed salespeople try to disqualify a client time and time again. Whether they realize it or not, they’re actually looking for a reason to move onto the next call or what they feel may be the easier sale. They’re cherry picking for the slam dunk, the lay down, or the rollover. I have heard …