Category Archives: Finance

Ep. #17 – How One Top Advisor Uses His Personal Facebook Page to Win New Clients with Joe De Sena, CFP®

Education, Finance, Marketing, Speaking, , , , , , ,

When I heard how Joe De Sena was using his personal Facebook page to build his business (and have fun in the process) I was skeptical. Boy was I wrong.

In this episode, Bill Cates is joined (for a second time) by Joe De Sena, CFP®, MBA, private wealth advisor at Siena Wealth Advisory Group, to discuss Facebook marketing for financial advisors. Joe discusses his success in using Facebook as a tool for enhanced client engagement, business growth, and lots of fun, without running Facebook Ads.

In this episode, Joe discusses: 

  • The challenges advisors face in using Facebook to market their businesses.
  • Why he decided to open up his personal Facebook page to clients and event prospects.
  • How his variety of fun and uplifting posts have built a “community” of clients, prospects, and allows Joe to be his genuinely social self.
  • The significant results of converting prospects into clients by being omnipresent.
  • Lessons he has learned from his experiences with using social media.

Resources:

Connect With Bill Cates:   

Connect with Joe De Sena

About Our Guest:

Joseph S De Sena: Joe De Sena CFP®, MBA is a private wealth advisor at Siena Wealth Advisory Group. Joe has been a financial advisor for 27 years. Joe is passionate about protecting his clients and their families from the unexpected. Joe loves to travel, read, run marathons and do charity work.

 

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Financial Advisor New Client Onboarding Process: How to Deliver a “Wow” Experience With Rod Gibbings, CFP® (Ep. 16)

Education, Finance, Marketing, Speaking, Uncategorized, , , , , , , ,

Having a very specific financial advisor new client onboarding process can get your relationship off to a great start – help them feel good about choosing you and create referrals early in the new relationship.

In this episode, Referral Coach Bill Cates is joined by Rod Gibbings CFP®, senior executive financial consultant with Gibbings and Associates Private Wealth Management. Rod discusses how he uses his proprietary Transition Navigator financial advisor new client onboarding process to deliver a wow experience. He also shares how he produces a regular flow of video messages to boost client engagement, gain new clients, and acquire more assets to manage.

Rod discusses: 

  • Why he created the Transition Navigator for his new client onboarding process.
  • How he gets many great referrals within the first six months of a new relationship.
  • What prompted him to start recording videos to send to his clients and prospects
  • His amazingly simple production process for recording his videos.

Resources: 

Connect With Rod Gibbings:

Connect With Bill Cates:

About Our Guest:

As a Certified Financial Planner professional, Rod Gibbings provides sound financial advice and support for high net worth families and retirees. He specializes in the areas of intergenerational wealth transfer, comprehensive estate and retiree income planning. His philosophy is simple: “put people and service first.”

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The Truth about Social Media for Financial Advisors with Kristen Walker (Ep. 15)

Education, Finance, Marketing, Speaking, , , , , ,

What is your relationship with social media? 

Social media for financial advisors means different things.

Some advisors have embraced social media as a concept, posting content and occasionally engaging with others, but wonder why they bother because they haven’t seen any noticeable results. 

Other advisors have embraced social media as a way of strengthening their client relationships AND can see a straight line from their activity to acquiring new, in-segment clients. 

In this episode, Bill Cates invites Kristen Walker, vice president of marketing at Michigan Financial Companies to discuss several marketing ideas, including how advisors can implement social media and target marketing into their marketing plan to increase client engagement and attract new clients.

Bill and Kristen discuss: 

  • How much time and energy should advisors dedicate to social media—and where they should be focusing their attention
  • The importance of targeting your in-segment clients
  • What virtual and in-person events are producing results these days
  • Other best practices you can employ in terms of social media for financial advisors 
  • The creative methods her 90 advisors are using to engage with clients

Resources: 

Connect With Kristen Walker:

Connect With Bill Cates:

About Our Guest:

Kristen Walker is the VP of marketing at Michigan Financial companies. 

Her purpose is to help advisors become successful business owners by providing the sales and marketing support, materials, training and expertise to generate new, and retain existing business. She works closely with the marketing department to ensure each of their representatives have their own unique marketing plans that are customized to their specific goals and objectives. As the VP of Marketing, she also oversees the brand image for our firm to increase awareness of Michigan Financial Companies and its affiliates. She places a special focus on the growth and development of their marketing initiatives to help the firm stay ahead of the curve throughout the financial services industry.

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Ep. #14: Financial Advisor Best Practices – What’s Working (and What’s Not)?

Education, Finance, Marketing, Speaking, Uncategorized, , , , , , , ,

Despite all the challenges in reaching qualified prospects, some advisors are doing quite well, while others are not rising to the challenges that we all face. So, what are the financial advisor best practices that separate the wheat from the chaff?

In this episode, Bill Cates interviews Mark Williams, president and CEO of Brokers International, to discuss what we need to think about and do to connect with more Right-Fit Clients™.  Mark speaks to hundreds of financial professionals each year, so he’s in a unique position to see what’s working and where advisors are wasting their resources of time, energy, and dollars.

Bill and Mark discuss:     

  • The top 3 challenges that financial professionals face in terms of client acquisition today.
  • The financial advisor best practices that he believes are gamechangers.
  • Is LinkedIn the “New Cold Calling?”

Connect With Mark Williams:

Connect With Bill Cates:

About Our Guest:

Mark Williams is the President and CEO of Brokers International, one of the industry’s largest field marketing organizations — providing annuity and life insurance solutions to independent insurance and financial professionals across the nation.

Few executives have Mark’s breadth of experience as a differentiator and success across every aspect of the industry. He grew up in an insurance family and has licensed, sold and had exposure to almost every financial vehicle that can be used as a solution to a customer need. He has held crucial roles as an agent, stock broker, independent distributor, captive agent, and head of an FMO.

Mark has a proven track record driving transformation, having helped transform companies such as Allianz, The Hartford, and GamePlan from the inside out. He has spent his career leading sales growth in fixed indexed annuities, life insurance and fixed universal life products as well as directing mortgage leads, developing marketing programs for independent financial professionals and leading strategic initiatives.

Currently, Mark is focused on the future of the insurance industry: from the disruptions of InsurTech and robo-advisors to the changing demographics and needs of customers. He also is an avid mentor helping financial professionals navigate the industry.

 

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Ep. #13: Using Philanthropic Leadership to Grow Your Business and Serve Your Community With Jeff Chaddock

Education, Finance, Marketing, Speaking, Uncategorized, , , , , , , ,

It can be personally rewarding to make a contribution to a philanthropic cause to impact your community. But can philanthropic leadership be professionally rewarding as well?

In this episode, Bill Cates speaks with Jeff Chaddock, a private wealth advisor at Envisage Wealth. Jeff has philanthropy in his DNA, which has been extremely helpful for the charities and people in his community, and has been instrumental in making him a go-to advisor for many.

Jeff discusses:

  • How Jeff uses philanthropic leadership to grow his business
  • What the elements of ‘the trifecta of difference’ can mean for your business.
  • How Jeff has created his incredible business––and what kept him going through doubt
  • Why you should create experiences that have a ‘shelf life’


Resources:  


Connect With Bill Cates:


About Our Guest:

Jeff Chaddock: With over 32 years as a Private Wealth Advisor, Jeffrey Chaddock, CRPC® , APMA® is the CEO of Envisage Wealth, with four offices across Ohio. Jeffrey’s firm manages over 2.5 billion in client assets.  Jeff differentiates his practice by providing numerous civic, social, and educational opportunities for his clients and their guests.  Jeffrey is heavily involved in numerous charitable organizations and serves on the board of trustees at The Ohio University Foundation, where he established the Jeffrey D. Chaddock Endowed Scholarship program.

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Ep. #12: Using the “Wow Factor” to Maximize Client Engagement & Create Advocates with Scott Miller

Education, Finance, Marketing, Speaking, Uncategorized, , , , , , , ,

An engaged client is someone who feels connected to your value and connected to you as an advisor.

Is your business truly maximizing client engagement?

In this episode, Bill Cates speaks with E. Scott Miller, Vice President and Investment Officer at Wells Fargo Advisors. Scott shares how he has created the “wow factor” in his business relationships, and how his client engagement strategy has led to incredible loyalty and, in many cases, a number of referrals.

Scott discusses:

  • The positive impact of using the ‘wow factor’ in your business
  • Some examples of how he has created incredible client engagement and loyalty
  • What he does differently in his business to build loyal business relationships
  • And more!

Connect With Scott Miller:

Connect With Bill Cates:

About Our Guest:

Scott Miller’s experience focuses on the construction and execution of investment strategies for long range retirement and estate planning strategies. His fee-based approach enables him to create tailored financial strategies to help meet specialized wealth management needs. He assists in the design and implementation of qualified retirement plans, and helps plan sponsors manage their fiduciary liability. He advises plan participants how to effectively allocate their retirement investments for maximum diversification and growth potential within stated risk parameters.

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Ep. #11: How to Grow Your Business Without Prospecting With Randy Carver

Education, Finance, Marketing, Speaking, , , , , , ,

Stop prospecting … and let your clients prospect for you! 

Creating great relationships with your clients who value the work you do and value you as a professional will open up the doors to many more in-segment clients.

In this episode, Bill Cates speaks with Randy Carver CRPC®, CDFA®, President and CEO at Carver Financial Services, Inc. Randy discusses how he and his team have brought in 25 new relationships along with $100 million in assets over the last three months without doing any prospecting.

Randy discusses: 

  • How he has found incredible growth in his business over the last few months
  • Why it’s important to differentiate yourself from other investment firms
  • How to get your clients to do the prospecting for you

Resources: 

Connect With Randy Carver:

Connect With Bill Cates:

About Our Guest:

Randy Carver was born in New York City, grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, and spent his teen years in Toronto, Canada. As a teenager, Randy started and ran several successful businesses, including a catering firm and two home renovation companies. He attended Oberlin College where he earned his degree in economics. Upon graduating in 1987, Randy opened a branch office for a regional brokerage firm in Mentor, Ohio. The office became one of the company’s most successful within three years.

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Ep. #10: Adding a Target Market to An Already Successful Practice with Tiffany Charles

Education, Finance, Marketing, Speaking, , ,

Even advisors who are already successful may consider turning some of their focus to a specific target market. They often wonder if they should create a new company name and/or a new website to reflect that specific niche.

There is no right or wrong answer here. 

In this episode, Bill Cates speaks with Tiffany Charles, Chief Growth Officer of two financial firms; Destiny Capital and Entrepreneur Aligned. This interview focuses on the process that Tiffany and her partners went through to establish an entirely new target market and brand for their business without losing the traditional part of their practice.  

Tiffany discusses:

  • Why she decided to focus on serving certain types of entrepreneurs.
  • The fears, risks and opportunities of the new business approach.
  • The decision to create an entirely new website so as to convey the right messaging that would attract their Right-Fit Clients™ within that specific target market.

Resources: 

Connect With Bill Cates:

Connect With Tiffany Charles:

About Our Guest: 

Tiffany Charles is the Chief Growth Officer of two financial firms; Destiny Capital and  Entrepreneur Aligned. Her role is all about growing and expanding opportunities to deliver an unparalleled experience for her clients and team. Her passion is to empower entrepreneurs to live their highest vision and have the opportunity to positively change the world!

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Ep. #9: Attract More Ideal Clients Using Reputation Marketing with Malcolm Ethridge CFP®, CRPC®

Education, Finance, Marketing, Speaking, , , , , ,

The right mix of reputation marketing strategies, such as target marketing, hosting a podcast, and even getting paid to speak at events, all work together to bring more right-fit prospects into your business.

In this episode, Bill Cates is joined by Malcolm Ethridge CFP®, CRPC®, Executive Vice President and Financial Planner at CIC Wealth Management. Malcolm discusses how his reputation marketing efforts have changed his business dramatically over the last six months, including how he has continued to get qualified prospects contacting him because of the reputation he has created in a very specific target market.

Malcolm discusses: 

  • Why he chose to target the technology market––and what specific value he brings to clients
  • How his reputation within the market benefits his business
  • How much easier it is to get referrals by focusing on a narrow target market
  • Two strategies which played a significant role in building his business reputation

Resources: 

Connect With Malcolm:

Connect With Bill Cates:   

About Our Guest:

Malcolm Ethridge is a Certified Financial Planner™, speaker, blogger, and self-proclaimed personal finance nerd. His areas of expertise include retirement planning, investment portfolio development, tax planning, insurance, stock options and other executive benefits. He leverages that expertise to help senior managers and small business owners in tech make sense of some of the most complex financial situations that working professionals tend to face.

 

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Ep. #8: How to Ensure an Authentic Client Experience with Albert Fox CFP®, CIMA®

Education, Finance, Marketing, Speaking, Uncategorized, , , , ,

Financial advisors who focus on an authentic client experience, tend to form the strongest bonds with their clients – where the clients see their advisor as irreplaceable. 

In this episode, Referral Coach Bill Cates is joined by Albert Fox CFP®, CIMA®, executive director and financial advisor at Fox, Penberthy & Dehn. Al discusses how he worked to boost engagement with his clients and maintain truly authentic connections that maximize their client experience. Al also shares how he leverages those connections into introductions to more right-fit prospects.

Albert discusses: 

  • What keeps him performing as a top advisor.
  • What client engagement and an authentic client experience means to him.
  • How he has worked with his team to make authentic connections.
  • How he leverages a great client connection into new clients.

Connect With Bill Cates:

About Our Guest:

Albert A. Fox: Albert Fox CFP®, CIMA® is an executive director and financial advisor with Fox, Penberthy & Dehn, who works directly with high-net worth individuals, families, and small business owners to help them achieve their financial goals. He’s ultimate mission is to inspire a level of confidence in his clients’ financial well-being, so they may pursue their passions and enjoy and preserve the wealth they’ve created. Experience, insight, action. These intrinsic qualities serve as the foundation of Albert’s practice.

Connect With Albert Fox:

 

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