Category Archives: Uncategorized

Episode #70 Strategic Email Marketing for Financial Advisors with James Pollard

August 7, 2024Education, Finance, Leadership, Marketing, Prospecting, Speaking, Top Advisors, UncategorizedBehavioral Psychology, Client Acquisition, Client Experience & Loyalty, COI's, Communicating Your Value, Creating Advocates, Effective Communication, Email Content, Email Marketing, Engagement, Financial Advisors, James Pollard, Lead Generation, Leadership, Life Balance, Marketing, Marketing Strategy, Objections, Philanthropy, Podcast, Practice Management, Prospecting, Referrals & Introductions, Relationship Building, Social Media, Storytelling Techniques, Target Marketing, Targeting, Top Advisor, Trusttopadvisorpodcast

Is email marketing for financial advisors dead? Not by a long shot!

Are there productive and unproductive ways to use email in your marketing process? You bet!

Email is still an effective and affordable marketing/prospecting tool that – if used correctly – can contribute significantly to your new-client growth.

Discover the secret to leveraging the potent power of personalized email marketing for financial advisors!

In this episode, Referral Coach Bill Cates interviews James Pollard, the host of The Financial Advisor Marketing Podcast and founder of TheAdvisorCoach.com.

Discover the secrets to cutting through the email clutter, attracting Right-Fit Clients™, and leveraging email to increase your revenue without boosting marketing expenses.

Bill & James discuss:

The myth that email marketing for financial advisors is dead and revealing its unparalleled efficiency in the financial advisory realm.
Getting started with email marketing, including the critical steps to follow in order to achieve success.
The crucial role of personalizing your emails and the significant impact it can have on client engagement and relationship building.
The most effective subject lines for email marketing campaigns.
The biggest mistakes advisors make with email marketing.
Strategic calls to action and maximizing conversion rates.
Addressing objections and building trust with potential clients.
… And more!

Resources:

Connect With Bill Cates:

Connect With James Pollard:

About James Pollard:

James Pollard is the host of the “Financial Advisor Marketing” podcast, which boasts over 250 episodes specifically crafted to assist financial advisors in client acquisition.

He is also the founder of TheAdvisorCoach.com, a leading resource in the financial advice industry known for its extensive business-building information. Since 2015, his products and services have aided over 50,000 financial advisors in expanding their clientele.

James’ expertise has been featured in esteemed publications such as Forbes, Financial Advisor Magazine, and The Journal of Financial Planning.

In addition, he has had the honor of addressing financial advisor groups worldwide, engaging audiences ranging from small, intimate gatherings of ten to large conferences with thousands of attendees.

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Episode #54 Family Legacy Planning: Guiding Your Clients on the Path to Generational Wealth with Randy Jones

December 13, 2023Education, Finance, Marketing, Speaking, UncategorizedEmpowering Conversations, Financial Advice, Financial Advisors, Financial Assets, Financial Goals, Financial Literacy, Financial Planning, Generational Wealth, Goals, Gratitude, Insurance, Intellectual Growth, Legacy, Legacy Planning, Mindset, Motivations, Obstacles, Physical Well-being, Podcast, Randy Jones, Risk Assessment, Top Advisor, Trust, Wealth Managementtopadvisorpodcast

Family legacy planning involves more than just helping your clients accumulate assets.

Creating a lasting legacy for your clients means crafting a set of values, purpose, and financial knowledge that lasts for generations.

In this episode, Referral Coach Bill Cates interviews Randy Jones, Wealth Management Advisor at Financial Growth Partners. Randy shares his insights on family legacy planning, emphasizing the need to connect all aspects of a client’s life to create a comprehensive financial plan. He introduces his legacy system for creating generational wealth and discusses the interconnectedness of money and time. Randy also shares the importance of creating a family constitution to guide future generations.

Bill and Randy discuss:

Randy’s unconventional path to becoming a wealth management advisor.
Purpose Driven Financial Planning – it’s not just about the money.
Randy’s approach of family legacy planning that evolves and grows with clients.
Randy’s Legacy System and why to focus on our legacy to our future generations.
The different assets individuals have, including physical, intellectual, ethical, and material assets, and their importance in building a legacy.
The distinction between flashy wealth and true wealth.
The significance of early financial education and instilling values in children.
What you need to know about The Family Constitution and The Synergy Consortium.
… And more!

Resources:

RapidFire Referrals

Connect With Bill Cates:

Connect With Randy Jones:

About Randy Jones:

Randy Jones has been in the finance industry for 26 years. As a wealth management advisor at a financial services company, Randy has access to all the same products and programs as any other financial advisor, but that’s not why people come to him.

They come to him for a plan. Randy’s plans are not in a leather-bound book that you put on a shelf in hopes of reading someday. They are plans that you can live, and they change and grow with you and your family.

In life, you have other assets that mean more to you than money. Yet, for most people money has/is/will be more of an obstacle than an asset. You can change this if you are willing to change the way you think. You first must ask yourself “Do I want another product, or do I want a plan?”

Randy helps you create your experiences. He teaches “It’s better to givethan to receive.” He helps you live your dreams, appreciate life, and live in the wow!

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Episode #53 Using Financial Advisor Podcasts to Acquire Ideal Clients with Misty Lynch, CFP®

November 29, 2023Education, Finance, Marketing, Speaking, UncategorizedAnxiety, Attitudes, Beliefs, Budgets, Care, Careers, Certified Financial Planner, Certified Life Coach, Clients, Coaching Techniques, Conditioning, Credibility, Emotions, Entrepreneurship, Experiences, Families, Finances, Financial Advisors, Financial Decisions, Financial Habits, Financial Literacy, Financial Planning, Goals, Handling Finances, Happiness, Income, Informed Financial Decisions, Investment Management, Investopedia, Lawyer, Leads, Lifestyle, Misty Lynch, Money, Money Mindset, Money Stress, Networking, Personal Growth, Podcast, Positive Impact, Potential Clients, Recession, Referrals, Relationships, Social Media, Spending, Success, Top Advisor, Vulnerability, Women Business Owners, Word of Mouthtopadvisorpodcast

Have you ever wondered if the hosts of financial advisor podcasts actually get new clients from it? Is all the effort worth it?

And, by the way, do many of your prospects and clients seem to have limiting beliefs and mistaken assumptions about money?

In this episode, Referral Coach Bill Cates and his guest Misty Lynch, CFP®, author of the book Demystifying Money and host of the Demystifying Money Podcast have a lively discussion on these two (and other) topics.

Misty shares her journey from a financially struggling family to becoming a top financial advisor, highlighting the power of a positive money mindset.

She explains how her unique blend of financial planning and life coaching helps clients overcome financial challenges and make informed decisions.

Additionally, Misty discusses the power of financial advisor podcasts, and reveals how podcasting has helped her acquire more ideal clients and bring great value to many listeners.

Bill and Misty discuss:

Her personal story of how her interest in finance started in grade school and was solidified by her parents’ financial struggles.
Her decision to marry become both a Certified Financial Planner AND a Certified Life Coach.
Why she wrote her book Demystifying Money and how it serves as a credibility builder, lead magnet, and referral tool.
How she went from hosting a Radio Show to her current podcast, and how it helps her attract ideal new clients.
The two effective strategies to monetize financial advisor podcasts.
Her experience as the host of the television show HeartBroke, a money-makeover show with ten different couples – revealing their money mindsets and improving their financial situation.
…And more!

Resources:

Connect With Bill Cates:

Connect With Misty Lynch:

About Misty Lynch:

Misty Lynch, CFP®, is a personal finance expert and the Owner and CEO of Sound View Financial Advisors, LLC. Misty hosts the unscripted reality show HEARTBROKE and the Demystifying Money podcast. She is also the author of DEMYSTIFYING MONEY and a personal finance expert and resource for media outlets, including The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, CNBC, CNN, Investopedia, Real Simple, Student Loan Hero, and many others.

Investopedia named her one of the Top 100 Financial Advisors in 2021, and US News and World Report called her one of the 9 Women in Finance to Follow “because sometimes you need life advice, not just financial advice.”

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Episode #52 Using Curiosity to Ignite Your Prospecting & Client Acquisition with Chris Ridgway

November 15, 2023Education, Finance, Marketing, Speaking, UncategorizedAccountants, Aligning Values, Attorneys, Benefits, Bill Cates, C-Suite Executives, Client Acquisition Strategy, Clients, Common Interests, Credibility, Curiosity, Financial Advisors, Financial Advisory Business, Follow-up, Helping Others, HR, Initial Conversation, Insights, Knowledge, Meetings, Partnership, Plant Directors, Podcast, Positive Impact, Prospects, Referrals, Spreading Value, Tax Preparers, Tax Strategists, Top Advisor, Webinarstopadvisorpodcast

While curiosity may have killed the cat, it didn’t hurt this advisor!

How about you? Have you developed a strong Curiosity Muscle? Do you exercise it often as you endeavor to bring more ideal clients into your business?

Curiosity will serve you well in this business:

You will meet new people.
You will serve your clients better by knowing more about them.
You will learn about other’s in your clients’ lives who could be candidates for your important work.

Today’s featured guest, Chris Ridgway, has attained rapid success in this business through personal observation, curiosity, and a strong belief in his value.

In this episode, Referral Coach Bill Cates interviews Chris Ridgway, Growth and Development Director & Financial Advisor with Northwestern Mutual. They explore the power of curiosity in the financial advisory industry, emphasizing the importance of being genuinely interested in people and their stories. Additionally, Chris shares his unique approach to client acquisition through observation and connection, finding common interests, and aligning values.

Bill and Chris discuss:

Curiosity as a valuable trait for financial advisors.
How Chris implements personal observation in daily interactions.
How to obtain the contact information of prospects, and the reason for follow-up after a conversation.
Chris’ unique “Pillar of the Community” approach to meeting CEOs and other high-level prospects.
How laying out your entire process and philosophy to Centers of Influence can help build trust and referability while creating productive COI relationships.
The power of nesting in a company to turbo-charge prospecting opportunities.
…And more!

Resources:

Connect With Bill Cates:

Connect With Chris Ridgway:

LinkedIn: Chris Ridgway

About Chris Ridgway:

Chris Ridgway is the Growth and Development Director & Financial Advisor at Northwestern Mutual.

Chris believes the starting point of any financial conversation should be with you — your life, your family, your priorities, and your goals. He will listen to what’s important to you and design a financial plan from multiple strategies specifically designed to help get you where you want to be.

Chris is committed to helping you get closer to your dreams. When you partner with him, you can expect a judgment-free, pressure-free environment with conversations that will be jargon-free. Chris strives to provide you with the best experience possible

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Episode #51 Creating Interesting, Edgy, and Authentic Content Marketing for Financial Advisors That Turns Prospects into Clients with David B. Armstrong, CFA

November 1, 2023Education, Finance, Marketing, Speaking, UncategorizedAligning with Clients, Authenticity in Messaging, Compliance Burdens, Compliance Restrictions, Creative Communication, Cultural Shift, Dave Armstrong, Differentiation in the Financial Industry, Educational Content, Financial Advisors, Financial Arrangements, Financial Planning, Lack of Creativity, Market Updates, Marketing for Financial Advisors, Podcast, Podcast Statistics, Relatable Content, Starting Own Firm, Target Market, Top Advisor, Traditional Law Firm-Type Office, Unique Messaging, Valuable Insights, Wealth Managementtopadvisorpodcast

This is an interview you don’t want to miss.

David Armstrong, CFA has found a way to message his value and attract new clients who are perfect for his business.

He does it in a genuine, compelling, and slightly fun way.

In this episode, Referral Coach Bill Cates interviews David Armstrong, President & Co-Founder of Monument Wealth Management. They explore the importance of finding the right fit with clients and the value of clear and compelling messaging. They talk about the role of differentiation in the financial industry and the benefits of content marketing for financial advisors.

Bill and Dave discuss:

The importance of differentiation and how to convey that to prospective clients.
Why losing a client can be a “gift” to the firm.
The powerful crossroads where Digital Marketing & Referrals come together to produce a flow of ideal clients.
How Dave and his team incorporate humor into their website and marketing materials to create an authentic and relatable brand.
Dave’s decision to bring dogs to the office, the positive response from clients, and the impact on the firm’s culture and branding.
How Dave’s outspoken “critic” of the financial services industry has become a magnet for great clients.
Reasons for starting a podcast as a means to better communicate important information and connect with clients.
How the right content marketing for financial advisors can be used to generate a clear and tangible ROI.
…And more!

Resources:

Connect With Bill Cates:

Connect With Dave Armstrng:

LinkedIn: Dave Armstrong

About our guest:

Dave Armstrong discovered his passion for finance in his mid-20s. Unable to spend money over several different deployments while serving in the Marine Corps, he became a self-taught investor. He proudly remembers his investing performance to be, “Along with a few bucks of cash income as a bouncer, good enough to pay for a graduate degree, a new car, and two years of living expenses.”

After returning home from active duty for an MBA at his alma mater, the University of South Carolina, Dave became a CFA Charterholder and started working at a large Wall Street firm in New York City. After 8 years, it became abundantly clear to Dave that the financial services industry was drowning in a sea of sameness. He felt that true wealth planning either didn’t exist or was nothing more than a smokescreen to generate a generic asset allocation and sell products. Creativity was nonexistent, the culture was focused on shareholder profits first, and advisors were accountable to sales managers, not their clients.

He was unimpressed, to say the least—and very, very bored. So, fed up with it all, he co-founded Monument Wealth Management in May of 2008 and experienced a very real-life example of the difficulty in market timing.

Dave is a combat veteran and served as an officer in the United States Marines Corps on both active duty and in the reserves, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He proudly tackled his post-retirement, mid-life crisis head-on by journeying out on a solo, month-long backpacking trip along the Pacific Crest Trail which totaled over 200 miles through the California Sierra Mountains.

He currently hosts the OFF THE WALL podcast with co-host Jessica Gibbs, where they interview top experts on topics aimed at helping founders and high-earning execs build wealth with purpose.

He also currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation which stewards the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico Virginia, The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia and The Station Foundation which assists Special Operations warriors navigate the rough terrain of transition and reintegration back to civilian life.

His passions outside of work are fostering dogs for the Lab Rescue of Central Potomac, cheering on his beloved Gamecocks, quoting 80’s movies, and scoring under 100 on the golf course. His two current hobbies are hosting the Moments in Leadership podcast, where he conducts long-form interviews with senior military leaders, and Ham Radio but admits that could change at any moment because his wife Sara keeps calling him a dork.

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Episode #50 How Advisors Can Reverse a Client’s Negative Relationship with Money with Ellen Rogin, CPA, CFP®

October 18, 2023Education, Finance, Marketing, Speaking, Uncategorized2008 Market Downturn, Abundance, Anxiety, Assisting Others, Author, Beliefs About Money, Business, Business Opportunities, Client Meetings, Client Relationship, Economic Volatility, Ellen Rogin, Emotional Relationship, Emotions And Fears, Empathy, Fears And Anxieties, Financial Advisors, Generosity, Gratitude, Growth Opportunity, Market Volatility, Mindset, Mood And Energy, New York Times Bestseller, Peace Of Mind, Podcast, Positive Work Environment, Relationship With Money, Smart Money Moves, Top Advisor, Wealth Managementtopadvisorpodcast

To say that people have an emotional relationship with money would be an understatement!

While you may be a CFP, or a ChFC, or any number of the many certifications available in this industry, perhaps the most important thing you could do to serve your clients is obtain an PhD in psychology. (Smile)

Today, my featured guest and I are going to talk about some of the emotions both YOU and YOUR CLIENTS have around money – especially when the market and/or the economy are sagging or volatile.

Much has been written about the beliefs and emotions around the relationship with money that our clients bring with them, and its impact on the work we do.

That being said… YOUR beliefs and emotions around money will shape your thoughts, decisions, and ADVICE. For you and for your clients, these beliefs and emotions are often unconscious, but need to be considered in order to create the best possible plans and recommendations for your clients.

Your clients bring their money stress to you. How you receive that stress, how you handle your own money stress, and the energy you bring to youe client meetings can help you build the strongest possible client relationships.

In this episode, Referral Coach Bill Cates interviews Ellen Rogin CPA, CFP®, Abundance Activist, Financial Intuitive, and a New York Times best-selling author. This interview is an exploration of how your clients’ emotions and beliefs interact with your own emotions and beliefs – to either reduce or increase client stress.

Bill and Ellen discuss:

The biggest mistake advisors make during client meetings.
A study that demonstrates that when a client is fearful about their money, their IQ goes down, along with their capacity to make intelligent decisions.
The emotional aspects of people’s relationship with money, and how it affects both advisors and clients.
Why a down or volatile market can be the best time for acquiring new clients.
How most advisors stay on the surface with their clients when digging a little deeper will serve both the client and the advisor.
Why advisors should regularly check in on clients’ fears and concerns to provide ongoing support and reassurance.
Why advisors need to bring intentional energy to their client meetings.
How advisors can thrive and grow their businesses during economic downturns.
The benefits of practicing gratitude, such as lower stress, longer life, better health, and increased income.
How your acts of generosity can reduce stress and attract more business.
…And more!

Resources:

Connect With Bill Cates:

Connect With Ellen Rogin:

About Ellen Rogin:

Ellen Rogin is a money expert and financial intuitive who helps people transform their relationships with money so they can have happier, more abundant lives. Her book, Picture Your Prosperity, was a New York Times bestseller, and her work has been featured on CNBC, ABC, NPR, TIME, and Oprah Magazine.

As a CPA and CFP®, Ellen worked for many years as a traditional financial advisor before selling her successful wealth management firm. She now combines her intuitive abilities and financial experience to connect with the energy of money and deliver “Messages from Money” to her clients. Sounds weird? It did at first to Ellen, too! Yet people worldwide have found her understanding of their relationships with money to be uncanny.

Ellen’s consultations help people gain insights on how to grow their businesses, expand their wealth, and bring an increased sense of peace around money. She is also a sought-after speaker and has trained and coached thousands of conscious financial advisors and entrepreneurs worldwide to use the “Art of Prosperity” to grow their businesses and their wealth.

Ellen serves on the Board of Directors for Metropolitan Capital Bank and Trust and The Ghana Scholarship Fund. She earned her MBA at NYU Stern School of Business.

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Episode #49 LinkedIn for Financial Advisors: Insider Strategies for Getting Your Posts Seen with Richard Bliss

October 4, 2023Education, Finance, Marketing, Speaking, UncategorizedAudience, Comments, Conversation with the Audience, Engagement and Conversation, Engaging Prospects, Financial Advisors, Increasing Profile Views, Influencer, Influencer Strategy, LinkedIn, LinkedIn Algorithm, Online Presence, Podcast, Prospects, Real-Life Photos, Recent Content, Relationships, Social Media, Strategies, Tactics, Text-Only Posts, Top Advisor, Video Contenttopadvisorpodcast

I’m willing to wager that you and your marketing team have no clue how the LinkedIn algorithm works.

And because of that, you are wasting precious resources (time and dollars) on posting content that hardly anyone sees. So, what are the best strategies on LinkedIn for financial advisors to get their posts seen?

LinkedIn has a different business model than most other social media platforms. Therefore, how you use LinkedIn for business growth requires a unique strategic approach.

In this episode, Bill Cates interviews Richard Bliss, CEO of BlissPoint and Author of DigitalFirst Leadership. They explore 3 big topics around LinkedIn for financial advisors, designed to help you turn the social media platform into an effective business-building tool:

How the LinkedIn algorithm works and how you can use this knowledge to your advantage for better results.
How to expand your reach and enhance your credibility without having to make posts (therefore, saving you the headache of getting compliance to approve your content creation).
A little-known strategy for reaching hard-to-reach prospects.

In this eye-opening session, Bill and Richard discuss:

Why videos and clip art often work against you on LinkedIn while “real photos” of achievements or personal moments generate significantly more engagement.
The factors that determine the value of a post – from engagement metrics like Likes and Comments to the ever-important Dwell Time.
The power of a “commenting strategy” that engages with others’ content in a way that leads to new connections and meaningful conversations.
How to position yourself as a trusted authority on LinkedIn and increase your profile views exponentially.
The power of mentioning prospects in your posts and effectively addressing their pain points – leading them to engage with you in a conversation.
The detrimental impact of “posting and ghosting,” and how engaging in conversations within the first hour of posting can boost your impressions by 30%.
The fact that if you get 10 meaningful comments to one of your posts with the first hour, LinkedIn will guarantee 1,000 impressions.
The most effective way to reach out to high-value prospects on LinkedIn for financial advisors to gain their attention, have them connect with you, and start a meaningful conversation.
… And so much more!

Resources:

RapidFire Referrals

Connect With Bill Cates:

Connect With Richard Bliss:

About our guest:

Richard Bliss is the founder of BlissPoint Consulting, a social media consulting company that helps improve executives’ online communications and sales teams’ social selling behaviors. A LinkedIn Top Voices Influencer, experienced executive communications manager, and social media coach, Richard has helped thousands of people master social media tools and become fluent in social conversations.

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Episode #48 Conversations about Longevity Planning and Preparing for the Unexpected with Steve Gresham

September 20, 2023Education, Finance, Marketing, Speaking, UncategorizedAging Individuals, Aging Parents, Client Service Model, Decision-Making, Deep Relationships, Empathy, Family Conversations, Financial Advisors, Financial Planning, Health Events, Healthcare, Investment Managers, Life Transitions, Living Arrangements, Longevity Planning, Podcast, Power of Attorney, Retirement, Risk Managers, Significant Life Events, Success Story, Team of Professionals, Top Advisor, Value Proposition, Vulnerabilitytopadvisorpodcast

This may be one of the most important interviews we’ve done since the inception of Top Advisor Podcast.

The very best advisors know that their job is more than managing investments or selling insurance. The very best advisors are increasingly focused on Longevity Planning for the Baby Boomer clients.

These advisors prioritize building strong, meaningful connections with their clients, getting to know their individual life stories, and providing guidance through critical life-changing events.

In this episode, Referral Coach Bill Cates and Steve Gresham delve into the fascinating world of longevity planning and the importance of being prepared for unexpected events. As advisors, it’s crucial for us to anticipate these events and help our clients navigate through them with expertise and care.

You’ll hear real-life examples of advisors who have let their clients down in this area as well as examples of advisors who showed up big time for their clients.

But it doesn’t stop there. Bill and Steve explore the growing demographic wave of older individuals and the unique challenges they face. Longevity planning is not something to be taken lightly.

Steve Gresham & Bill Cates discuss:

The concept of “family conversation” and why it is important for advisors to have the courage to engage with their clients.
The 7 moments that matter in a client’s life AND the 7 phone calls every advisor should be prepared to receive.
Why clients may hesitate to share personal health information with their advisors due to concerns about empathy and a safe space.
The life events that may be a surprise to clients – but not to their advisors – who should be prepared and experienced in dealing with them.
How financial advisors can ensure that they are addressing the concerns and needs of aging clients, even if the clients may feel hesitant to share personal health information.
What longevity planning is, and key issues to consider when creating a longevity plan for clients.
Stories of success and failure in longevity planning.
…And so much more!

As always, this episode is packed with valuable information and practical strategies for financial advisors to better serve their clients. So, get ready to learn the secrets to success in the world of longevity planning as we dive into an engaging conversation with Steve Gresham.

Resources:

RapidFire Referrals

Connect With Bill Cates:

Connect With Steve Gresham:

About Steve Gresham:

Steve Gresham is a leader in understanding trends facing the wealth management industry.

Steve is the Chief Executive Officer of The Execution Project, which provides engaging content and executive consulting services to help firms and their advisors meet the needs of the retiring age wave. He is also the managing partner of the premier executive community in the financial services industry, Next Chapter, and acts as a senior educational advisor to the Alliance for Lifetime Income.

Prior to founding his consulting firm, he was EVP and Head of the Private Client Group at Fidelity Investments from 2008-2017. During this time, he drove the retail investor strategy that more than doubled client households to 1.6 million and assets under administration to more than $2 trillion. With a focus on the client experience, the Private Client Group team ended net asset outflow and pushed the client satisfaction score from 8 to 63.

Steve joined Fidelity in October 2008 after seven years of helping to lead the turnaround of The Phoenix Companies and its successful asset management spinoff, Virtus Investment Partners (NYSE -VRTS).

Gresham has a history of achieving results across firms. In addition to his success at Fidelity, he led successful efforts as an executive or consultant at many financial services companies in the global marketplace, including:

Merrill Lynch Private Wealth International’s Private Wealth offering
Merrill Lynch Canada
The Smith Barney Consulting Group
The Citigroup Private Bank
The Charles Schwab Company
AGF Funds
Prudential
AIM Distributors

He has a Telly Award for innovation in financial services marketing, a Mutual Fund Marketer of the Year Award by Institutional Investor/Fund Action, and was recognized with the Pioneer Award for lifetime industry contributions from the Money Management Institute.

When Steve is not consulting/speaking on wealth management or financial technology, Steve can be found in his woodshop creating custom works of art for local and national clients.

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Episode #47 From Bucket Lists to Live It Lists – an Advisor’s path to $1M in Annual Production in 5 Years with Nicole Middendorf, CDFA

September 6, 2023Education, Finance, Marketing, Speaking, UncategorizedAuthor, Client Acquisition Strategies, Client Meetings, Conferences, Divorce, Financial Advisors, Financially Savvy, Followers, Hosting Events, LinkedIn, Material Possessions, Meaningful Connections, Media Outlets, Morgan Stanley, Nicole Middendorp, Optimize LinkedIn Presence, Podcast, ROI, Spending Money on Experiences, Top Advisor, Wealth Management, Womentopadvisorpodcast

From $0 to $1M in annual production in only 5 years sounds impossible, right? Think again.

Successful wealth advisor and certified divorce financial analyst, Nicole Middendorf, CDFA, joins us to share her journey from a troubled marriage to discovering her true purpose and helping others along the way – while building a truly Top Advisor practice.

To distract from her divorce, she created her Live It List to help her find joy by pursuing meaningful experiences. She now brings her Live It List concept to her clients to help them do the same.

During this lively conversation, Nicole shares her insights about combining financial planning with helping clients achieve their goals and dreams.

Nicole also discusses her decision to go independent and build a team around her, as well as her client acquisition strategies, including hosting events and utilizing LinkedIn.

Bill and Nicole discuss how Nicole:

Transitioned from being a wirehouse advisor to running her own wealth management firm, building her team, and becoming a $1M producer in only 5 years.
Uses her Live It List concept to add a comprehensive dimension to financial planning that very few advisors consider.
Uses her Live It List concept as a tremendous referral generator, as well as creating a huge following on social media and in her community.
Hosts Live It List events and utilizes LinkedIn to attract and win ideal clients.
Leverages TV appearances to boost her client acquisition and overall reputation.
…And so much more!

Resources:

Connect With Bill Cates:

Connect With Nicole Middendorf:

About Nicole Middendorf:

Nicole Middendorf is a knowledge junkie, a mentor, and a born coach. She is an entrepreneur who has run her own business since 2003. Nicole is the author of five books and the mother of two phenomenal children. She is also a world traveler, a philanthropist, and an accomplished public speaker.

As a speaker, Nicole shares a real-life perspective on life and happiness with audiences across the country. Her primary goal is to inspire others to make real changes in their lives by taking complicated things, making them easy to understand, and giving actionable items to make change.

Nicole loves to work hard to empower individuals to make crucial, positive changes in their own lives. Nicole’s books have received local and national press coverage. She has become known for her thoughtful, concise quotes, relaxed on-air presence, and articulate delivery during both radio and television interviews.

The world needs more people—especially women—to be financially savvy, wholly independent, happy, and living a life of balance. Through Nicole’s writing, public speaking, coaching program, and work, she wants to be the one who supports them on all levels.

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Episode #46 The Why & How to Writing a Book That Attracts Ideal Financial Advisory Clients with Paul G. McManus

August 23, 2023Education, Finance, Marketing, Speaking, UncategorizedAuthority Marketing, Book Publishing, Business Development, Case Study, CPAs, Expert, Financial Professionals, Ideal Clients, Influencer, Insights Interviews, LinkedIn, Niche Market, Short Book, Target Markettopadvisorpodcast

Have you ever pondered the idea of writing a book? You know that it could boost your credibility, demonstrate your expertise, and serve as an impressive introduction to your clients and centers of influence. So why haven’t you done it yet? More than likely, it feels overwhelming – you don’t have the time or it’s beyond your capabilities, or both!

Fear not, in a truly enlightening episode, Bill sits down with Paul G. McManus, author of The Short Book Formula: A Financial Professional’s Guide to Writing a Book in 6 Weeks to Attract Ideal Clients. Together, they’ll guide you through the process and dive deep into the world of writing, producing, and leveraging a book to generate more clients. They debunk the fears and mistaken assumptions that may have held you back – until now.

McManus unveils a game-changing formula for writing a book in just six weeks—a formula that has already empowered over 500 financial advisors and other professionals to establish their authority and credibility with their very own written work.

But there’s more. McManus also delves into the untapped power of LinkedIn as a business development tool. He reveals the secrets to attracting and converting your ideal clients through this dynamic platform.

PLUS – Paul and Bill discuss 3 case studies from advisors who have used their book to create unexpectedly significant growth.

If you’ve ever wondered about the potential of having your own book, fretted over your ability to write one, and wondered about the ROI, this episode is a must-listen.

Bill and Paul discuss:

The definition of authority marketing and how it can help you attract more ideal clients.
How financial professionals can write a short (and high-quality) book in only six weeks.
The benefits of writing a book as a meaningful way to establish yourself as an expert.
Case Study #1: Mark Miller, a successful financial advisor who used his book The Tax-Free Business Owner to attract his ideal business-owner clients
Case Study #2: Alex Sorkin’s business model of working exclusively with CPAs, and how he uses his book as bait to attract them on LinkedIn.
Case Study #3: Michael Budnick’s book, The Prosperous Nurse, is the first in a series of short books targeted to medical professionals.
The benefits of a shorter book, including lower printing costs and the ability to give it away easily.
…And more!

Resources:

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Connect With Paul McManus:

About Paul McManus:

Paul G. McManus is the founder of More Clients More Fun LLC, MCMF Publishing, Creator of The Million Dollar Producer LinkedIn Program, and host of The Million Dollar Producer Show Podcast. He has worked closely with over 500+ financial advisors, CPAs, life insurance producers, and business advisors since 2015. He is also the author of Million Dollar Producer: The Secret Playbook For Financial Professionals To Land High-Value Clients Using LinkedIn. He lives in San Diego, California with his wife Atsuko and his two Boston Terriers, Moo and Potato Chips.

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