Tag Archives: Marketing Strategy

Ep. 112 – Referrals Aren’t Dead But Are They Enough?  A Marketing Conversation with Molly McClure



In this episode of the Top Advisor Podcast, Bill Cates sits down with Molly McClure, Executive Director of Marketing at OnePoint BFG Wealth Partners, to look at how prospects choose a financial advisor today.

A trusted introduction may put an advisor at the top of the list, but prospects still do their homework. They check your website. They look at your LinkedIn profile. They search Google, and increasingly, they ask AI.  Yup!  For better or worse, AI is playing a huge role in this dynamic now.

Molly shares what advisors can do to strengthen that next step and make sure their marketing supports the tried and true referral process.

Here are 3 Key Takeaways:

  1. The Referral Gets You Considered:
    A warm introduction opens the door. Your online presence helps the prospect decide whether to walk through it. The referral comes with borrowed trust. Your online presence can increase that – if done properly.
  2. Your Message Has to Be Specific:
    Does your website clearly show who you help, what makes you different, and why the prospect should call you? Do your new prospects “see themselves” in how you talk about your value?
  3. Client Surveys Can Start Better Conversations:
    Client survey results can lead you to clients who are willing to refer but maybe haven’t done so… yet. This creates a natural opportunity to follow up and help them recognize who may be a good fit.

 

Listen in for a smart, practical conversation about blending referrals and marketing, with advice on creating useful content, improving search visibility, simplifying website forms, and making sure your links and follow-up systems work, so you can become the first call clients make when life gets complex.

Don’t forget to check out the show notes for free resources and get ready to turn great ideas into meaningful action!

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Resources:

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About Our Guest

Molly McClure is the Executive Director of Marketing at OnePoint BFG Wealth Partners, where she leads the firm’s marketing strategy and brand growth.

With nearly 20 years of experience in technology, financial services, and fintech, Molly is known for making complex ideas clear and building marketing programs that deliver real results. Before joining OnePoint BFG, she led U.S. marketing for a fintech division of Invesco and helped drive significant growth in both revenue and brand awareness.

Molly was also named the 2025 Gold Stevie Award winner for Marketing Executive of the Year. A Michigan native, she credits her early years working on her grandparents’ cherry farm with shaping her hands-on approach to leadership.


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



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.