Tag Archives: Podcast

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Ep. #20: Cultivating a Company Culture that Drives Long-Term Success with Scott Leibfried, ChFC®, APMA®

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

How much of a difference does your company culture really make for your clients and your employees?

In this episode, Bill invites Scott Leibfried to talk about the “Premium Client Experience” and how his years in the industry have helped him develop the toolkit to strengthen his clients’ and employees’ relationship with his business.

Bill and Scott discuss: 

  • The culture of Scott’s business, and how it has evolved with their growth
  • What made Scott think deeper about the importance of work culture
  • How company culture impacts every component of a business
  • How Scott’s employees’ values shaped their culture and cultivated long-term success
  • How the “Premium Client Experience” demonstrates the way that little touches can make a big difference
  • And so much more!

Resources: 

Connect with Scott Leibfried

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About Our Guest:

Scott Leibfried APMA, ChFC is a Private Wealth Advisor at StackStone Wealth, a private advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. Scott aims to develop a personalized financial plan for his clients so they can gain the confidence they need to focus on what matters to them most in life. 

He has built a culture design to provide his clients with the best possible experience in the workplace, and at the same time allows his firm, including his staff to flourish! The net result of this intentional culture is that his clients do his marketing for him, meaning they have become advocates for him. They send qualified prospects to him on a regular basis. He has been able to retain and attract great talent for his team.

Scott became a private wealth advisor in 1998 when he founded StackStone which headquartered in Dubuque. He also became a pilot in 2011, flying every week for business. He frequently plays pickleball and tennis as well as golf when he has the chance.

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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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