Revenue Boost: 6 Tips to Energize Your Practice
September 22, 2015 2:44 PM
Revenue Boost: 6 Tips to Energize Your Practice
Create your niche, know your value proposition and be sure to write it all down clearly.
In a Financial Planning webinar earlier this year, listeners got some great ideas from a team of practice management experts: Joni Youngwirth, Commonwealth Financial Network’s managing principal for practice management; Fidelity Investments executive vice president David Canter; and Christine Gaze, president of Purpose Consulting Group.
Scroll through to view these tips or click here to view this list in a one page version. -- Lee Conrad, editor of Bank Investment Consultant
In a Financial Planning webinar earlier this year, listeners got some great ideas from a team of practice management experts: Joni Youngwirth, Commonwealth Financial Network’s managing principal for practice management; Fidelity Investments executive vice president David Canter; and Christine Gaze, president of Purpose Consulting Group.
Scroll through to view these tips or click here to view this list in a one page version. -- Lee Conrad, editor of Bank Investment Consultant
PICK YOUR IDEAL CLIENTS
Advisors need to be clear about who their ideal clients are, says Canter. He suggests that advisors should identify their 15 best clients and then try to replicate them.
The parameters can vary, he says advisors can base it on who can serve as a referral to other clients, or even just who the advisor enjoys working with, he says. Either way, Canter says, advisors should then be able to articulate the value they bring to this specific group of clients.
Many of the best advisors specialize, Gaze adds: Theyre known for something. Advisors should identify a specific area whether geographic, sociographic or even employees of a specific company then research everything they can find on the topics relevant to this group. For advisors targeting a single employer, for instance, she suggests a deep dive into the companys benefits plan.
The parameters can vary, he says advisors can base it on who can serve as a referral to other clients, or even just who the advisor enjoys working with, he says. Either way, Canter says, advisors should then be able to articulate the value they bring to this specific group of clients.
Many of the best advisors specialize, Gaze adds: Theyre known for something. Advisors should identify a specific area whether geographic, sociographic or even employees of a specific company then research everything they can find on the topics relevant to this group. For advisors targeting a single employer, for instance, she suggests a deep dive into the companys benefits plan.
ZERO IN ON REVENUE
In addition to identifying your favorite clients, Youngwirth also suggests ranking clients on the revenue per household each generates.
Advisors often encounter an aha moment when they realize theyre actually losing money on some clients, she says: When they see this, they see their business in an entirely different light.
While advisors are often reluctant to prune their client list, a revenue-per-household gauge can be the catalyst for action, she says.
Advisors often encounter an aha moment when they realize theyre actually losing money on some clients, she says: When they see this, they see their business in an entirely different light.
While advisors are often reluctant to prune their client list, a revenue-per-household gauge can be the catalyst for action, she says.
BECOME AN ELDERCARE RESOURCE
A 65-year-old couple can expect to pay 67% of their Social Security benefits hundreds of thousands of dollars on health care, Gaze notes. So its a part of their financial life that is ripe for advice.
She suggests that advisors offer seminars or a list of local eldercare resources; she also recommends the eldercare.gov site as a resource.
And talk to clients before theyre actually facing these situations, she adds: Have these conversations during peacetime.?
She suggests that advisors offer seminars or a list of local eldercare resources; she also recommends the eldercare.gov site as a resource.
And talk to clients before theyre actually facing these situations, she adds: Have these conversations during peacetime.?
WRITE DOWN YOUR BUSINESS PLAN
Advisors wear multiple hats, not the least of which is that of CEO, says Youngwirth, and most advisors are always looking to improve, she says. To balance all this, she argues that planners need to create a documented plan.
Brevity is crucial, she says: Having two or three lucid pages is better than a big huge plan full of gobbledygook. She also encourages advisors to share their plans. But just writing it down is a beneficial first step.
Some advisors tell me, I created a plan a few years ago, but its sitting in a drawer and never been used, she says. But even that is better than never doing a plan in the first place.
Brevity is crucial, she says: Having two or three lucid pages is better than a big huge plan full of gobbledygook. She also encourages advisors to share their plans. But just writing it down is a beneficial first step.
Some advisors tell me, I created a plan a few years ago, but its sitting in a drawer and never been used, she says. But even that is better than never doing a plan in the first place.
EXPAND YOUR YOUNGER CLIENTS
Advisors should develop a test kitchen to offer advice to the emerging affluent, Canter says. If youre working with clients who are boomers, find a way to engage with their kids, he says.
First, just ask for an introduction, he says. Or have a forum specifically for these clients bearing in mind that theyll be in a different life stage than your existing clients.
Maybe they need to begin saving for retirement or a new home, he suggests.
First, just ask for an introduction, he says. Or have a forum specifically for these clients bearing in mind that theyll be in a different life stage than your existing clients.
Maybe they need to begin saving for retirement or a new home, he suggests.
COACH YOUR STAFF
There can be a big disconnect between next-gen advisors and established advisors, says Gaze. Senior advisors need to do a significant amount of coaching she suggests five or six hours a month to close the gap.
Formalize meetings to make them a priority. Create time to connect instead of relying on ad hoc drive-bys. she says. And develop assignments that will allow junior advisors to create value for the team and develop their own skills. Have them research a topic thats relevant to clients, for instance, and present the findings to the team which allows you to coach them on presentation skills as well as analysis.
Gaze also offers advice for those younger advisors, whom she says should take ownership of their development plan. If youre not being given the time, ask for it, she says. In the words of my grandmother: Make yourself useful.
Formalize meetings to make them a priority. Create time to connect instead of relying on ad hoc drive-bys. she says. And develop assignments that will allow junior advisors to create value for the team and develop their own skills. Have them research a topic thats relevant to clients, for instance, and present the findings to the team which allows you to coach them on presentation skills as well as analysis.
Gaze also offers advice for those younger advisors, whom she says should take ownership of their development plan. If youre not being given the time, ask for it, she says. In the words of my grandmother: Make yourself useful.
