You can’t take care of someone else until you start taking care of yourself. And that’s equally true for both personal and professional relationships. 

Start-and-stop is no way to accomplish anything. It takes much longer than it has to, you’re constantly starting from zero again, and most importantly, you lose any and all momentum you’ve created. So why would anyone do that with their marketing? 

It’s lonely at the top. But it doesn’t have to be.  If you spend less time on the day-to-day transactional elements of business and more time talking with those in the trenches, you’ll find yourselves with happier, more engaged employees and a thriving organization. 

ProudMouth’s PodRocket Influence Academy is a phenomenal resource. It’s one thing to hear us say that, but something entirely different to learn how an advisor made it work for them out in the real world. 

What’s your strong suit?  As a financial advisor, you're juggling more hats than a circus performer – marketing, client relationships, and, of course, your core expertise. But here's the catch: if you're trying to handle branding all by yourself, you might be missing out on a difference-maker.  Why blend in when you could stand out? 

You know that you need to create valuable and compelling content. You know that you need to share it and get it out there. You know you need to speak directly to your ideal client, and solve their problems. But knowing and doing are two completely separate things. We hear this from advisors all the time: I don’t get how someone can create that much content from both a compliance and time management standpoint.  So, we went looking for someone that has it all figured it out. And we found him! 

If you’re like most financial advisors, you may be hesitant to launch your podcast and engage in influence-building activities because you’re afraid of compliance issues.  But here’s the thing: not only is it entirely possible to remain fully compliant, but it's also relatively easy to establish a stronger rapport with your compliance department. Move them from foe to friend!

The only constant is change.  And that change is happening these days at an unprecedented pace. Wealth transfer, the rise of the younger generations, the arrival of artificial intelligence, and the maturing landscape of financial planning. 

An advisor's first task is to listen and communicate effectively. But do you really know how to do that? You’ve probably heard the expression “you have two ears, but only one mouth, so you should be listening twice as much.” But that’s out-of-date thinking that leads to waiting to speak rather than active listening.

More time for doing what you do best. How’s that sound? Pretty darn good.  But how do you do it, and what do you need to make it happen? 

Artificial intelligence is not some future concept. It’s here. Are you eagerly playing around with it and exploring its potential, or are you hanging back and waiting for the AI apocalypse that many believe will happen?  

So, what’s your brand? Answer that question, and you’ll likely mention your color palette, tagline, logo, and perhaps a descriptor or two (We’re playful! But also very professional!).  Done and done, right? Not so fast. Your brand can and should be so much more than that.  

File it under “Too much of a good thing”. Referrals? Good. Fantastic, in fact. In theory.  Organic growth by word-of-mouth is the goal. It’s virtually hands-free, affordable, and works for businesses small, medium, and large. It’s the great equalizer. But before you get to the point of having a nearly self-perpetuating system, you need to lay the foundation, build the system, and cultivate the appropriate environment. And that is no quick fix.

Referrals are the lifeblood of new business and organic growth. But can it ever be too much of a good thing? Absolutely.  In fact, referrals can quickly become a curse if you’re not careful. You can drown in a sea of less-than-ideal referees while believing that you’re building your business. Too many people are unaware of that disconnect. It’s truly quality over quantity. 

Are you asking for feedback from your clients? Probably. But are you asking for input?  One helps you improve, while the other allows you to better understand not just their financial goals, but also their feelings about their future, their plans, and yes, even you. 

Are you still doing the same thing with your clients that you’ve been doing for the past decade? Have you noticed an uptick in client churn? That’s not a coincidence. 

Lead gen companies offer a quick and easy product, but are you really getting what you think you’re buying? Does it check all the boxes if you look a little closer?  Their easy-button solution is tempting, but you’re paying for their system and their audience, when you should be building your own. 

Do you ever catch yourself playing the role of marriage counselor with your clients? Or how about the role of mental health practitioner? Consider this. When your clients’ needs go beyond your scope of practice, referring them out is one of the most caring things you can do.

Are you still waiting to get your voice out there? Maybe you’re stuck because you believe your content will “never be good enough.”  How do you push past perfectionism and publish anyway?

Advisors, you don’t need to become an influencer to attract ideal clients. Living on social media and promoting other people’s products and services? No thanks! Instead, focus on becoming more influential.

David Auten and John Auten-Schneider started Queer Money Podcast almost 10 years ago to fill a need.  No one was talking to the queer community about finances.

When you dare to show who you are and operate from an abundance mindset, new opportunities have a way of showing up. 

You might be posting on social media, but are your ideal prospects actually seeing any of it? If not, it’s going to be tough to build relationships with them.

You’ve probably heard about the positive impact niching can have on your business. But maybe you’re still hesitant to niche. Won’t it impact your potential revenue?

Emotional intelligence includes the ability to spend most of your client meetings listening – not talking. If that sounds like a tall order, consider this:  Emotional intelligence is a muscle that you can train.

Are your marketing strategies failing to produce the results you want to see? Are you worried you are wasting time and money on things that aren’t bringing your business growth?

If you’re like the advisors we know, you enjoy continuing education because it equips you to help more people. But you don’t love the time-consuming admin work that often comes with. Or sitting through courses you don’t find valuable.  What if you could satisfy your continuing education requirements on your own terms, and with less time required? 

If you are not jumping out of bed energized every week by the work you’re doing as an advisor, chances are your time is being misallocated. Tons of advisors develop burnout or a lack of motivation in their work at some point in their career, and our guest is here to put an end to that feeling using the power of proper time allocation.

While many businesses are passed down or built with inherited money, that’s not the case for what Andrew McIntosh calls the 1st Gen Entrepreneur. First-generation entrepreneurs face more unique challenges like gaining influence, building a good reputation — and, of course, earning sales. 

As much as some advisors hate to hear it, the age of the hard sell is over. Your prospects want a relationship, not a sales pitch. It's time to change how you present yourself online.

As an advisor, you guide clients to do the right things with their money and mindset. And it's no coincidence that the ones who listen have the most optimized wealth.  Imagine you applied this exact same expertise to become more influential in your market…

Imagine you could hop into a time machine and go forward 5-10 years in the financial services industry. What do you think you’d see?

If you’re like the advisors we know, you want to meet more of the right clients. But how? By increasing your influence and referrals. 

Between 65-70% of young inheritors leave their parents’ advisors because that advisor made little or no effort to engage with them.  What holds advisors back? Not knowing how to connect and build relationships with the younger generation.

Innovations are radically increasing life expectancy. If you’re alive in 2030, odds are good that you'll live to be 100 or older.  Are you planning enough years for your clients? Most advisors aren’t. 

If you’re like the advisors we know, you want to impact your clients’ lives. Have you ever considered helping them connect with their children on a deeper level?

Imagine giving your clients an experience they’ll remember forever. Something fun and unlike anything they’ve ever done. How would that change your relationships? 

There's a huge advice gap in the U.S. Even among wealthy clients who work with an advisor. According to Bento Research, 40% of advised clients said they didn't get advice on Social Security benefits when they turned 62. While 63% said they didn't get advice on Qualified Charitable Distributions when they turned 70 ½.  This might sound like negative news. But it’s your opportunity to engage with clients (and prospects) to offer the advice your competition isn’t.

Like most advisors, Darren Wurz was a little scared to focus on a niche. But now? He’s encouraging you to drill down on who exactly you want to serve. 

If we’re lucky, we’ve had help from a trusted guide at some point. A mentor who’s helped us become the person and professional we are today. Now, are you thinking about paying it forward through your practice? 

Clients and prospects can learn from your experiences. And you don’t have to be a “gifted” or “natural storyteller” to tell a story that changes lives.

Wouldn’t it be nice to actually attract prospects off social media? And without content creation taking over your life?

Every facet of an advisor's job has influence at the heart of it, according to Daniel Crosby. What can advisors do right away to become more influential?

If you’re not podcasting yet, the question is…“Why not?”

People know when they’re being sold to. How can advisors build authentic connections with their audience through marketing and social media?

Big companies spend thousands on marketing and PR strategies. How can smaller companies leverage effective PR strategies without the big price tag?

If there’s one thing we could get advisors to stop doing in 2023? Sending clients market commentaries!  Your clients already expect you to be the expert in that area. So, what’s actually important to them? 

With many advisors advertising the same services, businesses struggle to stand out. How can they rise above the noise to prove they have what their ideal prospects need?