If you can help your clients discover their most meaningful and deeply felt aspirations, they’re likely to stay with you for life.  In this episode, Matt Halloran is joined by George Kinder, the founder and president of The Kinder Institute of Life Planning. George is sharing how you, as an advisor, can guide your clients through conversations that get to the heart of what they want in their life. This Life Planning method lays the groundwork for warm, empathic, and lasting client relationships. You will learn: How to be an attentive listener and engage in deep, meaningful conversations How George’s EVOKE® program helps advisors define their Life Planning process The 3 surprising questions that can lead your clients to having life-changing epiphanies Why setting short timeframes is the key to efficient Life Planning How to be extremely referable immediately after the first client meeting And more! Tune in now to learn how you can develop lasting client relationships like never before! Resources:  ProudMouth | Matt Halloran on LinkedIn | Influence Accelerator Academy | George Kinder on LinkedIn | The Kinder Institute of Life Planning | The Kinder Institute Training Programs | EVOKE® Life Planning Training | “Transforming Suffering into Wisdom: Mindfulness and The Art of Inner Listening” by George Kinder | “A Golden Civilization and The Map of Mindfulness” by George Kinder

If you’re thinking about starting a podcast and using one of our services to make it happen, this episode is for you!  You’re about to discover what the client onboarding process is all about.  In other words, what happens after you say yes to podcasting with ProudMouth! In this episode, Matt Halloran talks to one of our clients, Malcolm Ethridge. Malcolm is a financial advisor at CIC Wealth and the host of The Tech Money Podcast. Malcolm shares what it was like for him to start his podcast with us, and he dives into what has made his podcast a success that’s led to one-meeting closes. You will learn: What it was like for Malcolm to work with our team on setting up his podcast Ways in which podcasting makes a “one-meeting close” possible for advisors The difference between a unique selling point and a mere feature How to overcome the fear of claiming a niche listenership The long-term ROI breakdown of podcasting Why Malcolm decided to completely outsource the production of his podcast And more! Press play to learn what you can expect if you podcast with ProudMouth! Resources: ProudMouth | Matt Halloran on LinkedIn | Top Advisor Marketing Podcast, ep. 275 – Here’s What It’s Like To Podcast With Us! –– With Lauren Bus | Influence Accelerator Academy | Malcolm Ethridge on LinkedIn | The Tech Money Podcast | The Tech Money Podcast, ep. 4: It’s Tax Time. Should You DIY or Hire a Pro? — With Erica James |The Tech Money Podcast, ep. 3: Are You Asking the Right Questions of Your Financial Advisor? — With Malcolm Hodge | Manage Your Damn Money With Ben & Malcolm | eMoney | MoneyGuidePro | Asset-Map | Restream

Creating accessible content is the right thing to do. Because you care about your audience and their experience with your brand. In this episode, Matt Halloran talks to Alexa Heinrich, a digital accessibility expert. Alexa unpacks simple fixes you can implement right away to make your social media more accessible. She also discusses inaccessible practices (that people go out of their way to do) that everyone needs to kick to the curb. You will learn: The crucial first step to making your content more accessible What alt text is all about –– and why you should add it to every image and video Reasons to stop using ASCII Art and special Unicode characters in your social media posts How accessibility can help you from a market-reach standpoint Examples of companies that execute accessibility unbelievably well And more Press play to learn how to make your social media content accessible! Resources: ProudMouth | Matt Halloran on LinkedIn | Influence Accelerator Academy |  Alexa Heinrich | Alexa Heinrich on LinkedIn | Social Media Accessibility Checklist | World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) | The Wheel of Time on Twitter 

A coffee mug on your desk, the color of your walls, what you play on your office TV, and maybe even a pair of polka dot socks.  These small details are easy to overlook. But they carry huge potential for creating an unforgettable brand.  In this episode, Matt talks to Sheri Fitts, a nationally recognized speaker and host of the “Women Rocking Wall Street” podcast. Over the past 30 years, Sheri has helped countless advisors achieve an unbelievably high level of brand consistency. Now, Sheri is telling you why “the little things” about your brand can make a big impact on your audience. Join Matt and Sheri as they uncover strategies that will help you differentiate your brand –– a task that’s especially important as the financial services industry becomes increasingly commoditized. You will learn: Unforgettable branding strategies that are free from compliance restrictions How Sheri uses polka dot socks to make a lasting impression on prospects Why Sheri decided to start a free podcast even though people would readily pay for her expertise Reasons to tap into the power of audio branding And more Press play to learn how to differentiate your brand by focusing on the small details that most advisors forget about! Resources: ProudMouth | Matt Halloran on LinkedIn | Influence Accelerator Academy | Sheri Fitts | Sheri Fitts on LinkedIn | Women Rocking Wall Street | It’s the Little Things That Matter | Claire Akin on LinkedIn | Sticker Mule | Moo | ShoeFitts Brand Touchpoint Audit

Sales has fundamentally changed. Before people consider saying yes to services, they want to know that you genuinely care about them. They want to be sure that they can trust you.  In this episode, Matt talks to Charlie Van Derven, founder of Social Advisors, about how to move away from selling to start having meaningful interactions with prospects on LinkedIn. Charlie unpacks his four-step process to building relationships through LinkedIn messaging and then goes on to demystify the prospect-nurturing potential of retargeting ads. You will learn: A proven 4-step process for building relationships with ideal prospects on LinkedIn Reasons to comment on prospects’ posts instead of sending direct messages right away How to gauge if it’s the right time to present your prospect with an offer  Proven retargeting strategies that will make your ads far more likely to convert How Social Advisors’ Post Party can help you increase your post’s exposure by 5X And more! Tune in now to learn how you can significantly expand your LinkedIn network and build lasting relationships with your ideal prospects! Resources:  ProudMouth | Matt Halloran on LinkedIn | Influence Accelerator Academy | Charlie Van Derven on LinkedIn | Email: [email protected] | Contact: (386) 846-5291 | Social Advisors | Social Advisor's Post Party | LinkedIn Sales Navigator

Every podcaster hopes to have loyal listeners. These are the people who know what day you release new episodes on, are super eager to tune in, and never miss an opportunity to recommend your podcast to their friends.  Sounds awesome, right? So what holds some podcasters back from building this level of loyalty?  In this episode, Matt and Kirk dig into this big question. They walk you through the five mistakes that keep podcasters from building a strong base of loyal fans. You will get the same strategies they use to draw in thousands of listeners to the Top Advisor Marketing Podcast every week. You will learn: The biggest cause of “podfade” and how to make sure it doesn’t happen to you Why releasing episodes on a consistent schedule is key to cultivating loyalty Examples of how to create a podcast that’s extremely helpful for a niche audience Why your listeners will thank you for preparing episode-outlines What podcasting misstep Matt and Kirk regret the most from the early days of this podcast Examples of women-led podcasts we love! And more! Press play to learn what it takes for podcasters to build a base of loyal listeners! Resources:  ProudMouth | Matt Halloran on LinkedIn | Kirk Lowe on LinkedIn | Influence Accelerator Academy | Be Your Own Loud Podcast | A Complete Guide to Starting a Podcast | Doctor’s Eyes Only Podcast | MindMeister | Deirdre Van Nest on LinkedIn | Erica Cummings on LinkedIn | Esther Szabo on LinkedIn | Kimberly Griego-Kiel on LinkedIn | Marci Bair on LinkedIn | Nell Sloane on LinkedIn | Rachel Rasmussen on LinkedIn | Rebecca Hourihan on LinkedIn | Tina Powell on LinkedIn

Your competition is consistently adding new prospects to their email lists and getting meetings with ideal prospects.  How? By using proven digital marketing tactics that most advisors just aren’t doing!  In this episode, Matt talks to Claire Akin, the founder of Indigo Marketing Agency, a marketing consultant company that specializes in working with financial services professionals. They unpack Claire’s marketing checklist, which is full of the underused tactics that top advisors use to attract, nurture, and convert ideal prospects.  You will learn: The differences between leading and lagging measures of marketing success Two marketing tactics to focus on (instead of getting caught up in every new marketing trend) Which topic always becomes a top-performing blog for Claire’s clients Which page gets the most traffic on advisors’ sites Why including pricing on your website is a must How to grow your email list without using pop-ups And more! Tune in now for digital marketing tactics that are absolute gold for advisors! Resources: ProudMouth | Matt Halloran on LinkedIn | Influence Accelerator Academy | Claire Akin on LinkedIn | Indigo Marketing Agency | Sample Marketing Calendar | Checklist: Marketing Strategy | Schedule Your Free Marketing Consultation | On-Demand Webinar: How to Create Your 2021 Marketing Plan | On-Demand Webinar: The Truth About Marketing for Financial Advisors | The Marketing Guide for Financial Advisors by Claire Akin | Checklist: How Does Your Marketing Compare To Top Advisors? | Checklist: How To Set up and Optimize Your Facebook Business Page | Checklist: How To Set up and Optimize Your LinkedIn Company Page | Checklist: How To Set up and Optimize Your Twitter Profile | Google My Business

Most small businesses can’t afford to hire an employee for every area of their business. And if you try to handle everything yourself, that reduces your efficiency tremendously. So, what’s the solution? It’s simple –– outsourcing! In this episode, Matt is joined by Lisa Ferguson, our very own COO at ProudMouth, and Sarah Koenig, the remote fractional COO at Optimize Advisory. Drawing from their experiences, Lisa and Sarah share how small business owners benefit from bringing outside talent into c-suite roles.  You will learn: Reasons to let go of some of the challenges that come with running a business and let the experts take over How to find the right talent to meet your business’s various emerging needs Sarah’s steps for ensuring that her clients can execute and maintain new systems Ways that Lisa has enhanced ProudMouth’s operations through comprehensive documentation How to know if it’s the right time for you to outsource And more! Press play to learn how to increase your business’s efficiency by outsourcing executive roles! Resources:  ProudMouth | Matt Halloran on LinkedIn | Lisa Ferguson on LinkedIn | Influence Accelerator Academy | Sarah Koenig on LinkedIn | Contact Sarah: (414) 587-8495 | Optimize Advisory

Ten clients hired Taylor Schulte’s financial firm directly from his podcast last year, generating about $100,000 in recurring annual revenue.  Taylor’s podcast has become his primary source of new business. But, his podcast wasn’t an overnight success. Taylor even says, “I've poured my blood, sweat, and tears into this thing.” So then, what does it take to evolve a podcast into a content marketing machine that turns listeners into ideal clients? In this episode, Matt and Kirk talk to Taylor Schulte CFP®, co-founder of The AGC™ and host of The Stay Wealthy Podcast. Taylor has been running his own podcast for over three years now and has found tremendous success, rising from 200 to 20,000 downloads per month! He’s here to share the secrets behind his growth, mistakes that kept him from growing his listenership early on, and why giving away all of his knowledge for free is the key to converting listeners into clients.  You will learn: What pivot skyrocketed Taylor’s podcast from 200 downloads per month to 20,000 How Taylor expanded his listenership by changing his podcast name What episode format Taylor’s audience is loving right now  The case for sharing everything you know (not just enough to pique your prospect’s interest) What Taylor did before going in for the “ask” with his podcast audience (he got a 56.3% close rate last year!) And more! Tune in now to learn how to successfully embark on your own podcast journey to grow your business! Resources:  ProudMouth | Matt Halloran on LinkedIn | Kirk Lowe on LinkedIn | Influence Accelerator Academy | Taylor Schulte on LinkedIn | Taylor Schulte’s Website | The Stay Wealthy Podcast | The AGC™ | FinCon | Evan Carmichael | Libsyn | The Stacking Benjamins Show | SmartLess  

Ever since we started outsourcing last year, we’ve been able to take our internal efficiency and the value of our services to a whole new level. In this episode, Matt and Kirk unpack the five biggest reasons for advisors to start outsourcing. They draw from their experiences at ProudMouth to share how our company has benefitted in ways they’d never imagined from bringing in outside talent. And, along the way, Matt and Kirk uncover the biggest outsourcing opportunities for advisors. You will learn: Why we decided to outsource our rebranding project (even though Kirk is a branding expert) What areas of outsourcing impact advisors’ growth and development the most How working with consultants can help you build a better learning model for your team Three financial benefits of outsourcing that no one talks about Which aspects of your business you should never outsource Four potential downsides to outsourcing (and how to dodge them) And more! Press play to learn you can achieve the greatest level of expertise across your business by using the power of outsourcing! Resources: ProudMouth | Matt Halloran on LinkedIn | Kirk Lowe on LinkedIn | Ep. 272: How To Overcome 15 “Buts” That Keep Your Business From Achieving the Next Level of Success | Radio Show: Building America with Guest Matt Halloran | Influence Accelerator Academy | Communo

One of the greatest benefits of outsourcing is that it allows you to build a narrow focus and work on areas in which you’re truly an expert. In this episode, Matt talks to Brad Wales, the founder of Transition To RIA. With over 10 years of experience in the RIA model, Brad has developed a deep bench of referral partners who help him provide better services to his clients. Today, he dives into how he effectively outsources several aspects of his business and how much value outsourcing adds to his services. You will learn: Brad’s proven techniques for building trust with clients before you meet for the first time How to ensure that you refer your clients to a professional who’s truly capable of helping them How Brad outsources several key areas of the RIA transition process to provide expert services to clients Ways that a flexible business model can help you gain a competitive edge And more! Press play to learn how to increase client referrals and gain the advantages of outsourcing! Resources: ProudMouth | Matt Halloran on LinkedIn | Brad Wales on LinkedIn | Transition To RIA |Transition to RIA Podcast, Q34: What Kind Of RIA Compliance Consultants Are There To Choose From? | Calendly | MarketCounsel | AdvisorAssist | RIA in a Box | Salesforce | Redtail

It’s time to rethink the conventional advice from marketing gurus who say you must be on every social media platform if you want to become a subject matter authority.   In this episode, Matt talks to Mohit Rajhans, the co-founder of Think Start and author of “Rethinking Your Content.” Mohit starts out by encouraging you to be strategic with your social media platform of choice, even if it’s tempting to strive for omnipresence. Matt and Mohit then go on to discuss digital trends and several ways to re-think your approach to content strategy.  You will learn: Why Mohit believes we’re in a “content crisis” and how that plays out in content creation Why your platform strategy is way more important than your content strategy Mohit’s expert insights on the latest trends in the digital world The first steps to auditing your digital footprint And more! Press play to learn how you can benefit, as a content creator, from focusing more on platform strategy and less on content strategy. Resources:  ProudMouth | Matt Halloran on LinkedIn | Mohit Rajhans on LinkedIn | Think Start | How To Find Growth Beyond Your Personal Brand | Dadspotting

When we talk to advisors about starting their own podcast, their first question is: “When will I get leads?” Of course, getting leads –– that turn into ideal clients –– is the ultimate goal; but there are five essential marketing rules that you must put in place in order for that to happen.  Today, Matt and Kirk unearth the marketing rules that advisors keep skipping past at the expense of their time, money, and hopes of having a marketing plan that actually generates leads. Listen in as they uncover five marketing essentials for advisors to focus on first: credibility, specificity, momentum, repeatability, and sustainability.  You will learn: What outcomes advisors constantly overlook when calculating their ROI Kirk’s quick formula for nailing down the level of specificity that attracts only ideal clients How long it took for our first client’s podcast to blow up with opportunities  Why momentum-building marketing must be repeatable And more! Hit play to learn how to master five marketing rules that come before leads! Resources: ProudMouth | Matt Halloran on LinkedIn | Kirk Lowe on LinkedIn | Influence Accelerator Academy | Sendible

Put yourself in your prospect’s shoes. Would you enjoy listening to a podcast that gives you a boring rundown on a financial topic? Or worse, is clearly trying to sell to you? Probably not. People don’t want to be sold to. They listen to podcasts to be entertained and inspired. In this episode, Matt joins Jimmy Williams, founder of Compass Capital Management and the host of Live a Life by Design podcast. They dive into Jimmy’s proven strategies for attracting 10,000 unique listeners every month by talking about life, why talking about finances was never the plan, and how he uses his podcast to grow his business. In this episode, you will learn: How to use the art of storytelling to keep your podcast audience coming back for more Ways to highlight your unique approach to solving your clients’ problems in every episode The mindset strategy that Jimmy swears by for putting 100% focus into his podcast once a week, despite having a busy practice Why Jimmy decided, from day one, to dedicate his podcast to talking about life  And more! Tune in now to learn how to #BeYourOwnLoud and gain a loyal audience by dedicating your own podcast to talking about life!   Resources:  ProudMouth | Matt Halloran on LinkedIn | Jimmy Williams on LinkedIn | Live a Life by Design | Jimmy’s Top Reads | Life a Life by Design Podcast, ep. 88: The Importance of Coaching and Being Unique –– With Matt Halloran | Compass Capital Management   

Do you have fears that hold you back from starting a podcast?  Or, maybe without realizing it, you believe in three myths that discourage too many advisors from podcasting.  In this episode, Matt and Kirk bust the most common myths about podcasting wide open! As relatable and candid as ever, they reflect on their own experiences as new podcasters to talk about how they’ve improved. Matt and Kirk also reveal statistics and client outcomes that turn these myths on their head.  You will learn: How to overcome the initial fear of starting a podcast  Why your perceived weaknesses will most likely be your biggest strengths as a podcaster What stats show about podcasting’s growth potential in the coming years  8 reasons why podcasting is a game-changer for experts And more! Listen now to slay the biggest myths that are keeping you from rising above the noise! Resources:  Top Advisor Marketing | ProudMouth | Matt Halloran on LinkedIn | Kirk Lowe on LinkedIn | 3 Myths That Stop Professionals From Podcasting (and Why They’re Wrong!) | Influence Accelerator Academy | Ep. 272: How To Overcome 15 “Buts” That Keep Your Business From Achieving the Next Level of Success | MindMeister

When a prospect discovers you through your content and experiences your expertise, your credibility as an advisor goes through the roof! Today, Matt is joined by Jason Pereira, a portfolio manager, entrepreneur, lecturer, FinTech expert, writer, podcaster, and award-winning financial planner! Jason shares the secrets behind his productivity and how he has used several forms of media to become known as Canada’s most recognizable name in FinTech. In this episode, you will learn: How getting a single article published can lead to more opportunities to become known for your expertise How to pick a fight online to support the ideas, philosophies, and products that you believe in Examples of how to get endless pieces of content out of one video  Which marketing tasks Jason outsources and why And more! Tune in now to learn how to rise above the noise and become a known subject matter authority in the financial services industry! Resources:  Top Advisor Marketing | Matt Halloran on LinkedIn | Jason Pereira’s Website | Jason Pereira on LinkedIn | The Fintech Impact Podcast | The Financial Planning For Canadian Business Owners Podcast | AdvisorStream

Attention advisors! It’s time to re-introduce yourself to your favorite clients so they understand and appreciate your value completely! Today, Matt is joined by Duncan MacPherson, the CEO of Pareto Systems. Join them as they discuss several ways to rejuvenate your client relationship and reinforce your value proposition through rebranded meetings and proven marketing strategies for today’s advisors. You will learn: How to use strategic, agenda-driven meetings to elevate the client experience What outcome advisors are seeing from rebranded client meetings The difference between stewardship and salesmanship Why elite financial professionals choose to outsource 3 essential keys to making a video that clients will love and remember How to develop a process-driven approach to attract more clients And more! Listen now to learn how to rebrand your meetings so you can stay top-of-mind with your ideal clients and highly referable! Resources:  Top Advisor Marketing | Matt Halloran on LinkedIn | Duncan MacPherson on LinkedIn | Pareto Systems: (866) 593-8020 | The Advisor Playbook | Video: The Review Meeting is Obsolete | Idea Decanter

Imagine having your prospect and client meetings so well documented that you can pick up exactly where you left off from the previous meeting or call. That would show your prospects and clients that you’re really listening and paying attention to them. But, too often, advisors forget to type their notes after meetings. And the details that would’ve won the prospect or elevated the client experience vanish into thin air. Today, Matt is joined by Maree Moscati, the CEO of Copytalk, which is a premier dictation service company that uses live transcription to preserve your every word. They discuss the numerous benefits that proper documentation offers advisors –– from a client interaction perspective, task perspective, and compliance perspective! In this episode, you will learn: How documentation can help you provide more value to clients How Copytalk uses a combination of human touch and world-class technology to set them apart from mainstream speech-to-text software How Copytalk is engineered to meet the financial-service industry’s rigorous standards of accuracy, privacy, and efficiency Maree’s advice to advisors on how to market effectively in today’s COVID-19 world And more! Tune in now to discover how a real-time transcription service like Copytalk can help you operate more effectively, save time, and wow your clients! Resources:  Top Advisor Marketing | Matt Halloran on LinkedIn | Maree Moscati on LinkedIn | Maree Moscati on Twitter | Copytalk: (866) 267- 9825

Are you thinking about starting a podcast?  Imagine only having to show up to record your podcast, because you have an outsourced marketing team that takes care of everything else, from audio editing to episode promotion!  Today, our account manager Lauren Bus joins Matt to tell you exactly what it’s like to be our podcasting client. Lauren takes you behind the scenes to share how we help you rise above the noise, including our techniques for building up your confidence, creating click-worthy social media posts to drive listenership, and more! In this episode, you will learn: What it’s like to be part of our podcast discovery process What strategies we use to capture each client’s voice when writing their social media posts How to use your status as a podcaster to position yourself differently to COIs and prospects What sets us apart from other companies that offer a podcasting service Three qualities we look for in aspiring podcasters  And more! Tune in now to get rare insight into what it’s like to podcast with us!  Resources:  Top Advisor Marketing | Matt Halloran on LinkedIn | Kirk Lowe on LinkedIn | Lauren Bus on LinkedIn Brought to you by: iris.xyz 

In order for financial advisors to accept change, they have to be aware that change is needed.  Today, Matt and guest Bill Hortz, the founder and dean of the Institute for Innovation Development, discuss the high need for advisors to embrace innovation, considering that the financial services industry will see more change in the next three years than we’ve seen in the past 30.  Bill dives into what changes are on the horizon in financial services, how to prioritize areas of innovation in your practice, and how successful industry leaders have implemented innovation into their businesses! In this episode, you will learn: How to adapt to the modern change that’s occurring at a hyper rate How the Institute for Innovation Development equips advisors for change Which areas of financial services are expected to change rapidly in the next two to three years The difference between innovation and technology and what it really means to be innovative Ways for advisors to develop an innovative mindset The four most needed areas in financial services for deploying an innovative mindset And more! Listen now to learn how to embrace and apply innovation to your financial practice! Resources: Top Advisor Marketing  | Bill Hortz on LinkedIn | Email Bill Hortz | Institute for Innovation Development | An Innovation Call To Arms For Financial Advisors by Bill Hortz | What Got You Here Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith | The Innovator’s DNA by Jeff Dyer, Hal Gregersen, and Clayton M. Christensen | Fix by Chris Kneeland, Ryan Gill, and Rob Howard | Little Black Stretchy Pants by Chip Wilson Brought to you by: iris.xyz

Pretending to like golf won’t get you clients. The best way to grow your business is by being authentic and doing things you love with people who love the same things as you! Today, Matt is joined by Matthew Jarvis, the co-founder of The Perfect RIA and president of Jarvis Financial. This episode is packed with unconventional, but proven, ways to generate referrals from COIs, find ideal prospects in places you’ve never considered, and create a business that allows you to take time off without compromising profitability.   In this episode, you will learn: How Matthew has been so successful in delivering massive value to his clients Matthew’s secret method to getting referrals from COIs without actually asking for referrals Matthew’s methods for getting half of his business through rock climbing, mountain biking, dirt biking, boating, and going to Vegas Why Matthew is able to take six months off a year and still maintain high profitability  Why finding a mentor to guide you on your journey to success is easier than you think And more! Listen now to learn how you can apply Matthew’s tips and tricks to your unique business model! Resources: Top Advisor Marketing | Matthew Jarvis | The Perfect RIA podcast | Jarvis Financial | The “Sleep On It” Process | Behavioral Investment Counseling by Nick Murray Brought to you by Iris.xyz

“I would like to do this but…”  There are many “buts” that financial advisors use as reasons to not pursue a better marketing strategy that would move their business forward. Today, Matt and Kirk reveal the 15 “buts” that stop too many businesses from reaching their next level of success. They draw from their own experiences as entrepreneurs to help you re-think and break free from your own limitations.  In this episode, you will learn: Why saying “no” can create a huge burden for business owners How to avoid outsourcing to specialists who don’t see the bigger picture Reasons to not allow time or money to hold you back from your next level of success Ways to overcome the fear of failure Why Kirk encourages you to fix whatever isn’t working with your marketing, even if that means starting over  Why outsourcing will probably save you money, even if you’re paying a premium for a specialized service And more! Learn how to conquer the “buts” that hinder you from moving your business forward! Resources: Top Advisor Marketing  Brought to you by: iris.xyz

Do you know how to write social media posts that speak directly to your niche audience? Posts that aren’t vague or sales-y. But instead, undeniably relevant and valuable –– a magnet for your ideal audience.  Jeff Woodhouse, a marketing consultant and the co-owner of Digital Sherpa, joins Matt to share his secrets for writing social media posts that draw in your niche audience and increase engagement. As a prolific writer for Ameriprise Financial, Jeff has no shortage of copywriting hacks that advisors can use right away! In this episode, you will learn: Jeff’s strategies for writing posts that speak directly to an advisor’s ideal prospect  An easy method for leveraging content from your industry on social media How to make your posts more about your audience and less about you How to monitor a specific employer on LinkedIn to know what financial advice their employees need and when Why Jeff doesn’t recommend putting a call-to-action in every post And more! Tune in now to learn how to make your social media posts speak powerfully to your niche audience!   Resources: Top Advisor Marketing | Jeff Woodhouse on LinkedIn | Jeff Woodhouse’s mobile: (443) 591-9449 | [email protected] | Canva | Webinar Replay: How to Write Social Media Posts That Get Clicks | Traffic and Funnels | Castor Abbott | Snappy Kraken | Social Media Examiner  Brought to you by: iris.xyz

Getting a prospect to say “yes” during a 100% virtual sales process will be expensive and take more of everyone’s time if you haven’t already built your influence and credibility online.   Today, Matt is joined by Patrick Brewer, the founder of Model FA and a fellow podcast host, to discuss why having influence is a game-changer for sales processes that have gone completely virtual during COVID-19. Patrick also explains why the best way to build your influence is by being extremely clear about who your ideal client is. After all, the riches are in the niches! In this episode, you will learn: Why getting a webinar prospect to say “yes” is expensive if you haven’t built up your online influence How and why Patrick has shifted his sales process during COVID-19 How to use an interview-style podcast to convert clients (and not become an influencer marketer) Which types of content will help you build an audience before using conversion-oriented marketing tactics And more! Tune in to hear what it takes to build enough influence to speed up your conversions!  Resources: Top Advisor Marketing | Patrick Brewer on LinkedIn | Model FA | The Model FA podcast Brought to you by: iris.xyz

There are ways to conduct yourself professionally on social media –– and there are etiquette blunders to avoid at all costs.  Today, Kirk and Matt discuss “14 Essential Social Media Etiquette Rules for Brands” written by Todd Clarke and published by Hootsuite. They add their own spin for financial advisors and tack on two more rules –– including one you definitely won’t expect to hear in a list about etiquette –– to help you gain a strong social media audience. In this episode, you will learn: Whether it’s ever acceptable for advisors to use auto-replies and bots Easy ways to check the tone of your social media posts before you publish them How to pick a fight on social media and example-topics for advisors How to make the most of the social media algorithms to gain maximum visibility And more! Tune in now to learn the most important social media etiquette rules for advisors!  Resources: 14 Essential Social Media Etiquette Rules for Brands by Todd Clarke Brought to you by: iris.xyz

Most 401(k) advisors resist the crucial first step to succeeding in their industry: choosing a niche!  In this episode, Matt is joined by Jake Rushton, an expert in the 401(k) world and the founder of 401(k)lub. Jakes gives you step-by-step guidance on how to immerse yourself in your niche’s world so you can help them immediately, gain their trust, and build your credibility.  In this episode, you will learn: Examples of how to niche down in the 401(k) world The most effective ways to gain more market share within the plans that you want to help How referrals can play a major role in your business growth Whether you should go beyond plan design to offer educational resources to your prospects How to distribute your content and build a community around your plan How personal branding can help you create awareness and attract more clients And more! Avoid mistakes that keep 401(k) advisors from growing and becoming known by their audience. Tune in now to get proven marketing tips for the 401(k) space! Resources: Top Advisor Marketing | 401(k)lub | The 401JA(k)E Show | Jake Rushton on LinkedIn Brought to you by: iris.xyz

Women have very different retirements than men, starting with how they plan for it. Today, Matt is joined by Marcia Mantell, the owner of Mantell Retirement Consulting, Inc., a retirement blogger, and author of “What’s the Deal with Retirement for Women?” and “What’s the Deal with Social Security for Women?” Marcia speaks candidly about reasons to put away your bar graphs and start talking to women in a way that moves them to action. This episode is filled with tips you can use right away to help women plan for the retirement they’re hoping for.  In this episode, you will learn:   Why there are differences between how women and men plan for retirement Ways to make conversations with women visual (without using boring pie charts) How to bring what’s most important to women into the planning conversation Reasons to add a Social Security expert to your team And more! Tune in now for proven ways to help women plan for retirement!  Resources:  Top Advisor Marketing | Mantell Retirement Consulting, Inc. | Boomer Retirement Briefs  | What’s the Deal with Retirement Planning for Women? by Marcia Mantell | What’s the Deal with Social Security for Women? by Marcia Mantell | Episode 264: How to Become an Author Without Writing a Single Thing Brought to you by: iris.xyz 

50% of marriages in the United States end in divorce. With COVID-19 contributing to an abnormal amount of stress in relationships, there will likely be an influx of divorces in the coming future. In this episode, Matt is joined by Allison Jeffereys, a divorce coach to professionally successful women and the author of “A Woman’s Guide To Surviving Divorce.”  As a coach who has helped numerous women navigate a divorce, Allison reveals how women handle divorce differently than men. She also shares why divorce is especially painful for professionally successful women and what financial advisors can do to help guide women through this major life event.  In this episode, you will learn:   Why Allison wrote her book and how it can help advisors better communicate with their female clients Significant differences in how women vs. men make decisions Why divorce often feels like a bigger failure to women with successful careers Advice for women who are in the midst of a divorce How advisors can help women feel secure as they navigate a divorce Why women who are going through a divorce need a community And more! Tune in now for insight into how professionally successful women experience divorce, so you can help them navigate it with confidence.  Resources: Top Advisor Marketing | Allison Jeffereys’ Website | A Woman’s Guide To Surviving Divorce by Allison Jeffereys | Turning Chaos Into Confidence Handout | Schedule a consultation with Allison Jeffereys Brought to you by: iris.xyz

As Michael E. Gerber, author of The E-Myth Revisited, famously said, “If your business depends on you, you don’t own a business — you have a job. And it’s the worst job in the world because you’re working for a lunatic!” You’re not creating any long-term equity in your business if you need to be involved in every aspect of your business. In this episode, Matt and Kirk help you break down opportunities to outsource and not be involved in every part of your business. They give you a new lens to look through –– one that’s worked incredibly well for them. It all starts with dividing your business’s growth into three categories: branding, marketing, and business development. You will learn: Top reasons why advisors are resistant to taking their marketing to the next level The argument for investing in marketing that isn’t measurable How much of your budget should be spent on marketing Why it’s becoming more common for advisors to outsource their marketing Reasons to start content marketing now And more! Tune in to learn how to build a sustainable practice by being less involved! Resources:  Top Advisor Marketing | Episode 260: Is Your Digital Marketing Working to Convert Prospects? –– With John Lincoln | Episode 233: Beware of “10X” and “We Fill Your Pipeline” Claims | The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It by Michael E. Gerber Brought to you by: iris.xyz

Books are the ultimate business card. But do you actually want to write a book? In this episode, Matt is joined by Seth Greene, founder of Market Domination LLC, to explain how advisors can become an author of their own book, all while skipping the demanding and time-consuming writing process. Seth unpacks Market Domination’s five-step COI method and how his team helps advisors write their own book that generates referrals. He also shares what marketing techniques are making advisors stand out and find prospects during COVID-19 and three marketing missteps to stop doing immediately. In this episode, you will learn: How the upcoming U.S. election is impacting cost-per-lead ad spending on Facebook Why LinkedIn campaigns are working better than ever before for Seth’s clients How Seth’s COI system works and who it’s designed for Stories about professionals who’ve successfully used their book to generate referrals Three marketing missteps that advisors should avoid And more! Tune in now to learn about marketing in the virtual space! Resources: Top Advisor Marketing | Market Domination LLC | Seth Greene on Linkedin Brought to you by: iris.xyz

Millennials and Gen Zs are often left asking themselves, “Now what?” when they’ve received their first big paycheck or a windfall of money. In this episode, Matt speaks with Brian Ursu, president of Intentional Wealth Advisors and the author of “Now What? A Practical Guide to Figuring Out Your Financial Future.” Recognizing that many people, including those who are just starting out, were never educated in financial planning, this book bridges that gap with practical advice for readers of all ages dealing with fiscal change. Brian talks about how he wrote the book, who it’s for, and how his clients are using this book as a lifeline for teaching adult kids about money. Brian also explains how family meetings can play a role in positioning you as a family advisor for your clients’ children. In this episode, you will learn: What prompted Brian to write his book How Brian uses his book in his practice Why adult children are more likely to take financial advice from a book vs. their parents How family advisors can impact their client’s adult children’s financial literacy Ideas for how to organize family meetings Brian’s advice for advisors who want to maintain multigenerational relationships with their clients and their families And more! Tune in to learn how you can equip the next generation with financial knowledge and become their family advisor. Resources: Top Advisor Marketing | "Now What? A Practical Guide to Figuring Out Your Financial Future" by Brian Ursu | Brian Ursu on LinkedIn | Intentional Wealth Advisors Brought to you by: iris.xyz

Are you thinking about starting your own podcast? Or, maybe you’re interested in boosting your podcast hosting skills. Either way, you’re in for a treat! Today, Matt speaks with Top Advisor Marketing’s professional podcast host Aric Johnson. Aric reveals what it takes to get listeners excited about your podcast, interviewing techniques that make listeners hang on your every word, how to promote your podcast, and more! In this episode, you will learn: Questions to ask yourself before starting a podcast Four exclusive tips on how to instantly become a good podcast host Which interviewing techniques Aric swears by The biggest mistakes that podcast hosts make A new way to introduce yourself to centers of influence and prospects And more! Tune in to learn how to become a podcast host that your audience adores! Resources: Top Advisor Marketing | Aric Johnson on LinkedIn Brought to you by: Iris.xyz

Imagine having original content that shows your ideal prospects what you do and who you serve. Imagine prospects calling you up, ready to work together, because you’ve proven your knowledge –– and in fact, they already like you! Today, Matt is joined by Jeremy Keil, the owner of Keil Financial Partners and host of the Retirement Revealed With Jeremy Keil podcast. Jeremy shares how he uses original content to introduce himself to prospects. He also dives into his marketing misses and wins, and how he caught the attention of Harley-Davidson employees at a time when they needed his help the most. In this episode, you will learn: The difference between branding and marketing Jeremy’s secret tips for never running out of podcast topics Marketing missteps that Jeremy wants you to avoid 5 ways to get your content in front of people on Google How Jeremy used content to put himself in front of Harley-Davidson employees And more! Tune in now to learn easy ways to get in front of ideal prospects with your original content! Resources: Top Advisor Marketing | Jeremy Keil on LinkedIn | Keil Financial Partners | Retirement Revealed With Jeremy Keil Brought to you by: iris.xyz

Do you know how to track the different pieces of your digital marketing strategy? Do you know which marketing tactics are nurturing prospects effectively –– and which tactics could use some tweaking? In this episode, Matt talks to John Lincoln, CEO of Ignite Visibility, about how to turn your digital marketing strategy into a lead-converting machine. John shares his secrets for converting traffic for less, increasing landing page conversion rates by up to 30%, and getting maximum visibility with a single piece of content. In this episode, you will learn: What two components make digital marketing cohesive and trackable Which tool will tell you how many leads your content is getting Why setting up remarketing audiences is the future of the internet Four things your landing page must have for you to convert better than your competition How to tweak your landing page to convert traffic for less money How much gross revenue entrepreneurs should spend on marketing And more! Tune in to learn how to fine-tune your digital marketing for higher conversions! Resources: Top Advisor Marketing | John Lincoln on LinkedIn | Ignite Visibility | Ignite Visibility on YouTube  | Ignite Visibility's landing page (John recommends this format for advisors) Brought to you by: iris.xyz

Major social media platforms have been quick to release features that help people adapt to working from home and avoid misinformation during COVID-19. In addition to being helpful during a stressful time, these new features could make advisor marketing easier. Today, Matt talks to Julia Ritchie of Top Advisor Marketing about the updates that Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter launched during the early stages of COVID-19. They walk you through each new feature and explore how advisors can use them to their marketing advantage. In this episode, you will learn: How Facebook is keeping users informed during COVID-19 About Facebook’s new virtual meeting capabilities How each platform is combating the spread of misinformation What email-inspired feature LinkedIn rolled out for premium users What new LinkedIn feature offers an easy alternative to webinars What new Twitter feature can help advisors be more present on this platform without taking extra time And more! Tune in now to learn about new features on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter! Resources: Top Advisor Marketing | Julia Ritchie on LinkedIn | Blog: What’s New on Social Media (Q2) | Full Report: What’s New on Social Media (Q2) Brought to you by: iris.xyz

Has the transition to relying more on technology during COVID-19 added to an already stressful situation –– or were you already using technology in your practice? Today, Matt is joined by returning guest Andrew Healy, co-founder of Water & Wall, a marketing and communications company that works with brands across the financial spectrum. Andrew talks about how RIAs who had been hesitant about video conferencing were suddenly forced to dip their toes in the digital pool when COVID-19 hit the U.S. He shares what advisors have done well from a digital-marketing perspective, how they’ve redefined the client experience, and what fundamental aspects of advice-giving had a chance to shine during the early stages of the pandemic. In this episode, you will learn: Ways that RIAs day-to-day work has been impacted by COVID-19 How RIAs have adapted to using new technologies What changes advisors have made to their websites during the pandemic 5 questions to ask yourself when choosing what type of content to create How to use your interests to differentiate yourself from other advisors Why Andrew believes that RIAs have done a fantastic job with strengthening existing client relationships And more! Tune in now to learn how RIAs have managed to adapt with excellence during COVID-19. Resources: Top Advisor Marketing | Water & Wall | Andrew Healy on LinkedIn Brought to you by: iris.xyz

People no longer want to be sold to. That means the financial services industry must drastically change their approach to attracting new clients. Today, Matt and Kirk talk about how to stop selling your services and start educating your ideal prospects. They explain why content marketing is essential for today’s advisors, why a LinkedIn sales pitch left Kirk shaking his head, and steps to take before you hire a branding company. In this episode, you will learn: Why content marketing pre-qualifies prospects Why having too many referrals isn’t good for your business Actions to take with a cold audience before trying to convert them Which marketing tasks Matt and Kirk have outsourced –– and why they’re believers in leveraging external support Defining characteristics of a cult brand And more! Listen now to learn how to start marketing to your ideal prospects on their terms. Resources: Top Advisor Marketing | Death By Referrals | The Fix by Chris Kneeland, Ryan Gill, and Rob Howard Brought to you by: iris.xyz

You might have excellent content that’s dedicated to making your niche audience’s lives better. Now it’s crucial to make sure your prospects see your content and that it’s easy to consume. Today, Matt speaks with Malcolm Ethridge, the executive vice president at CIC Wealth Management and cohost of Manage Your Damn Money, a tv show and podcast. Malcolm shares how he uses content marketing, including podcasting, to reach his prospects with the education they’re looking for. He also points out the benefits of housing all of your content in one digital space. In this episode, you will learn: How content marketing is replacing selling for advisors What pieces of content make up Malcolm’s marketing strategy How Malcolm inspires prospects to take action after they’ve consumed his content for an extended period of time Ways to make it easy for people to find and enjoy your content How Malcolm works with younger generations and maintains a level of profitability And more! Tune in now to learn how you can centralize your content and make sure the right people are consuming it! Resources: Top Advisor Marketing | Malcolm Ethridge on LinkedIn | CIC Wealth Management | Malcolm Ethridge Website | Manage Your Damn Money Brought to you by: iris.xyz

How can you attract more high-net-worth clients and still help groups that are typically underserved by advisors? Today, Matt is joined by Adri Miller-Heckman, founder of FemXadvisor. Adri shares the story of her rebrand into FemXadvisor and how she helps women advisors energize themselves by uncovering and sharing their value. Adri also dives into how advisors can work with underserved people with low assets and still make money, while continuing to attract high-net-worth clients. In this episode, you will learn: How FemX helps women advisors uncover and articulate their value How financial services professionals can better serve women and underserved communities Ways to appeal to low income-based households while still attracting ultra high-net-worth clients How advisors can continue their everyday business operations while expanding their community reach and giving back And more! Tune in now to learn how advisors can help those who need it most and continue to attract high-net-worth clients! Resources: Top Advisor Marketing | FemXadvisor | Adri Miller-Heckman on LinkedIn Brought to you by: iris.xyz

If you get super specific with your Facebook Ad targeting, will enough people see your ads? Will you be competing for visibility with Facebook Ads from large financial companies? Today, Matt speaks with Kelley Doutre, founder of Sweet Honey Marketing, about how to get your Facebook Ads in front of the people you’d love to serve. You will also learn how often to post on Instagram and Facebook and why it’s time to stop overlooking Instagram as a marketing tool. In this episode, you will learn: How to build the like, know, and trust factor throughout the customer journey How Facebook Ads differentiates between small advisors and big advisors Why you shouldn’t worry about having to compete with large companies’ Ads What will compel people to click on your Facebook Ads How often financial professionals should post on Instagram and Facebook Which one is the best option for building a community: Pages or Groups? And more! Tune in now to learn how to use Facebook Ads to build relationships with your ideal clients. Resources: Top Advisor Marketing | Sweet Honey Marketing | Kelley Doutre on LinkedIn Brought to you by: iris.xyz

Top advisors are champions in the industry because they’ve strategically moved their companies forward by gaining a competitive advantage. In today’s episode, Kirk and Matt unpack eight ways to increase your competitive advantage. Kirk draws from what he learned in university combined with cutting edge trends to give you actions you can take right away to stand out from the crowd. You will learn: Why being adaptable opens up huge opportunities for advisors Ways to make your business more effective in its operations Why you shouldn't be doing everything at all times in your practice How to create a community-feel that sets you apart from the competition What having a powerful “why” can do for your company Ways to be vocal about how you’re involved in the community And more! Tune in now and learn 8 powerful ways to separate yourself from the competition! Resources:   Top Advisor Marketing Brought to you by: Iris.xyz

The LGBTQ+ community is still heavily underserved by financial advisors. Are you aware of LGBTQ+  clients’ unique planning needs and how to create a safe environment for different identities? Today, Matt speaks with Michelle Waymire of Young & Scrappy, a financial advisor and financial coach who serves young folx and the LGBTQ+ community. Michelle shares how advisors can respectfully ask clients how they identify, what conversations to have with LGBTQ+ clients before you start planning, and what marketing strategies she uses to attract this niche. In this episode, you will learn: Why Michelle chose to serve young people and the LGBTQ+ community How working with the LGBTQ+ community differs from serving other niches Ways to make your advisor website more inclusive How Michelle stays profitable while working with young people Questions to ask LGBTQ+ clients before you start the planning work Michelle’s routine for planning Instagram content that is consistent, themed, and relevant The importance of understanding gender pronouns and how to ask a prospect which pronouns they use And more! Tune in now to hear Michelle’s marketing strategies for serving the LGBTQ+ community and young people! Resources: Top Advisor Marketing | Young & Scrappy | Michelle Waymire on Instagram | The Young Scrappy Money Podcast | Unsplash | Pexels | LGBTQ+ terms and definitions | A Guide to Being an Ally to Transgender and Nonbinary Youth| Inclusive Services for LGBT Older Adults: A Practical Guide to Creating Welcoming Agencies | A Guide to Gender Pronouns | Questionable Questions About Transgender Identity Brought to you by: iris.xyz

Lead generation is dying a slow, wonderful death. Large numbers of leads are no longer the ticket to marketing success for advisors. Today, Matt and Kirk dive into four ways to increase your quality of prospects –– and stop focusing on quantity. They highlight the power of being omnipresent with your marketing and how to attract, intrigue, engage, and influence to build quality leads. In this episode, you will learn: Why marketing for quality breeds focus in your business Examples of how to create advocacy, which attracts business Ways to get your expertise in front of new people on social media How to become omnipresent online (and why it doesn’t have to be hard) Why it’s important to have your own content (and not just share other people’s content) And more! Tune in now to learn four ways to increase your prospect quality! Resources: Top Advisor Marketing | Episode 161: The Top 10 Arguments Against Niche Marketing – and Why They’re All Wrong! | iris.xyz | Idea Decanter Brought to you by: iris.xyz

Latino communities are underserved, and many don’t know who to speak with or where to begin talking about their money. In this episode, Matt speaks with Jannese Torres-Rodriguez, host of the Yo Quiero Dinero podcast about her podcast aimed towards Latinas and women of color. Jannese explains how talking about your money in Latino communities is often considered taboo, and how she approaches breaking down that barrier. In this episode, you will learn: How Jannese started having more conversations about money in Latino communities, and why she started her podcast Why Jannese chooses to lead by example and be transparent when talking about money Where the idea of money being ‘taboo’ in first-gen Latino families comes from How you can use social media to create a strong community outside of your podcast Advice for financial services professionals working with women of color And more! Tune in now to learn about how financial services professionals can better serve Latino communities! Resources: Top Advisor Marketing | Yo Quiero Dinero Podcast | [email protected] Brought to you by: iris.xyz

It’s overwhelming for advisors to make the jump to RIA and become their own governing body. But it can also feel liberating if you have tools that make it easy for you to fulfill compliance activities. Today, Matt talks to Will Bressman, CEO of RIA in a Box®, about the benefits of using RIA compliance software that can be customized to any RIA situation. Will walks you through the features of RIA in a Box®, including its compliance calendars that help you complete the responsibilities for ongoing compliance while saving time. In this episode, you will learn: How RIA in a Box® makes an advisor’s life easier Whether the consistent compliance pressure from wirehouses and BDs disappears once you become an RIA How quickly this compliance software updates whenever regulatory bodies make changes How compliance regulations differ between FINRA and the SEC And more! Tune in to learn about compliance solutions that can help any RIA feel less stressed and way more efficient. Resources: Top Advisor Marketing | Will Bressman on LinkedIn | RIA in a Box Brought to you by: iris.xyz

Many advisors believe that if they aren’t using big words and acronyms with clients, then they aren’t proving their credibility. Today, Matt speaks with Carl Richards CFP®, Creator of the Behavior Gap and the Sketch Guy column, which has appeared weekly in The New York Times since 2010. Carl joins the show to encourage advisors to explain financial concepts to clients in the most simple way imaginable. He explains why using hand drawn sketches are an effective teaching tool that demonstrates your expertise. In this episode, you will learn: Who in the financial industry uses Behavior Gap The four most common uses of Behavior Gap for advisor marketing Why sketches make financial concepts easy for people to understand Why sketches actually demonstrate an advisor’s expertise Reasons for advisors to stop using jargon and embrace simplicity instead And more! Tune in to learn about the power of using sketches to make complex financial concepts easy to understand. Resources: Top Advisor Marketing | Behavior Gap  | Carl Richards on LinkedIn Brought to you by: iris.xyz

Today, Matt talks to Jeremi Karnell, president and COO of Truelytics. Truelytics is a leading business-intelligence SaaS (software as a service) platform in the wealth management sector. Truelytics is the first end-to-end data-driven platform that helps wealth management enterprises recruit, grow, and retain businesses while reducing time and costs related to transitions. In this episode, you will learn: About Truelytics’ four models: TrueRecruit, TruePerformance, TrueContinuity, TrueMatch Which transitions Truelytics is designed to help advisors navigate with less time and costs, including “the great transition” Which costs Truelytics reduces during transitions How this software helps advisors focus on what they should be focusing on The most beneficial lessons Jeremi has learned from being a serial entrepreneur And more! Tune in to learn how Truelytics can decrease your costs and time during your firm’s transitions. Resources: Top Advisor Marketing | Truelytics | Jeremi Karnell on LinkedIn | [email protected] Brought to you by: iris.xyz

Do you have fans or skeptics showing up to your advisor webinars? Fans are familiar with your work. They understand exactly how you help your niche. And they’re eager to invite their network to your webinar. Skeptics are the complete opposite. But they’re the people who usually attend advisors’ webinars. Today, Matt and Kirk teach you how to turn someone into a fan before they show up at your webinar. You will also learn ways to think like a big company as you approach your marketing, which is a key to converting webinar skeptics into fans. In this episode, you will learn: The differences between a skeptic and a fan The downfalls of focusing on short-term marketing outcomes Ways to nurture your attendees before and after the webinar The differences between a strategy and a plan How to think like a big company, but market like a small company And more! Tune in now and learn how to fill your webinars with fans! Resources: Top Advisor Marketing Brought to you by: iris.xyz