Leverage the financial services evolution to maximize your firm's value The Essential Advisor presents an insightful handbook for advisors looking to navigate the changing face of financial services. The industry is evolving, consumers are evolving, and many advisors are being left behind as old methods become less and less relevant. This book shows you how to turn this shift into a positive, by positioning your firm to maximize these new opportunities, and deliver the results and experience increasingly expected of financial advisors. You'll learn how to provide the transparency, hands-on interaction, and around-the-clock access today's clients demand, and how to consistently deliver service that robo-advisors cannot duplicate. Emerging technologies do not have to be a threat to your practice—they are tools that represent opportunities to provide greater service to your clients, and smart technology integration will be a hallmark of firms that survive the shift. This guide provides a clear vision of the future of financial services, and an indispensable management framework for maximizing your firm's future value. Advisors are increasingly confused about what clients are seeking, and clients are equally confused about what advisory firms offer that alternatives cannot. This book helps clear the air on both sides by examining the client's perspective of financial services, and helping advisors better communicate their strengths. Articulate the value of your services Leverage new technology to complement your practice Capitalize on opportunities and maximize your firm's value Position your firm to benefit from the changing consumer population Financial advisors can only grow their businesses if clients know what they do, know how to hire them, and can access them affordably. The Essential Advisor shows you to bring your firm into the future successfully.

Leverage the financial services evolution to maximize your firm's value The Essential Advisor presents an insightful handbook for advisors looking to navigate the changing face of financial services. The industry is evolving, consumers are evolving, and many advisors are being left behind as old methods become less and less relevant. This book shows you how to turn this shift into a positive, by positioning your firm to maximize these new opportunities, and deliver the results and experience increasingly expected of financial advisors. You'll learn how to provide the transparency, hands-on interaction, and around-the-clock access today's clients demand, and how to consistently deliver service that robo-advisors cannot duplicate. Emerging technologies do not have to be a threat to your practice—they are tools that represent opportunities to provide greater service to your clients, and smart technology integration will be a hallmark of firms that survive the shift. This guide provides a clear vision of the future of financial services, and an indispensable management framework for maximizing your firm's future value. Advisors are increasingly confused about what clients are seeking, and clients are equally confused about what advisory firms offer that alternatives cannot. This book helps clear the air on both sides by examining the client's perspective of financial services, and helping advisors better communicate their strengths. Articulate the value of your services Leverage new technology to complement your practice Capitalize on opportunities and maximize your firm's value Position your firm to benefit from the changing consumer population Financial advisors can only grow their businesses if clients know what they do, know how to hire them, and can access them affordably. The Essential Advisor shows you to bring your firm into the future successfully.

"It is easy in the tumult of our everyday lives to ignore the client's words and needs as we struggle to promote our own interests. Easy, but dangerous. . . . Operating our business in the client's interest is the pivotal element in a successful marketing strategy. Marketing, in turn, is a mandatory investment in your business. It pays dividends immediately and in the long term. It will carry you to liftoff."-Dan Richards Achieving success as a financial adviser is no longer just a matter of aggressive salesmanship backed, hopefully, by a good track record. Today's clients are highly knowledgeable about their investment options, and they aren't shy about letting you know it. They expect you to be extremely attentive to their unique financial concerns, and they are much more likely to switch advisers if they sense they are not getting the sincere commitment they feel they deserve. That's why, in today's competitive marketplace, building a successful financial services practice is all about forging long-term relationships with clients built on attentiveness, empathy, and trust. And, as expert Dan Richards explains in this groundbreaking guide to finding and keeping clients, the key to cultivating such relationships is marketing-the art and science of defining what clients really need, and then letting them know that you can satisfy those needs, now and in the future. Drawing on his extensive experience as a consultant to many of North America's most successful financial service providers, Richards arms you with proven tools and techniques for building a steady and devoted client base. From using print, broadcast, and other media to market your services, to making the initial contact, from automating the prospecting process, to performing target marketing, he outlines an array of surefire client-getting techniques. With the help of scenarios and sample dialogues, he helps you to develop and sharpen the skills needed to build lasting relationships with clients once you've gotten them. For instance, you'll learn how to become a better listener and interpreter of client concerns, as well as simple methods for systematically gathering and effectively responding to client feedback. Dan Richards also provides a complete program for seamlessly integrating the tools and techniques described into a successful client-centered practice tailored to your unique style and professional goals. Getting Clients, Keeping Clients is a complete guide to surviving and thriving in today's increasingly competitive financial services market. A complete program for building a steady and devoted client base Getting Clients, Keeping Clients In this groundbreaking guide, expert Dan Richards explains why marketing is the key to thriving in today's more competitive financial markets. He provides you with the powerful client-centered marketing know-how, tools, and techniques to connect with today's more savvy, demanding, and value-conscious clients. Praise for Getting Clients, Keeping Clients ". . . teaches advisers how to be profitable and ethical at the same time."-Investment Executive ". . . a book most independent financial advisers will want to read."-The Financial Post ". . . many ideas in the book that will help keep existing clients while generating new business."-Research

Protect your money with this “accessible and practical” guide to hiring and working with financial advisors (Publishers Weekly, starred review). Hiring a trained expert to safeguard and grow your wealth seems like a foolproof decision, but it can go awry for many people. You should never blindly trust that your advisor has your best interests at heart—and while there are many benefits to working with a financial pro, there are some things you should know first. Drawing on her insider’s knowledge of how the financial advice profession really works, Liz Davidson shows how to judge whether an advisor is going to help or harm your savings. This no-nonsense guide covers questions such as: How should you decide if you really need an advisor? What financial moves can you make without their help? What important questions should you ask before trusting them with your money? What are the red flags you should run from? What does all their jargon really mean? Learn how to take control of your financial well-being—either with a financial advisor or without one. “This book is mandatory reading for anyone who wants a better understanding of how to manage their money.” —Mary Beth Franklin, InvestmentNews “Valuable tools for managing one’s personal finances for maximum results.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

Beside talent and a sterling portfolio, what can world-class consultants like Deloitte & Touche, Societe General and Towers Perrin boast has helped them achieve success in our entrepreneurial economy? They all have the inside track on the indispensable "Trusted Advisor" model for client relationships, created by renowned experts Charles Green and Robert Galford. Now Green and Galford have teamed up with the acclaimed David Maister in order to help their latest high-profile, fast-forward client: you. In this straightforward guide, Maister, Green and Galford show readers that the key to professional success goes well beyond technical mastery or expertise. Today, it's all about the vital ability to earn the client's trust and thereby win the ability to influence them. In these high risk times, trust is more valuable than gold. With this critical, highly detailed and accessible resource, readers will learn the five crucial steps for developing, managing and improving client confidence. For both emerging and established entrepreneurs and consultants, THE TRUSTED ADVISOR is the first truly indispensable business book of the decade.

"The Age Wave of retiring baby boomers is creating a seismic bonanza for financial advisors--if they can provide the kinds of creative and flexible strategies their clients will be wanting and needing. Steve Gresham provides the solid, imaginative, yet practical guidance needed to build winning strategies to meet the needs of a new generation of investors. I have long respected his work and heartily recommend this book." --Ken Dychtwald, PhD, founder and CEO, Age Wave, and author of Age Wave, Age Power,The Power Years, and Workforce Crisis "Steve Gresham showed us in The Managed Account Handbook that the basics to asuccessful advisor do not differ from one country to another. In this book, he is expanding his horizon with his extensive experiences to further help you to develop the skills for building a devoted client base. This is the must-read book for all who want to succeed in the financial advisory industry." --Toshiya ShimizuPresident and CEO, Nikko Cordial Advisors Ltd. "For thirty years, advisors have been using wealth accumulation as their main sales weapon. With the boomers entering retirement, all that's out the window. Now the imperatives are income distribution, planning--making sure the investor does not run out of money. In Steve's newest book, he does an excellent job of walking advisors through this change and showing them how to alter their practices to not only survive but thrive. This is a must-read for any advisor who still wants to be in the business in ten years." --Len Reinhartfounder and President, Lockwood Advisors? "For over thirty years, I have sought advice from industry experts who can help me grow and optimize my practice. Steve Gresham's advice is always of interest to me--he is always right there on the cutting edge." --John Rafal, President, Essex Financial ServicesRegistered Rep.'s Top 50 Financial Advisor for 2006 and Barron's Top 100 Financial Advisor "A good coach can help even the best players reach their potential. As a financial advisor, you coach successful families to tackle life's challenges and achieve their goals. Steve Gresham can help--he has the tactics to help you build a winning team." --Mike KrzyzewskiHead Coach, Duke University Basketball and the 2006 U.S. National Team

The best and the brightest use advisors and experts. In fact, one could say that they are the best and the brightest because they utilized trusted advisors throughout their careers. Whether in business, sports, entertainment, academia, or politics–expert help is a fundamental enabler of success. That means that the demand for expert advice will grow and the competition will increase for such help. This isn’t a matter of “certificates” and “universities,” it’s a matter of specific skill and behavioral sets that create a trusting bond and reliance. Trusted advisors are beyond coaches—they are comprehensive resources and supporters. The Modern Trusted Advisor employs important mastery traits, such as subordinating ego, applying shared experiences, and managing emotional, mental, and intellectual health. We are entering a world of “no normal” today and leaders must inspire others daily. This is the book that prepares you to inspire those leaders.