Growing Your Financial Business...The Woman's Way

Tune into this episode as we dive headfirst into the captivating world of strategic thinking and the importance of having a clear process as an advisor. Here, we explore how embracing innovative strategies can transform your business and amplify your success. This week’s guest is Lisa J. Smith, the CEO and founder of SMITH Co, a renowned sales consulting company that's all about integrating fresh...

As a financial advisor, you might find your work eating into your personal life. If you’re a perfectionist like me, you always think you can be doing more — meeting more clients, giving more talks, agreeing to help people in areas that might not be your expertise. This can result in you losing precious time with your family and friends in the name of being more successful.  Luckily, you can get th...

According to Dena Patton, this week’s podcast guest, finding success as a financial advisor is first about connection and second about greatness. Beyond the initial connection through prospecting, it’s essential that clients see your greatness. Your potential clients need to believe that you are talented, confident, and able to provide transformational value.  Dena is a coach, keynote speaker, and...

It can seem challenging to set yourself apart from the sea of financial professionals out there. But it doesn’t have to be.  This week’s episode is with Abagail Pumphrey and Emylee Williams, the masterminds behind Boss Project and the hosts of Strategy Hour. These ladies are like business fairy godmothers, and they spilled some game-changing secrets during the episode that will help you position y...

As a kid, I was scared to challenge anything or anyone. Authority figures were right. The mainstream was right. The rules I had to follow must have been right. And I followed the status quo because I was “supposed to” and I was afraid of being wrong.  Somewhere along the path, I started questioning things. I even spoke up about what I believed, and learned to think for myself because I realized th...

When things aren’t going your way, it’s easy to get in a rut. Even if you believe that “everything happens for a reason,” when you’re struggling, it’s tough to see it that way.  Hope Zvara dealt with challenges much more difficult than most — she grappled with addiction, the loss of a baby, and a ton of criticism… but in Hope’s case, Kelly Clarkson was right. (What doesn’t kill you DOES make you s...

Stuck between millennials and baby boomers, Gen Xers (aka the “sandwich generation”) have big needs when it comes to financial planning. Understanding them better could help you get them as clients and give them even more value. According to life insurance expert, Daphne Jones, Gen Xers are feeling behind financially and feel forced to scramble to figure out what to do with their money.  That’s wh...

As a financial advisor, you’ve been taught how to grow your business in a very “standard” way, which typically includes old school (and outdated) methods. But, you don’t have to do everything that you’ve been told. In fact, you probably shouldn’t. There are many different ways to get ideal clients. Success in the financial industry has a lot to do with networking, but it’s more than just putting y...

Having clarity about exactly what you want is never easy, but it is incredibly effective. It may feel like there’s no time left in the day to focus on tomorrow, and especially 3 years from tomorrow…but prioritizing this is a MUST in order to reach your big goals. Imagine being 30 years old and owning not one, but two multimillion dollar businesses. That’s what Jennifer Hudye has done and she attri...

Being a financial advisor can be stressful — especially now, when banks have collapsed and it’s unclear how the state of the economy will affect your business. It can also be anxiety inducing to be a woman in a predominantly male industry. When I was a financial advisor, I encountered potential clients who didn’t want to work with me just because I’m a woman. That stuff still happens! Less than 1%...

If you’re anything like me, you came into the financial service industry for a darn good reason. For me, it was to help people, get financially savvy, and have freedom and flexibility. I chose to become a financial advisor. I didn’t realize I had to also be a salesperson, entrepreneur, social media guru, email corresponder, operations manager, or therapist (just to name a few).  My guess is, you a...

As a financial advisor, your personal brand is everything, but your company conveniently left that part out. Why? So you can build their brand, not yours… You may love your company, but your clients pick YOU, because they love you. And one of the reasons you’re not getting as many ideal clients as you could be getting, is because you’re invisible. The “right” people… don’t even know you exist! Per...

Tax time is a good reminder of the importance of knowing your numbers, but having clarity of money coming in and going out shouldn't be a one-time of year thing, as I’m sure you know. If you’ve ever found yourself searching through your finances trying to figure out why you’re still paying thousands of dollars in subscriptions every month for services you don’t really use, you are not alone. Even...

Communication is a crucial part of finding success as a financial advisor, whether that means finetuning your social media presence or giving regular talks about your niche. Cheryl Wood can confirm — she thanks her communication skills for helping her grow her business from a tiny side project to a six-figure and seven-figure level. Early on, Cheryl’s business led her to her first speaking engagem...

With the recent collapse of three banks and the buying of Credit Suisse by USB, it’s safe to say that there’s some fear in the air — which could have a positive or negative effect on your business.  The good news is, with the right focus, intention and system, these tumultuous events can actually help you get more ideal clients, giving you a greater opportunity to make an even bigger impact.  Now,...

As an advisor, you need to be thinking with the end in mind. How am I going to exit? Is there a succession plan?  That’s because you have the opportunity to sell your business and make the profit you deserve. This means planning ahead and building meaningful relationships with investment bankers and others who value financial services, according to Stacey Relton. Stacey is a transformational leade...

We all have a love-hate relationship with social media. There are so many potential clients out there on the internet, but it’s difficult to find the right people without seeming spammy. Don’t worry, though — it’s possible to make the most of social media without spending too much time on it! M’Lisa Ellis is an entrepreneur, CEO, and the co-founder of Skim It, a social media efficiency tool that l...

Jen Dawson is a CFP, senior wealth advisor, and a working mom. She focuses specifically on helping breadwinner attorney women, and is clearly successful with her target marketing — Hemington, her firm, is one of the fastest-growing RIA firms in the country. Most importantly, she’s walking in your shoes. Jen has lived and breathed the financial industry for 15 years, and she knows exactly how thing...

I’ve always been a big fan of using speaking to grow my business — this marketing strategy made me my first $100,000 as a financial advisor and brought me valuable clients. Talks are the best way to get instant authority and credibility within the industry, and are a super easy way to get your name out there.  Bari Baumgardner of SAGE Event Management agrees. She’s a successful female entrepreneur...

Sherri Somers spent 10 years helping ex-offenders start their business, and she was so successful that she caught the attention of the Obamas. Now, she is a financial life coach who specializes in the insurance and tax space. She’s a master of discipline and an expert on making money in a way that is conducive to being a mother. She came on my podcast to share her five step framework for building...

If you’ve ever dabbled in speaking, you know that speaking equals money. And if you’ve never been on “stage” before, then get ready to add a revenue generating machine to your business.  According to my guest, Shannon Grainger, speaking is THE path to a successful business. And it’s not as hard as you think. Getting speaking engagements is all about starting with your circle of influence, strategi...

The financial industry doesn’t talk a lot about messaging and the importance of copywriting, but understanding how to incorporate good copy into your marketing will determine whether you attract the right prospects, the wrong prospects, or not enough prospects. And yes, you can use good copy, even if you have strict compliance.  You may not be able to hack the YouTube algorithm and grow your platf...

Having more referrals and more high quality prospects all the time sounds pretty sweet, and Mike Koenigs’ Referral Party idea makes it both possible and fun. Mike has consulted and advised major brands like Sony and BMW and celebrity clients like Tony Robbins and Paula Abdul… and his wisdom quite literally made me a bestselling author. He thought up a way to provide value to people in your network...

Mary Lyons used marketing to double her client base and revenue — and you can do the same. She went from failing to being one of the top ten advisors with her broker dealer in two years, and now has over one thousand clients. Through lots of trial and error, Mary learned how to build a process that ensures that her clients are devoted, driven, and willing to actually follow her advice. She can tea...

If you’re not working with clients looking to exit their businesses, you may want to start. There is an incredible opportunity for advisors in the M&A space. Learning more about how entrepreneurs think when it comes to exiting a business could help you access a big pool of amazing clients who want and NEED your advice.  Laurie Barkman was the CEO of a $100 million revenue company and the current o...