Consistently attracting new clients helps you unlock the full potential of your financial advisory practice. Every new client can boost your revenue and open the door to valuable referrals.
While crucial, the client acquisition process can feel overwhelming, especially for advisors just starting their careers. Cold calling, for example, can be awkward and inefficient. Fortunately, there are more effective ways to attract new clients.
If you’re wondering how to get clients as a financial advisor, keep reading. We outline eight effective strategies and explain how to implement them below. After that, we’ll provide some tips for retaining your hard-earned clients for the long term.
#1 Narrow Down Your Niche and Nail Your Unique Value Proposition
With over 300,000 financial advisors in the United States, the industry is fiercely competitive. Thus, you must clearly define what sets your practice apart from other advisors. To do so, start by pinpointing your areas of specialization. Some possibilities include:
- Investment management
- Retirement planning
- Tax planning
- Estate planning
- Socially responsible investing
- High-net-worth wealth management
- Insurance and risk management
Next, determine the specific audiences you want to serve, whether retirees, young professionals, small business owners, or another demographic, and consider their unique financial challenges and goals. During this process, you can ask yourself:
- What are my target clients’ primary motivations for seeking out my services?
- What are their most pressing financial concerns?
- What misconceptions do they have about financial planning?
- What are their preferred methods for initial outreach and communication?
- How can I demonstrate my expertise in addressing their needs?
After reflecting on your services and target audience, it’s time to transform your findings into a unique selling proposition (USP). This statement clarifies what sets you apart from your competition, whether it’s niche expertise, innovative investment strategies, or exceptional customer service. Crafting a compelling USP can guide your sales pitches and ensure your marketing efforts resonate with your ideal clientele.
Learn More: 2024 Guide to Financial Advisor Marketing
#2 Establish a Professional Online Presence
Thanks to the internet, you no longer need to spend hours cold calling to attract new clients. You can let your online presence bring them to you instead. For this method to work, you must ensure your website instills an excellent first impression. A professional website should be:
- Quick to load
- Visually appealing
- Easy to navigate
- Mobile friendly
- Informative
You should also feature compelling calls to action throughout your website. For instance, you can encourage website visitors to schedule a consultation with you or share their email addresses to gain access to your retirement calculator. Once leads reach out to you online, pitch them using your USP and nurture them into clients.
#3 Make Your Mark on Social Media
Did you know that 79% of millennials and Gen Zs seek financial advice on social media? Even if these two generations aren’t your target demographic, social media is a valuable channel for conversions. Advisors who report success on social media say that the most effective platforms for lead generation are as follows:
- LinkedIn – 71%
- Facebook – 58%
- Twitter – 6%
- Instagram – 4%
Here are some strategies for using social media to grow your client base:
- Spruce up your professional profiles—Chances are, potential clients who find you through social media will click on your profile before contacting you for a consultation. Thus, showcasing a professional profile with a polished headshot, a descriptive biography detailing your credentials, and a link to your business website is important.
- Share valuable insights and educational content – After optimizing your profiles, you can engage with your friends and followers. Attract potential clients by sharing insightful articles, posting informative videos, and exchanging perspectives with other trusted industry professionals. Along with increasing your exposure, these interactions can help you position yourself as an industry expert.
- Engage with your followers – Financial advising is ultimately about relationships. While online interactions will never replace personal connections, they can help you build a foundation of familiarity and approachability with prospective clients. Make sure to like your followers’ posts and comment back and forth from time to time. This positive rapport could transform into a professional relationship down the line.
- Host live Q&A sessions – Another powerful way to engage with our audience is through live streaming. For example, you could host a live Q&A about a recent regulatory change or upcoming market volatility indicator. These real-time insights can be extremely valuable to prospective clients.
#4 Get Involved in Your Community
While the internet can connect you with prospective clients worldwide, you can increase your local business by actively participating in your community. Building relationships and establishing trust within your community can lead to valuable connections and referrals.
Here are a few strategies to boost your presence in your community:
- Attend local events – From charity functions to community festivals, local events are an ideal place to introduce yourself to potential clients in an informal setting. For the best results, don’t be pushy about your services – just be friendly and allow people to approach you with their financial needs as they see fit.
- Join local organizations – Becoming a member of your local business group, chamber of commerce, or professional association allows you to network with professionals in your area who may provide referrals or request your services themselves.
- Give back to the community – Volunteering can enhance your reputation and help you connect with potential clients in a meaningful way. You can lend your time and expertise to local organizations or arrange your own financial literacy workshop. Either way, these altruistic endeavors can show prospective clients that you genuinely care about the financial well-being of others while expanding your reach and visibility.
- Engage with local media – Another way to expand your reach and visibility is to leverage local media. Contact local newspapers, radio stations, and community blogs to offer your expertise on financial topics. Sharing your expert insights can get your name out there and enhance your credibility.
Using a combination of these tactics, you can build lasting relationships, enhance your reputation, and create a robust pipeline of potential clients.
#6 Host a Workshop or Seminar
Many people want to improve their finances but don’t know where to start. Hosting a free workshop or seminar on financial literacy can be a valuable way to connect with prospective clients. By hosting these events, you can add value while alerting them to your services. Some topics to explore include:
- Investment basics
- Retirement planning
- Tax strategies
- Debt management tips
- Economic trends
To maximize the benefit of this strategy, follow up with attendees shortly afterward to see if they’re interested in professional support. You can also record your live presentation and transform it into a webinar to expand its reach.
#7 Request Referrals
Did you know that referrals boast the highest conversion rate of any client acquisition channel? Since they’re so effective, you should proactively acquire as many referrals as possible. Here are a few ways to do just that:
- Provide excellent service to your current clients – Happy clients are likelier to refer you to their friends, family, and colleagues. A healthy referral stream starts with satisfying the clients you already have. You can boost your client satisfaction by:
- Actively listening during your initial consultation.
- Tailoring your investment strategy to their unique needs and goals.
- Checking in with them frequently.
- Modifying your strategy in response to major life milestones.
- Leveraging time-saving tools, like turnkey asset management platforms (TAMPs), gives you more time to dedicate to clients.
Learn More: What is a TAMP and Should You Use One?
- Politely request referrals at appropriate times – The best time to request referrals is shortly after a client expresses satisfaction with your services. For example, you can say, “If you know anyone who could benefit from my services, I’d greatly appreciate an introduction.” To keep the positive momentum going, make sure to thank the clients who fulfilled this request.
- Implement a referral program – Another way to encourage more referrals is to create a dedicated referral program. For example, you can offer rewards, such as discounts or gift cards, to clients who promote your business to their friends and family. This can motivate more people to spread the word about your services.
- Collaborate with other professionals – Accountants, lawyers, real estate agents, and other professionals can be excellent sources of referrals. You just need to network with them and earn their trust. From there, you can see if they would be open to establishing mutually beneficial referral partnerships.
- Partner with a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) – An RIA, like Alden Investment Group, can provide a steady stream of high-quality referrals. Joining an RIA also has many other perks, such as investment management assistance, innovative technology, and succession planning support.
#7 Be Patient and Persistent
Building a large client base takes time, so it’s important to be patient and regularly refine your strategies based on what generates the best results. Celebrating small wins and staying focused on your long-term goals will make you more likely to succeed.
How to Retain Clients as a Financial Advisor
Attracting new clients is only half the battle – retaining them is equally important for long-term success. Unfortunately, up to 80% of heirs change financial advisors after inheriting their parent’s wealth. The most common drivers of client turnover include:
- Dissatisfaction with the quality of advice (32%)
- Lackluster relationship with the advisor (21%)
- Concerns about the cost of services (17%)
- Underwhelming portfolio performance (11%)
- Increased confidence in managing their own finances (10%)
- Lack of effective communication (9%)
With these metrics in mind, here are five effective strategies for keeping your clients engaged and satisfied with your services:
- Clarify communication expectations early on – During your initial consultations with new clients, find out how frequently they want to hear from you. Some clients prefer monthly check-ins, while others may find quarterly updates sufficient. Note these preferences in your CRM and schedule your communication accordingly. Learn More: 10 Must-Have Tools for Financial Advisors
- Be transparent about your services—Trust is the foundation of any successful advisor-client relationship. The key to cultivating trust with your clients is transparency about your services, including fees, potential conflicts of interest, and business practices.
- Cultivate strong personal connections – Building solid relationships involves connecting with clients personally. Take the time to learn about their interests, families, and life milestones. Whether you connect through email, phone calls, or in-person meetings, make sure your communication is friendly and approachable.
- Tailor your investment strategy to their life events – Clients want to work with an advisor who takes the time to understand their needs and goals on a deeper level. By actively listening during meetings, you can absorb the information you need to personalize your investment tactics. It’s also good to touch base with your clients after major life events, such as marriage, children, or retirement, to see if their strategies require immediate modifications.
- Keep your clients in the loop – Most clients want regular updates about the status of their portfolios. Providing these updates consistently can enhance their confidence in your management. Many clients also appreciate when their advisor explains market conditions. In fact, 98% of clients with over $500,000 under advisory say they want to receive updates from their advisors about the market and economy. To streamline this process, consider writing a monthly newsletter summarizing market trends and what they mean for various investment vehicles.
- Express appreciation – Satisfaction is crucial, but surprisingly, it’s not the most important emotion for client retention. According to a survey of over 90,000 Americans, ensuring your clients feel valued, appreciated, and respected dramatically impacts their loyalty. With this in mind, make sure you thank your clients for their patronage. You can also send messages congratulating them on significant life events. These small gestures can show your clients that you care about them beyond their business.
Grow Your Client Base With Alden Investment Group
As you can see, there are many ways to expand your client base as an ambitious financial advisor. With patience, persistence, and a commitment to client service, you can build a thriving financial advisory practice that supports you for years to come.
Are you looking to fast-track your success? Consider joining Alden Investment Group. As a trusted RIA and Broker-Dealer, we can help you grow your business through valuable referrals and cutting-edge technological innovation.
At Alden, we’re dedicated to our financial advisors’ success. Whether you need help tailoring your investment management, streamlining your back-office tasks, or setting up a succession plan, we can provide the resources and guidance you need to achieve your goals.
Contact our team to learn more today.
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