professional services Archives

customer service pays for financial advisors

Professional Service: There’s extra money in going the extra mile with your service

by Tony Vidler Often advisers forget how valuable the service bit is in their “professional service” business. Everyone has heard some story about how a business did well from going the extra mile for a customer…but rarely do you hear about a professional services business that has a standing process for going the extra […]

You need to get selling

by Tony Vidler Advisers: Good advice process is not enough. Being technically competent is not enough. You have to get selling. I know that “Sell” is seen as a bit of a dirty word these days, but we cannot back away from the need for it. You have to sell if you are going to […]

Try giving clients the Red Carpet treatment

by Tony Vidler What is more effective: running a client seminar with 100 guests, or running 5 “red carpet” client events of only a dozen or so at a time? Research suggests that the best financial advisers tend to run smaller and more intimate client appreciation events, and do them regularly. The best advisers […]

Written Advice: Should it be Clear? or Concise? Or Effective?

by Tony Vidler When it comes to delivering our written advice to clients there is a tendency to be guided by the words used by the regulators, or law, in how that advice is framed or written. The written advice, be it financial plans or Statements Of Advice being delivered to clients, are however […]

Professional Positioning Powers Elite Performance

by Tony Vidler The elite performance achieved by some financial advisers seems to come down to them being better at positioning themselves professionally than average advisers are. That positioning really pays off too: various surveys suggest that they get up to 2.5 X MORE business from new clients than average advisers. And to […]

Why your FREE service is a barrier to getting the right business

by Tony Vidler Most professionals at some point offer complimentary initial meetings or consultations with clients as a “free service”. It simply isn’t true, and that in itself prevents the right sort of clients coming your way. The fundamental reason why this just doesn’t cut it with consumers is because they don’t believe […]

How to find your Niche

by Tony Vidler Knowing and working exclusively in your niche is nirvana for most professionals. Your niche is that absolute sweet spot where what you are fabulous at overlaps with what you love doing, and it is something that other people value and will pay you for. It is not a simple […]

What you need to know if you buy to grow

by Tony Vidler As many advice businesses reach maturity it is common to consider whether they should “buy to grow”. Should they buy another practice, or more commonly, should just buy a book of business from another practice. The typical reasons suggested for wanting to grow through acquisition are: 1. Get new […]

The uncertain road ahead for advice businesses

by Tony Vidler One certain thing for advice businesses is that there is a huge amount of uncertainty. Practice owners have had a lot of “alone time” in the last couple of years quietly contemplating the road ahead and trying to figure out what do they have to do to prepare, or adapt. […]

Is Acquisition – or Merger – Worth It?

by Tony Vidler Many firms facing increased overheads and infrastructure costs in the next few years are considering acquisition or merger strategies as a survival or growth strategy. Generally there appears to be 5 main reasons that advisers suggest as their reasons for acquisition of another business. They are: 1. Get new […]

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