Much of the workforce in the financial advisory field is getting closer and closer to retirement age.
But although seasoned and well-established financial advisors are aging out, the demand for financial advice is still strong. The industry is ripe for the plucking for eager financial entrepreneurs who are willing to learn and work hard.
If you are a new financial professional, here are some tips and things to know to help you succeed.
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Social Media Is Your Best Friend
There’s no way to separate any industry from social media these days. Social media has dominated marketing, squeezing out old-school advertising methods like cable commercials or print ads.
As a new financial professional, you should leverage your knowledge and comfort with social media to benefit your business. Take advantage of the many resources designed to help financial professionals create solid marketing plans.
How to Use Social Media
The personal flair you add to your social media will largely depend on your personality and personal brand. You want your social media presence to feel authentic.
Stay engaged with your social media profiles by posting helpful, relevant information regularly and by periodically reminding your followers about your services.
As you build up your career and clientele, you should try to gather reviews of your work — as long as these reviews do not conflict with any local or industry regulations.
Sharing these reviews on your social media platforms can help generate more trust among people who are interested in your services but need an extra push to make the decision to work with you.
Social media advertising is also an effective way to spread the word about your business to more people outside of your immediate network.
Always Network
Networking is important to any person in an entrepreneurial field, and the financial industry is no different.
It’s simple — business is often a numbers game. The more people you make aware of your offerings and the more you put yourself out there, the more likely you are to generate business.
This step is especially important toward the beginning of your career. As you continue to progress, you can start to rely more on word-of-mouth from active clients happy with your service.
Never Stop Learning or Paying Attention to Financial News
It’s important to always stay on top of financial news so you can be up to date on current financial information and opportunities for your clients.
Many financial corporations strictly forbid the use of social media by their advisors. Unfortunately, this puts them at a disadvantage since social media is a powerful tool for growing and nurturing a business.
Some advisors refuse to deviate from tradition. Cryptocurrency is a revolutionary new approach to banking and finance. If you refuse to learn about it, you’re limiting the number of individuals who are willing to work with you.
Staying current on financial news and strategies will not only benefit you in the long run, but it will also widen your pool of opportunity for success.
Invest in Professional and Personal Growth
As a financial professional, you are focused on fostering growth by offering the best investment opportunities to your clients.
These same principles should apply to your professional life. You must be willing to invest in your personal and professional growth so you can compound the interest of your own worth.
How this looks will vary according to what works for you. Perhaps you invest in your growth by reading books and articles or taking finance courses or training. Or perhaps you connect with a mentor who can help you build up your business and your professional brand.
Cultivate Personal Connections with Your Clients
One of the biggest sources of competition for financial professionals in today’s digitized day and age is robo-advisors.
Popular investing apps now put investment decisions directly in the hands of the public. While these apps have their uses and benefits (like expanding investment access to more people), they do not measure up to the benefits of working one-on-one with a real financial professional.
As a new financial professional, focus on where you can add personalized value to your clients rather than trying to compete directly with the convenience of an app.
Stay Motivated
Finally, the most important tip is to stay motivated. Sure, the financial industry is full of its own pitfalls and moments of stress, but it’s a highly rewarding career for a self-motivated professional.