Contact Us

5 Smart Goals for Financial Advisors in 2015

  • By Andrea Schlapia
  • |
  • September 25, 2014

5 Smart Goals for Financial Advisors in 2015

Clarity creates confidence. If you really dive in and practice what you preach, you can make 2015 your best year yet. In order to do that, you need to have a clear picture of your goals, your desired results, and an action plan. Then, you must follow through.

Here are 5 smart goals for financial advisors in 2015:

1.  Clarify Your Vision:  Be visionary. Share your vision with everyone in your circle. This includes your team, your strategic alliances, your clients, and your prospective clients. This is a powerful group of people who can serve as advocates for your firm. Deliberately share your vision with them so they can learn, understand, and pass your message on to others.

2.  Be an Entrepreneur 1st and a Financial Advisor 2nd: Nothing great is every accomplished alone. To make a big impact you need the right people on your team. Evaluate your partners for success, both internally and externally. Focus on your team members, coaching partners, and your strategic alliances – CPA’s, attorneys, and life-insurance partners. Ensure that each key player understands your vision – (goal #1), and that they are positioned to help you grow your net income and increase your equity value.

3.  Help Clients Remove Emotion: The one constant denominator in life is change. There will always be peaks and valleys and highs and lows.  How many times have you been asked to look into your crystal ball? Provide top-notch communication to your clients in order to help them remove emotion, prepare for the ups and down, and reassure them through the rough spots ahead.

4.  Be Client Centric: It’s easy for firms to think they are client centric. A recent article, Reality Check: You’re Not So Client Centric, by Glenn G. Kautt says; “Recent research suggests true client centricity is not part of a mission statement, nor is it a higher level of service – nor a heightened sensitivity to client needs.” Kautt goes on to say that Wharton professor Peter Fader defines client centricity as a focused business strategy that aligns a company’s products and services with the needs of its most valuable customers.

5.  Be Passionate: Let your passion be seen! Clients have a choice in who they choose as their financial advisor. Help them choose you. You need to tell your story, with conviction; “this is why I do what I do, and this is why I love it!” Sharing your personal story is more than your 10-second elevator speech; it’s an opportunity for clients and prospective clients to develop a deeper relationship with you.

These five goals will help you focus on creating a culture that nurtures and improves quality of life, not only for yourself, but for your team members and your clients as well.

The foundation of our Performance Coaching and Consulting Programs are based on Ironstone’s Fundamental 4™, which is essential to design, develop, and sustain a successful business. Our ultimate goal is to help you avoid trial and error; shifting your mindset to launch your process of intentional change. [LEARN MORE]

Photo credit: ©iStock/Getty Images/Thinkstock

Are you just getting by or are you getting better? Get started today!

Author Bio

Andrea Schlapia, RCC™, HCS, sHRBP, is the Founder and CEO of Ironstone, which represents the culmination of her 20+ year career within the financial services industry. Her experience began as a financial advisor evolving into a consultant coach for advisors entering the field. This ignited her passion to support others through learning and development of best practices in order to achieve substantial results. To this end, she followed her desire into positions of senior-level practice management specialists for Dreyfus, Prudential, and DWS Investments prior to the realization of Ironstone.  Andrea’s focus is on practice management strategies to enhance and improve both business and personal life. Andrea identifies 4 key performance areas known as the Fundamental 4™, which are required to design, develop, and sustain a successful business. Through coaching sessions and speaking engagements, she captivates her audience with interactive, high-energy presentations which are built with “how-to” strategies resulting in real-world implementation for significant impact. Andrea has been featured in multiple publications and audio broadcasts as a specialist and distinguished spokeswoman in the financial industry.

AndreaSchlapia