Tag Archives: Referrals

The Language of Referrals with Bill Cates (Ep. 57)

Advisor, Education, Finance, Financial, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Does asking for referrals make you feel like you’re being needy? Are you afraid of hurting your existing relationships with clients and COIs?

When asking for referrals, your words matter!

Catch Duncan MacPherson’s conversation with Bill Cates, referral coach and author of “The Language of Referrals,” about the art of being referable and mastering the concept of introductions with professionalism and stewardship. They highlight the biggest barriers to referrals and how to overcome them by using the right language.

They discuss:

  • Subtle word choices that have a profound impact on your referability
  • How to attract more of your “ideal clients”
  • How to build trust with centers of influence
  • Sample scripts and power phrases that you can instantly apply to your conversations
  • And more

Resources:

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Promotions:

About Our Guest:

Bill Cates, CSP, CPAE, works with financial advisors to speed up their growth without increasing their marketing budget. Advisors tap into Bill’s proven process to multiply their best clients through introductions from advocates and Centers of Influence, communicate their value proposition more effectively, and create a reputation in a profitable target market. Bill helps advisors move from push prospecting to magnetic marketing – to attract more Right-Fit Clients™.   

Bill is the author of 3 best-selling books, Get More Referrals Now, Beyond Referrals, and Radical Relevance. Bill’s newest book, The Language of Referrals is due to be released in March of 2024. He is the founder of The Cates Academy for Relationship Marketing™, has been named the #1 Financial Advisor Influencer by Indigo Marketing, and is the host of the acclaimed Top Advisor Podcast (www.TopAdvisorPodcast.com) – now ranked in the Top 10% of podcasts worldwide.

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The Future of Branding and Client Acquisition with Seth Diener and Alex Lerch (Ep. 55)

Advisor, Education, Finance, Financial, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

With messaging, the key is brevity, specificity, and proprietary.

You must choose your target audience, personalize your marketing to resonate with them, walk them through a proprietary process, and share their experience using effective testimonials!

Learn more about elevating your brand in this episode, as Duncan MacPherson speaks with Seth Diener, owner of Diener Money Management, and Alex Lerch, director of Oak & Stone Advisor Marketing. They explain how advisors can better focus their marketing efforts on their ideal audience — and then harness the power of AI during the implementation phase.

They discuss:

  • The multi-fold benefits of giving your process an identity (i.e., a brand within a brand)
  • How to garner a newfound appreciation from existing clients
  • How to use client testimonials in multiple ways and make the most out of them
  • Using AI to craft content (especially when the average human attention span is at an all-time low)
  • And more

Resources:

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Connect With Alex:

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About Our Guests:

Seth J. Diener is an independent Private Wealth Manager and is the founder of Diener Money
Management, a financial services firm in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

Seth is a proud Pareto graduate and has implemented his proprietary process, The Flourish Formula,
throughout his operations, marketing and practice.

Alex Lerch is the Marketing Director for Oak & Stone Advisor Marketing, specializing in assisting
financial advisors for nearly a decade. He excels in developing marketing systems for advisors within
their practices, referral strategies, communication plans, and modern media to help advisors grow
their firms.

With a deep understanding of the industry and a focus on personalized solutions, Alex has established
a reputation as a trusted partner for financial advisors seeking marketing support.

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Shaping Your Branding Strategy: How to Run a Client Advisory Council with Mike “Cy” Cajthaml Jr. (Ep. 53)

Shaping Your Branding Strategy: How to Run a Client Advisory Council with Mike “Cy” Cajthaml Jr. (Ep. 53)

Advisor, Education, Finance, Financial, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In your mind, you have a certain brand image and value proposition for your business. Do your clients see it the same way?

Are your clients well-equipped to tell your story for you and be your biggest advocates?

Join Duncan MacPherson and Mike “Cy” Cajthaml Jr., a business consultant at Pareto Systems, as they delve into the power of client advisory councils in uncovering unmet needs, elevating the client experience, and achieving professional contrast. You will learn a turnkey approach to simplify the process and make client advisory councils a routine best practice.

They discuss:

  • The complete process and logistics from ramp-up to execution to follow-through (with an example)
  • How to conduct effective, agenda-driven discussions that lead to actionable insights
  • How to position the idea of advisory councils to your clients for the first time
  • Why client feedback can result in improved referability
  • The added benefit of finding a renewed sense of purpose for advisors
  • And more

Resources:

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About Our Guest:

Mike “Cy” Cajthaml Jr. has distinguished himself in the financial services industry over a remarkable 17-year career, marked by his vibrant and effective leadership style. He’s deeply committed to enhancing business and practice management strategies, always focusing on the achievement of his clients’ goals.

Mike’s career in the financial service industry was initiated at a major insurance-marketing organization, where he played a pivotal role in advising financial advisors nationwide on product solutions and marketing strategies. After dedicating six years to advising and coaching in the financial realm, Mike transitioned to become a financial advisor, collaborating with his father in Overland Park, KS. Their partnership managed substantial asset portfolios, leveraging a variety of insurance products. Mike’s firsthand experience with the Pareto Process, coupled with his insights from working with successful financial advisory firms, reinforced his belief in its transformative impact.

Driven by his conviction in the Pareto Process, Mike embraced the role of a Pareto coach. His unique blend of wholesale and retail experience empowers him to assist numerous advisory firms in integrating these processes, ultimately enabling advisors to realize their ideal lifestyle.

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Make Your Clients The Voice With Steve Phillips (Ep. 48)

Advisor, Education, Finance, Financial, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Have you ever stepped into your clients’ shoes to see your business from their point of view? Understanding how they perceive your value is key to building lasting relationships.

In this episode, Duncan MacPherson engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Steve Phillips, Chief Practice Management and Development Officer at USA Financial and a consultant at Pareto Systems. Together, they explore strategies for effectively articulating your value proposition and turning clients into enthusiastic advocates.

They discuss:

  • Three golden questions to ask your existing clients
  • The path from endorsements to introductions (i.e., quality referrals)
  • How “client advisory councils” and “ideal client meetings” can rejuvenate your relationships and generate valuable feedback
  • Powerful ways to position (not pitch!) your value to clients
  • And more

Resources:

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About Our Guest:

Steve Phillips is the Chief Practice Management and Development Officer, joining USA Financial in 2019. He leads the coaching and consulting team working with USA Financial advisors to increase the enterprise value of their firms through tailored ongoing and evolving practice management initiatives. In addition to Steve’s integral role within the coaching team, he works with the sales team to develop strong and productive partner relationships with advisors. This interconnective approach between coaching and sales strategically elevates the overall client experience provided.

Steve Phillips is also a Pareto Certified Practice Management Consultant at Pareto Systems. He has spent over 25 years in the financial services industry as a speaker, trainer, and educator working with advisors, product development firms, and carriers.

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Achieving Professional Scarcity and Professional Contrast with Steve Phillips (Ep. 38)

Advisor, Education, Finance, Financial, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , ,

Creating professional contrast and scarcity, improving referability, alleviating loyalty fatigue…These are all key pieces of the bigger puzzle: How to grow your practice to the next level?

In this episode, Duncan MacPherson speaks with Steve Phillips, chief practice management officer at USA Financial and a business consultant at Pareto Systems. They share best practices and timeless principles to help advisors build profound client relationships that lead to advocacy.

They discuss:

  • The importance of combining technological aids with the “human touch”
  • Shoot Your Trailer: an effective strategy to articulate your value to prospective clients
  • How to improve the quality of your referrals (in other words, duplicate your best clients)
  • How to deepen your client relationships amidst volatile markets
  • Why small gestures can go a long way in improving your overall client experience
  • And more

Resources:

Connect With Duncan:

Connect With Steve:

Promotions:

About Our Guest:

Steve Phillips is the Chief Practice Management Officer at USA Financial. He is a longtime friend and partner of Duncan MacPherson and the entire Pareto Systems team, having first engaged with Pareto as a client in 2010. With over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry as a speaker, team leader and passionate educator, Steve was an early adopter of the processes around practice management, business refinement and client acquisition. It was a natural next step for Steve to become a Pareto Certified Practice Management Consultant, and part of the Pareto Coaches Network.

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