Advisor Perspectives welcomes guest contributions. The views presented here do not necessarily represent those of Advisor Perspectives.
"New year, new me!" We've all heard the cliché a thousand times before. We'll go to the gym every day, we'll prioritize eating healthy foods, we'll get more sleep and drink less coffee... The beginning of a new year is always full of great intentions that may not last through January.
Still, as cliché as it may be, a new year serves as a great opportunity to revisit goals, set intentions, and cultivate a positive and enthusiastic mindset that will propel you forward throughout the year, especially as a business owner.
We're sharing four areas of work female advisors should resolve to pay special attention to in 2022 –plus, how you can give those resolutions staying power.
Streamlining technology
As a business owner, you know that time is of the essence. From meeting with clients to managing portfolios, handling compliance to dealing with IT, and everything in between, independent RIAs have numerous time-sensitive tasks to juggle and keep track of. One of the best ways to simplify your workload is to streamline the technology you use, including your CRM system, client portal, portfolio performance reporting, client invoicing, and financial planning software. Remember, the importance of a solid technology infrastructure cannot be overlooked – it's critical for the long-term sustainability of your business.
Collaboration
We live in the age of collaboration and it's time to embrace it. While the thought of collaborating can be unnerving in a competitive industry, the pros far outweigh the cons. From collective wisdom to industry innovation, working with and supporting your peers leads to higher overall industry standards and encourages growth within your circles.
Efficient marketing
You could be the best financial advisor in the world, but if nobody knows it, what's the point? Without a marketing plan in place, your firm simply won't be able to achieve the level of success you might otherwise be able to reach. In the year 2022, when nearly everyone has a smartphone and we're constantly stimulated by content and advertisements, it's especially important to ensure that your marketing plan is efficient and multidimensional.
It's not enough to email a quarterly newsletter and share the occasional article on LinkedIn. To stay relevant, financial advisors need to explore the marketing world from the viewpoint of their clients and meet them where they are. Luckily, thanks to advances in technology and marketing segmentation, we are now able to target prospects by geography, demographic, and even job title to stretch our marketing efforts to their fullest potential.
Have a plan
For the secret sauce to help these business resolutions stick: Create a plan. The calendar is about to start over, giving you a fresh slate to lay out your goals, objectives, and intentions. Start by creating a business plan that features your overarching big-picture goals, but don't stop there. To make sure these goals or resolutions feel attainable, it's imperative to break them down even more. Start by breaking them down by quarter, then by month, and then even by week. The more specific you get with your timeframe, the easier it will be to stay on track and hold yourself accountable throughout the year.
What do you hope to achieve this year? Equita can help. Reach out to our team today.
Bridget Grimes and Katie Burke co-founded Equita Financial Network out of a need to fuel business success while empowering other women in the financial services industry. Equita became the first platform solely focused on women-led financial planning firms, designed to encourage women to make the leap into launching their own practice and provide solutions to support them every step of the way. Equita is a way for like-minded women to not only share resources and run their business at an affordable cost, but to also share ideas on everything from best practices to help with questions regarding client issues.
Advisor Perspectives welcomes guest contributions. The views presented here do not necessarily represent those of Advisor Perspectives.
