The Intangibles A few weeks ago the leader of a successful RIA we work with called me about our last blog, What Makes a GREAT Advisor.  He said he completely agreed with the claim we made that if the skills, disciplines and practices addressed in that blog are mastered, you’re sure to have a highly…

In July we posted a blog titled “Re-Imagining the Wealth Management Experience: Advisor2.0.”  In this blog we described the fact that the experience required to be competitive in today’s wealth management landscape has evolved, requiring more breadth, depth and skill of advisors.  Interestingly, this was one of the most popular blogs we have ever posted,…

How will you differentiate and drive growth in the modern era of wealth management? I will start out here by stating the obvious – the wealth management industry is changing, and changing at break-neck speed. But what is not so obvious is that the majority of advisors we see out there continue to prospect, serve…

Prospect and Client Engagement Effectiveness “Planning is not a thing; it is the way we approach advising our clients.” “Planning is any meaningful conversation that helps a client connect their priorities to their likely outcomes.” “The first step to engage prospects and clients is to introduce it as a way for them to become more involved in the process.”…

The Strategic Imperative of Planning “In the midst of market turmoil, without a doubt, those clients with whom we have engaged in a goals-based planning approach are doing better in every way compared to those with whom we have not. There is absolutely no comparison.” This comment was made by a senior executive (and career Portfolio Manager) during a…

While every firm touts planning to be central to their value and differentiation, the reality is that most clients are not getting this in their relationship. This is not opinion; the facts confirm this. One leading financial planning software platform publicly touts that they have over 60,000 advisors using their planning software and that advisors…

In times of disruption like we are experiencing today, it is important for Advisors to be thoughtful and intentional in how they engage clients. At Greene Consulting, our mission is to “Empower Advisors to make a positive impact on the clients they serve.” In service to that mission, we have compiled the “Nine Strategies for…

Greene Consulting recently hosted a forum with some of the best market level leaders we know in the wealth management industry to discuss some of the key opportunities and challenges facing financial services firms.  These leaders who come from a variety of firms from small to large, have a unique perspective with true, “street-level knowledge”…

If you haven’t read Atomic Habits by James Cleary, pick it up (and a thank you to Joe Sicchitano, Head of Financial Planning at SunTrust for the recommendation). Like many books, it’s a good read that in the end you might say is “common sense”. But the realities are that he makes the challenge of…