Elementality for Financial Advisors | Elements Financial Vitals System™

It's easy to understand why we are so fascinated with technology. In the last decade we've seen the rise of the smartphone, the Cloud, and we live in a world that has become increasingly connected. With so much cool stuff, it's easy to make a mistake when you're over eager about your own firm's technology. Making sure the apps you want actually provide the right solution is not easy. On this episode of the Elementality podcast, Reese and Chad explain how you can make sure your technology is targeted.

Are you still using prospecting strategies from the 1980's—leveraging family and friends and cold calling? In 2021 there are better ways to reach people. Reese's guest on this episode of the Elementality podcast is Paul Thompson, Founder of Advisor Accelerator. A digital marketing master, Paul shares his ideas about the efficiency of niches; about branding with a message that sells you as an expert; and about how to find high-value prospects using 21st century digital marketing strategies.

As an advisor, you have superior quantitative skills. Your understanding of finances is advanced well beyond your clients. Unfortunately, that can often result in you overwhelming your clients with data and numbers. To communicate financial planning principles to your clients, it may be time to take a different approach. On this episode of the Elementality podcast, Reese and Chad explain how a little creativity and a few simple design tips can help you improve your communication skills

The financial planning industry is flourishing and that growth affects even the smallest RIA firm. Should you hold tight or expand? It's a question without an easy answer. Reese's guest on this episode of the Elementality podcast, Stephanie Bogan, knows growth. In her words, "if you can get to $500,000 in revenue, you can do anything." On the show they discuss why finding small success can lead to greater achievements—and what you need to do to clear those first hurdles to growth.

While advisors are good at providing advice, it's difficult to get all the data needed to formulate that advice. It's an issue that rests as much on clients as it does their advisors. So how do you get the precise details you need? On this episode of the Elementality podcast, Chad and Reese discuss why collecting good data is difficult—and why it is so important. Technology may be able to fix the problem, but hear why advisors are often surprised to find out what device could offer the best solution.

Daniel Hannoush, CEO of Pandowealth, had a problem. His niche firm was growing so fast they didn't even need to market their services. At the very top of his high-growth dilemma was the need for a process that could help solve several issues. For the first time on the Elementality podcast, Reese interviews an Elements client. You'll relate to Daniel's real-world problems as he explains why the solution he chose has helped solve his firm's plan tracking, client communications, and personnel issues.

Your small business' growth is based on bringing in more clients. That may seem obvious, but many small firms stall by not thinking through their early hires, too often duplicating skills that don't fuel growth. On this episode of the Elementality podcast, Chad and Reese look at some of the roadblocks to growing a financial planning firm—paying close attention to creating scale in your offering. Find out why, when they hire, advisors should carefully consider whether to create more capacity, or more volume.

Recently, many new industry ideas and innovations have centered around business models and pricing. And as the advisor landscape continues to shift, it's important that you keep an open mind about these changes. On this Elementality podcast, Kate Holmes, a CFP® Women's Initiative council member, is Reese's special guest. Kate talks about her role on the council, about the industry's global growth, and then offers her insights about how to think about pricing as you establish your value with clients.

Are you too focused on fees? Many advisors offer planning but struggle to figure out how to charge for it. They spend too much energy trying to find the right pricing model and not enough focus establishing their value proposition. On this episode of the Elementality podcast, Chad and Reese look at the pros and cons of the different fee models used by fiduciaries. Their discussion then shifts to why, before worrying about fees, advisors should be more concerned about finding what sets their services apart.

"There's only one thing you ever sell a client on, it's their dream of freedom." This is just one bit of the wisdom George Kinder shares as Reese's special guest on this episode of the Elementality podcast. Called the Father of the Life Planning movement, George has helped transform financial advice over his 50-year career. While in recent decades fiduciary financial planning has gained a great deal of momentum, listen to the advice of a life-long fiduciary on how you should be counseling your clients.