Ellis Communications, L.L.C.

Two-Minute Warning!  Year End Is Approaching!
Smart Advisors Will Grow Their Practice During the Holidays

            When the two-minute warning horn sounds in a basketball game, players know they need to put in extra effort before the clock runs out.  Listen up financial advisors, your two-minute warning is only moments away.

            "When November rolls around, everyone’s thoughts turn to the holidays and kicking back," says Martin R. Baird, president of Phoenix, Ariz.-based Advisor Marketing and author of The 7 Deadly Sins of Advisor Marketing.  "No one gets much done the last two months of the year, right?  Actually, the waning months of 2002 are a great time to reconnect with your clients and grow your practice."

            Baird offers the following five tips for making the most of the time that’s left before the new year.

Number 1 - Make two strong contacts with all your clients before the end of the year.  "You can use snail mail, e-mail, faxes, phone calls or carrier pigeons," Baird says.  "The important thing is not the means but, rather, the simple act of making those contacts."

Number 2 – Make one of those contacts a "state-of-the-union" letter.  "What is your perspective on what’s happening in the financial markets and what do you see going forward?" Baird asks.  "Let your clients know.  Take a leadership position.  If you sit back and watch, you’ll lose clients."

Number 3 - Set one major goal for the last four weeks of the year.  "Set a goal for client meetings, prospect meetings or new assets under management and do what it takes to surpass that goal," Baird says.  "Exceeding a goal in the final weeks of the year helps you establish the momentum you need going into the new year."

Number 4 - Get a jump on the competition.  "Now is not the time to close up shop," Baird notes.  "While other advisors are doing precisely that, you should be out there finding new business."

Number 5 - Communicate more than ever.  "With the uncertain economy and the bear market, clients and prospects may not expect you to reach out to them," Baird explains.  "Impress them by staying in touch more than ever.  They need and want your advice.  Take advantage of the holiday quiet time to offer it."

Advisormarketing.com is the premiere Internet-based source for free marketing advice, information and tools for self-driven, success-oriented financial advisors who are demanding information that helps them market their practice, meet the needs of their clients and increase sales.  It offers such services as a free weekly electronic newsletter, free reports on how to conduct different kinds of marketing and evaluation of advisors’ marketing materials that is provided at no charge when the critique is posted online for all advisors to read.  Advisormarketing.com also offers an electronic forum where advisors can learn from each other by discussing common problems, sharing ideas and gaining new insights from their peers. 

Advisor Marketing may be reached at 480-991-6421.