Are you the Apple of Financial Services? Part Four
Here at The Covenant Group, we value our client relationships just as our clients do theirs. We spend a lot of time thinking about how we support our clients, and
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Before You Market, Build Your Brand
You may have noticed a common theme while reading the posts on The Covenant Group blog - the idea that every aspect of your business is interconnected with all the
Who Mentors You?
Business professionals fill many roles, some where they are the teacher and some where they are the student. On occasion, they may assume both positions in a single relationship, teaching
Are you the Apple of Financial Services? Part Three
Apple's attention to detail is the stuff of legend. The technology itself is designed to be intuitive, with clean lines and a futuristic look. But the corporate obsession with user
What’s Missing in Your Business Plan?
Type "write a business plan" into a search engine and you will get millions of results. If you merely base one of the foundational documents for your business on a
Are you the Apple of Financial Services? Part Two
Today, I'll be discussing the second topic in a series about how financial services organizations can emulate Apple, which boasts high customer loyalty and continually impressive sales. While Apple's retail
Write Tweets That Will Solicit a Response
Using social media as a marketing activity can often feel like you have arrived late and alone to a crowded event: There is no lack of people to talk to,
Align Business Decisions With Your Values Every Day
Although the News of the World phone-hacking scandal came to a head more than one year ago, the story continues to serve as a prime example of what can go
Are You the Apple of Financial Services? Part One
For its products, for its service, for the customer experience it delivers, Apple and its retail stores have been the subject of countless case studies, articles and blog posts. This
How LinkedIn Can Benefit Financial Advisors
LinkedIn's millions of users leverage the professional social networking site to share their content with business-minded peers and connect with decision-makers of companies they might never get to meet in
Prepare for the Shift in CEO-Employee Relations
Increasingly, interactions between CEOs, business owners and their employees have switched from a top-down order of command to a more collaborative, symbiotic relationship. Communications technology has been a main driver of
Managing and Navigating Client Relationships Via Email
The written word can be a powerful tool, but it also creates plenty of opportunities for misunderstandings. For better or worse, email has become critical to business operations. While it
Should You Specifically Market Your Financial Services to Women?
Recently, there has been an increasing amount of discourse centered around whether it's necessary - and indeed appropriate - to specifically market financial services to women. In my opinion, you
Be A Millionaire Advisor
Consider the reasons you decided to become an independent financial advisor. Did you want to be your own boss? Address a client need that you felt was going unfilled? Desire
Scaffolding Yourself to Success
Are you feeling stretched? Like there aren’t enough hours in the day and you never have enough time to do the really important or really enjoyable work. I would like
Four Simple Steps Before Meeting a Client
Every interaction you have with a client is a new opportunity to build client capital and earn that person's trust. With that in mind, it is important to always be
Serve Your Employees as Well as Your Clients
Many companies, regardless of industry, make earning and keeping clients' loyalty a central goal in their operations. Employee loyalty is often ignored or pushed further down the list of priorities,
Balancing Clients and Friendship
We often discuss the importance of trust and friendliness in creating long-term client relationships. A dynamic relationship exists between financial services professionals and the people they serve. In building trust,
Make Direct Mail a Successful Part of Your Marketing Strategy
We often discuss the fact that social media, email and other web-based technologies are integral to an organization's marketing plan, but it is wise to include more traditional communications in
Add Variety to Your Product Offerings
Seeking out new products and finding new avenues you can use to help your clients reach their professional and personal goals lies at the foundation of providing value-added service. Do
In Client Relations, Listening is Essential
When you're conversing with a close friend or significant other, it's easy to tell when the other person is not really listening or processing what you are saying. Perhaps they
Repetition is Key in Creating and Maintaining a Strong Small Business Brand
As a business professional, you no doubt know that there is more to business success than simply having a good idea. Branding is paramount, as it allows you to elevate
Ensure a High-Performing Business with These Steps
Developing a vision for your company is the first step in laying a solid foundation upon which to build your business. When you have a sound understanding of what you
Make Your Client Feel at Home
Think about all the times that you have stayed at a hotel or dined at a restaurant. Which experiences stand out in your memory? What establishments have you decided to