In this episode of the Smarter Planner podcast, host Belle Osvath, CFP®, interviews Derek Pollard, Ph.D., founder of Constellar Creative, about the importance of personal branding for financial planners. They dive into strategies for crafting a unique, consistent brand that reflects your story and expertise, even if you're part of a larger organization. Derek emphasizes that personal branding is more than just a buzzword—it's about presenting your skills, mission, and vision in a way that resonates with your ideal clients.

Derek shares insights on how to build a brand that stands out, even when working under a firm's corporate branding. He discusses the importance of consistency across all platforms—social media, websites, and in-person interactions—to create a cohesive brand experience. Whether you're an independent advisor or working within a firm, Derek offers practical advice on how to start small, audit your current branding, and build from there. He also highlights the value of partnering with marketing experts if you are unsure how to tell your story best.

You can reach Derek on LinkedIn or at his website, Constellar Creative.

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The Smarter Planner Podcast is a product of the Financial Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter (FPA NCA). All information is for educational and informational purposes only. Belle Osvath and the FPA NCA do not endorse or recommend any people, products, or services featured or discussed in this podcast.

In this episode, host Belle Osvath, CFP® interviews Michael Clarke, co-founder of Protection Point Advisors and the National Referral Network, and author of A Firm Worth Building. The discussion revolves around the concept of "trust compression," which refers to building trust with clients not through long interactions over time, but by creating a series of high-quality, successive engagements that compress the time needed to establish trust.

Michael explains how trust compression allows advisors to connect with clients through shorter, more meaningful meetings. He highlights how his firm has broken the traditional intake process into multiple brief, focused interactions to understand client risk tolerance and align their financial plans accordingly. The goal is to help clients feel understood and comfortable, building trust faster than through conventional methods.

National Referral Network: https://www.nrnamerica.com/

A Firm Worth Building (Book) https://a.co/d/dinBzqA

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeljclarke1/

Website: https://www.protectionpointadvisors.com/

In this episode, host Belle Osvath, CFP®, speaks with Andrea Longton, a CFA and award-winning author who specializes in social justice investing. Andrea has raised over $1 billion for social justice investments in the U.S. and advised on an additional $1.5 billion globally. She authored a book titled The Social Justice Investor: Advance Your Values While Building Wealth.

In the discussion, Andrea explains that social justice investing involves aligning one's financial investments with personal values that promote social justice. This can encompass various causes, including racial justice, climate justice, children's welfare, LGBTQIA+ rights, and gender equity. Andrea emphasizes that social justice investing is personalized; it requires individuals to identify their values and align their investment portfolios accordingly.

The conversation also touches on the potential challenges financial advisors face when addressing social justice investing, particularly the risk of being perceived as partisan. Andrea advises that advisors should focus on the values of their clients rather than politics and that they should educate themselves on social justice investing to better serve their clients. She mentions several certifications and networks that advisors can pursue to enhance their understanding of this field.

Andrea's book, The Social Justice Investor, is available on Amazon, and she can be reached through her website, thesocialjusticeinvestor.com.

LinkedIn

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The Smarter Planner Podcast is a product of the Financial Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter (FPA NCA). All information is for educational and informational purposes only. Belle Osvath and the FPA NCA do not endorse or recommend any people, products, or services featured or discussed in this podcast.