Mastermind Advisor Marketing is Marketing for Financial Advisors Created by Financial Advisors. The financial world is changing at the speed of data, and old methods of reaching your clients are no longer effective. Mastermind Advisor Marketing uses state-of-the-art technology, developed by those in the financial and digital spaces, to help financial advisors generate qualified leads and close business. On the Mastermind Advisor Podcast, join Vince Oldre and Josh Woodward as they explain how to successfully market yourself in this ever-changing landscape.
We’re excited to return with a new series featuring advisors around the country. We’ll spend time discussing their business and processes, and learn from their successes and failures. Today we welcome on Michael Mezheritskiy of Milestone Asset Management Group in Connecticut to learn more about what’s behind his growth from a solo shop to now having four offices.
From the importance of consistent marketing to the power of tax-centric planning, Michael discusses the pivotal decisions and tools that propelled his firm to new heights. Whether you're a solo practitioner or part of a larger firm, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways for any financial advisor looking to scale their business.
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
0:00 – Intro
0:52 – Background on Michael’s business
2:13 – Solo to four offices
5:23 – His appointment process
11:05 – Systems
14:07 – Follow-up process
19:41 – What would he do differently?
Featured Takeaway:
"It takes about four to five months to kind of get into a groove and actually start creating some sort of a pipeline."
About our guest: https://milestoneamg.com/team/michael-mezheritskiy/
Mastermind Advisor Website: https://mastermindadvisor.com/
Watch us on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3r1gBK1
You have to be good at closing virtually and good at closing in person, but you first have to be able to get in front of people and that’s what we’ll help you with in this episode. That’s the biggest problem many advisors have right now and webinars and seminars are still a trusted way to accomplish that.
It’s not just about the numbers when you run these events, and we'll underscore the essentiality of quality over quantity when it comes to appointments and leads, the perfect ad spend for webinars, and the art of nurturing leads before they attend.
Here is some of what we’ll cover in this episode:
Featured Takeaway:
"I think for the most part, you can't feed yourself if you don't get in front of people. Right. And that's, that's the first problem that most advisors have."
Mastermind Advisor Website: https://mastermindadvisor.com/
Watch us on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3r1gBK1
Just look at the numbers. In 2022 alone, Facebook generated nearly $114 billion in advertising revenue and that’s expected to grow over the next few years. With that much money pouring into the social media platform, it’s obviously an effective solution for many companies. However, like any other tool, it needs to be used effectively to yield the desired results.
This topic came to mind because we were in a Facebook group recently and read a few comments about what you should and shouldn’t be doing with Facebook ads. Sure, that person might be getting plenty of leads from the ads, but they probably aren’t qualified. We’ve seen this play out over and over so we’re going to spend this episode talking about how to get someone through the funnel – from the lead to the appointment on your calendar – with the quality you’re looking for. e.
Here is some of what we’ll cover in this episode:
Featured Takeaway:
"I'd say the majority of Facebook is e-commerce ads, I don't think the majority of it is people trying to fill their seminars, so it's a little different."
Mastermind Advisor Website: https://mastermindadvisor.com/
Watch us on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3r1gBK1
We decided on this topic after hearing from a few advisors following our last episode who told us they were struggling some with their own numbers. It’s easy to put the blame on ourselves for not closing as many of the leads, but sometimes it’s other factors like the marketing we’re doing.
The focus in this episode is on mastering marketing numbers and virtual closing strategies to bolster success rate, and we dive into the different aspects that matter most and discuss how advisors can leverage them to their advantage.
Here is some of what we’ll cover in this episode:
We want to understand and analyze marketing funnels, closing numbers, and ROI.
The use of strategic tools such as RMD calculation or social security analysis is highlighted. These tools can help transform prospects into planning or annuity sales.
The importance of providing value before asking for anything in return.
The power of webinars to filter and qualify clients, emphasizing the role of transparency in marketing.
Featured Takeaway:
Marketing is one where you can't sleep on your numbers. There are some advisors that will spend a fortune, not realizing their overall return is not there, and it’s just because they think that it's performing well. And so it's key to pay attention to the numbers. That should dictate your judgment.
Mastermind Advisor Website: https://mastermindadvisor.com/
Watch us on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3r1gBK1
Today we’re going to talk about the smokescreens or the objections that people have when it comes to online or virtual type of appointments we’re having. These can throw off or derail the relationship right off the bat if you aren’t prepared. Things will get easier as trust is built, but we want to talk about how to overcome these smokescreens and get past those initial appointments.
Featured Quote:
"They're kind of vetting you. They're trying to determine whether or not they want to work with you." -Mastermind Advisor Marketing**
Here is some of what we’ll cover in this episode:
If you want to watch this episode, check out our YouTube channel for the video: https://www.youtube.com/@MasterMindAdvisor
Resources:
Mastermind Advisor Website: https://mastermindadvisor.com
As we venture deeper, we'll guide you through the benefits of webinars and how strategic scheduling can streamline your work week and open more opportunities for appointments. We take an interesting look at appointment preferences, emphasizing the benefit of not scheduling more than 10 days out. We also shed light on the importance of tracking the number of attendees at your events, an often overlooked yet vital metric to measure the effectiveness of your marketing outreach.
If you’re interested in learning more about seminar marketing strategies, this episode should give you some things to think about and apply.
Featured Quote:
"Tuesdays and Thursdays are key for seminars, and webinars can also be beneficial. Tracking numbers to measure success and to avoid giving up on marketing venues that don't perform well right away is important." -Mastermind Advisor Marketing**
Here is some of what we’ll cover in this episode:
If you want to watch this episode, check out our YouTube channel for the video: https://www.youtube.com/@MasterMindAdvisor
Resources:
Mastermind Advisor Website: https://mastermindadvisor.com
Today we’re going to talk about the number one thing that’s causing your seminars and webinars to not perform the way they should. It’s an easy fix, but we see advisors struggle with this quite often. So we’ll tell you how we can take something you’re doing at the beginning and move it towards the end to solve your issues, get you better appointments, and ultimately better results.
Featured Quote:
"They're there for themselves. They're not there to learn about you. You're there to potentially help them if that's what they want. But you need to prove that first by giving them some powerful information." -Mastermind Advisor Marketing**
Here is some of what we’ll cover in this episode:
If you want to watch this episode, check out our YouTube channel for the video: https://www.youtube.com/@MasterMindAdvisor
Resources:
Mastermind Advisor Website: https://mastermindadvisor.com
Today, Josh and Vince and going to do that with our practice and talk about what we would implement differently. We’ve tried dinner seminars, Social Security workshops, radio, SEO, webinars, digital marketing, and podcast, and we’ve learned a lot through trial and error.
So we’ll discuss the things that haven’t worked so you can avoid those and explain why we would implement these five marketing strategies moving forward.
Featured Quote:
"If you're starting fresh, some educational classes with digital marketing is probably one of the best ways, I would think, to get business through the door and kind of get the practice rolling." -Mastermind Advisor Marketing**
Here is some of what we’ll cover in this episode:
If you want to watch this episode, check out our YouTube channel for the video: https://www.youtube.com/@MasterMindAdvisor
Resources:
Mastermind Advisor Website: https://mastermindadvisor.com
Today we’ll take you through our very specific process that has provided a show rate near 95% for seminars and 80% for webinars. Things like which days and times are more important than many advisors believe. Plus, stick around to the end because we’ll share one important thing that will help make sure people are showing up.
Featured Quote:
"When people say, ‘Yeah, I have a system that follows up with people like it sends them a confirmation.’ That's not enough. You have to send them multiple emails." -Mastermind Advisor Marketing**
Here is some of what we’ll cover in this episode:
If you want to watch this episode, check out our YouTube channel for the video: https://www.youtube.com/@MasterMindAdvisor
Resources:
Mastermind Advisor Website: https://mastermindadvisor.com
Today we’re going to share the process we use for seminars to drive good quality leads and convert those leads into appointments. That’s the goal for every advisor and not every platform performs as well as it should.
We will dig into the nuts and bolts of launching and monitoring effective ads for seminars. Josh, a marketing expert, will underscore the need to test various ad copies and images, track results, and tweak for optimal outcomes. Plus, we explore how choosing the right topic, location, and audience can make or break your seminars.
Featured Quote:
"It just makes more sense to spend money when it's most successful, and it has proven true for the vast majority, if not all, of our classes." -Mastermind Advisor Marketing**
Here is some of what we’ll cover in this episode:
If you want to watch this episode, check out our YouTube channel for the video: https://www.youtube.com/@MasterMindAdvisor
Resources:
Mastermind Advisor Website: https://mastermindadvisor.com
This episode will describe what it means to have a successful practice and then explain our approach to building the business through bringing in the right personnel. We’re going to talk about hiring and outsourcing strategies, some of the partners that we’ve worked with, and the one hire that has really helped grow our financial planning practice.
If you’ve ever wondered how some advisors can get so much more work done in the same amount of time, this episode will give you an idea of the right steps and processes to be implementing now.
Featured Quote:
"I see this mistake happen all the time. You have so many advisors that will try to make their administrative person the person that makes the phone calls to help book the appointments. Let me tell you something, they hate doing that." -Mastermind Advisor Marketing**
Here is some of what we’ll cover in this episode:
If you want to watch this episode, check out our YouTube channel for the video: https://www.youtube.com/@MasterMindAdvisor
Resources:
Mastermind Advisor Website: https://mastermindadvisor.com
By taking you through our funnels, we want to show you that we practice what we preach with the advisors we work with. This episode will give you a deeper understanding of what’s happening within those funnels and identify some of the differences we see between what we do and what others are doing.
At the end of the day, our ultimate goal is to generate more qualified appointments who are going to show and to find people that are genuinely interested in doing a financial plan. So let’s talk about how we achieve that at Mastermind Advisor Marketing.
Featured Quote:
"The whole thing is designed to make someone stay committed all the way through." -Mastermind Advisor Marketing**
Here is some of what we’ll cover in this episode:
If you want to watch this episode, check out our YouTube channel for the video: https://www.youtube.com/@MasterMindAdvisor
Resources:
Mastermind Advisor Website: https://mastermindadviso
Today we’re going to share some of the things we’ve learned through trial and error. It took us a long time to figure out the right sequence and to judge how often you should contact people without turning them off. What you might be surprised to find out is that you can often message people more frequently than you probably realize.
So let’s take you through this follow-up process and give you a better sense of how our system helps advisors. By doing this part of the marketing funnel well, you’ll be able to constantly get more show-ups and better appointments.
Featured Quote:
"I think it's like one thing that 90% of advisors are kind of missing. You know, what happens when that individual doesn't attend or doesn't show? A lot of advisors, it seems like they just kind of sit on an Excel sheet on the back of their computer, and they just never really utilize that person ever again." -Mastermind Advisor Marketing**
Here is some of what we’ll cover in this episode:
If you want to watch this episode, check out our YouTube channel for the video: https://www.youtube.com/@MasterMindAdvisor
Resources:
Mastermind Advisor Website: https://mastermindadvisor.com/
This is an important aspect of the business for growth because knowing how to spend effectively will help maximize those returns. To help you get a better grasp on the numbers, we’re going to take you through our process and how we make calculations in this episode. We’ll share our expectations for marketing, how much we’re growing, and what we’re trying to bring on as far as assets.
We want this episode to give you a better sense of what others are doing but also help you create your own realistic expectations for ROI moving forward.
Featured Quote:
"As for the advisors out there that are doing dinner seminars or educational workshops or webinars, you need to write down your numbers, look at what you're spending, look at what your return on investment is, look at what the expectations need to be. And then don't keep jumping ship trying to find a silver bullet." - Mastermind Advisor Marketing**
Here is some of what we’ll cover in this episode:
If you want to watch this episode, check out our YouTube channel for the video: https://www.youtube.com/@MasterMindAdvisor
Resources:
Mastermind Advisor Website: https://mastermindadvisor.com/
Join us as we take a look at six different ads and the strategies used to pull people in. Josh and Vince we’ll evaluate each one, share what they like and what they would change. Plus, they’ll also explain why every lead you get isn’t necessarily a strong one and why they’ll make people jump through a few hoops to filter it down to the best prospects.
Featured Quote:
"You'll get leads, okay. That's not the problem. You'll get leads no matter what way you go. What it comes down to, though, is how do those leads come out? Are they qualified? Are they show up to the appointment?" - Mastermind Advisor Marketing**
Here is some of what we’ll cover in this episode:
If you want to watch this episode, check out our YouTube channel for the video: https://www.youtube.com/@MasterMindAdvisor
Resources:
Mastermind Advisor Website: https://mastermindadvisor.com/
With summer approaching and people preparing for some much-anticipated time off, advisors will often ask us whether they should also give their marketing efforts a break. It’s a great question and it brings up a much wider discussion.
When should (or shouldn’t) you be marketing? And how should you be targeting your marketing efforts to generate quality leads for seminars and webinars? If you could get the answers to these questions, it would make your job much easier.
In this episode, we’ll share the data we’ve garnered through our own marketing efforts and talk through some of the strategies we leverage to get the best prospects to our events.
Featured Quote:
"What I've learned in marketing is people are very, I don’t want to be mean, but very selfish individuals. And so what that means is, when you're running ads and you're promoting yourself, to be honest and not to be mean again, no one really cares. It's about what you can provide and how you can help them." - Mastermind Advisor Marketing**
Here is some of what we’ll cover in this episode:
If you want to see the Facebook ads that we evaluate, check out our YouTube channel for the video: https://www.youtube.com/@MasterMindAdvisor
Resources:
Mastermind Advisor Website: https://mastermindadvisor.com/
In this episode, Vince and Josh have pulled six different ads they came across on Facebook and will rate each one. From good to bad, they’ll assess what they like and don’t like about each ad and explain what they’d do differently.
If you do any Facebook marketing for your business, this episode is one you don’t want to miss because we’ll share the keys to building an ad that makes someone stop scrolling, is easy to understand, and that give them a reason to click and share some info.
Featured Quote:
"What I've learned in marketing is people are very, I don’t want to be mean, but very selfish individuals. And so what that means is, when you're running ads and you're promoting yourself, to be honest and not to be mean again, no one really cares. It's about what you can provide and how you can help them." - Mastermind Advisor Marketing**
Here is some of what we’ll cover in this episode:
If you want to see the Facebook ads that we evaluate, check out our YouTube channel for the video: https://www.youtube.com/@MasterMindAdvisor
Resources:
Mastermind Advisor Website: https://mastermindadvisor.com/
Every business owner is trying to find their footing in this new virtual world and financial planning is no different. Ushering someone through the appointment process through a screen is a tough adjustment when so much of the business relies on relationships.
We started detailing Vince’s approach at CFG Retirement on our last episode, and today we want to continue that discussion by taking you through the focus for appointments two and three.
We will discuss the importance of building emotional connections with clients, even in a virtual environment, and why the sales process can't be rushed just because it's online. Vince also highlights the significance of understanding a client's true goals beyond the numbers and ensuring their financial plans align with what’s most important to them.
Featured Quote:
"The second meeting and the third meeting is where advisors, I think, lose the client the most. And the reason why is because we like to talk about the financial jargon, we like to show the numbers, we like to talk about the stuff we like to talk about. And we can really lose the client during that process or the prospect in that process." - Mastermind Advisor Marketing**
Here is some of what we’ll cover in this episode:
Resources:
Mastermind Advisor Website: https://mastermindadvisor.com/
We’re going to break this out into multiple parts to give us the chance to go into more detail for each stage of the process. We’re going to turn the tables and interview Josh about his approach at CFG Retirement, and this first part is all about that initial meeting.
We’ll discuss the importance of building trust in your first meetings with potential clients and the ways to do that through emotional connection. Plus, we’ll talk about what to focus on during those conversations and then how to plan out the following meetings before you finish. If you’re looking for some guidance or just want to hear how other advisors are structuring their meetings, this episode will provide you with some great nuggets.
Featured Quote:
"I really want the client to understand what they're doing, what they're currently and, and what they're going to do going forward, how that how that's going to benefit them. And then also making sure they understand it. That's the biggest reason why I think a lot of people don't move forward with financial advisors, because they don't understand it. A lot of times, us as financial advisors, we talk too much about the jargon, we talk too much about the numbers." - Mastermind Advisor Marketing**
Here is some of what we’ll cover in this episode:
Resources:
Mastermind Advisor Website: https://mastermindadvisor.com/
In this episode, Vince and Josh will share the things they’ve learned through years of building B2B and B2C marketing campaigns. These strategies aren’t just for financial advisors trying to attract new prospects. What we’ll talk about in this episode can be applied to any business and its marketing efforts.
With so many companies making bold claims about the results of their marketing strategies, it’s easy to chase the offers and give these different approaches a go. But are they going to provide you with the types of leads that you can actually build your business with? That’s what we’ll explore today.
Featured Quote:
"We're trying to provide that value first before you ever even ask for an appointment. And even when you ask for the appointment, it's not 'Hey, I did this, so now give me your time.' It's, 'Hey, I did this, let me help you further.'" - Mastermind Advisor Marketing**
Here is some of what we’ll cover in this episode:
Resources:
Mastermind Advisor Website: https://mastermindadvisor.com/
The world of lead generation continues to evolve as more and more digital opportunities arise, but what approach will generate the best results for your business?
Today we’re going to talk about the different types of leads that get used and the pros and cons for those. The goal isn’t just getting someone to book an appointment, it’s to bring in a high-quality prospect so we’ll discuss ways to do just that.
After spending hundreds of thousands on lead generation, we have a pretty good feel for what works and what doesn’t and we’re going to share some of that insight with you in this episode to help you bring in the best leads and grow your business.
Featured Quote:
You get to a point where it’s not the numbers of how many appointments you bring in, but it’s the quality of the content or the client you’re bringing in. - Mastermind Advisor Marketing**
Here is some of what we’ll cover in this episode:
Resources:
Mastermind Advisor Website: https://mastermindadvisor.com/
We’re in a different world today than we were just a few years ago, and advisors are learning to adapt their business to this online world that we all operate in. The struggle most advisors face is establishing that connection with a prospect or client during those first meetings in a virtual environment.
The initial conversation usually focuses on the numbers and jargon but is that approach most effective? Probably not, and that’s why many advisors aren’t as effective yet in this new online environment. Instead, let’s take a step back and try to understand more of “the why” for that person you’re talking to.
This episode will focus on helping advisors take a better approach during those first virtual meetings. Josh and Vince discuss the importance of focusing on education and building an emotional connection with clients, rather than just pushing sales. They touch on how the sales process has evolved over time and share insights on how financial advisors can achieve success in today's market.
Featured Quote:
Make sure when you do your first meeting, that you are not just trying to get the data but also going through the emotional part… - Mastermind Advisor Marketing
Here is some of what we’ll cover in this episode:
Resources:
Mastermind Advisor Website: https://mastermindadvisor.com/
In our first episodes we spent time talking about dinner seminars, but virtual, online seminars are a key part of any advisor's repertoire. Vince Oldre and Josh Woodward of Mastermind Advisor are here today to take you through the Ultimate Virtual Webinar process.
The guys are honest - it took a lot of trial and error to get to this point. They explain their mistakes and what they've learned, all in service of creating a webinar platform that gets you the best possible results. The key is not just compiling leads. The idea is to generate qualified leads that are more likely to turn into clients.
Vince and Josh talk about different steps of the campaign, from lead magnets to drip email campaigns, and how each step of the process works. You have to give something of value to a prospect before you can ask them for anything. Also, you may be surprised to know that while webinars can be effective, on-demand webinars are not. They explain why.
To learn more about Mastermind Advisor and what we offer those in the financial services industry, visit https://mastermindadvisor.com/
In our second episode, Josh Woodward and Jon "JAG" Gay from Mastermind Advisor sit down to talk about what the traditional "dinner seminar" looks like today. Think about getting away from the "plate lickers" that want a free dinner at Ruth's Chris, and brand your seminar as educational. Maybe consider doing it in a library or at a college.
Next, Josh talks about specifically targeting your advertising. How does Mastermind Advisor promote your event, so that we are only targeting your likely future clients? What we say is just as important as where we say it.
To learn more about Mastermind Advisor and what we offer those in the financial services industry, visit https://mastermindadvisor.com/
In our first episode, Vince, Jag, and Josh sit down to define marketing - and what that looks like at the end of 2022.
Simply creating content - a podcast, a webinar, a website isn't marketing. Without marketing, it's the proverbial "tree falling in the woods" and nobody will know about it!
Vince has been around the financial space his entire life, including running his advisor firm, CFG Retirement. Josh comes from the marketing world. with vast experience in websites, and Jag is a long-time radio host turned podcaster Throughout this episode, you'll learn how our three hosts combine that experience to help our Mastermind clients.
Many financial advisors are small business owners - and are flooded with ideas of how to market themselves. Rather than take a chance on the next shiny object, wouldn't you rather trust a proven system developed by folks who have been in your shoes?
Marketing is not just promoting your business; it's about making that personal connection with your potential clients. That goes beyond having the latest industry buzzwords on your website - Vince explains how he's been able to make genuine, values-based connections with investors by sharing personal stories.
Josh gets down to the nitty-gritty on the data tracking he's done - you won't believe what the average cost per prospect is for Mastermind Advisor Marketing clients. This is because of a specific approach. In other words, we're hunting with a sniper rifle, not buckshot.
Want to learn more? Book an appointment with us: https://mastermindadvisor.com/