HR is often seen as dealing with “warm and fuzzy” issues that lack a tangible link to revenue generation. And in small business, revenue-generating activities are the primary focus.
As an adviser, it’s not unusual to find yourself dealing with clients who are under high levels of stress – particularly at claim time. Along with financial advice, you can also find yourself being asked to play the roles of friend, confidante and emotional support system.
Grab a coffee, sit down and take a deep breath because we’ve got big news for you.
The internet is here to stay.
You’ve seen the stats so I will only highlight one: 80 per cent of Australian households are now online. And that figure is only going to grow.
The web, regulation and our increasingly self-directed consumer market have forced the advice industry to evolve or die. As a result, the quintessential “risky” or risk adviser is being replaced by a new, savvier species – the Risk Professional. And they know that a risk discussion that goes deeper than just insurance is key to their survival.
As an accountant, you probably have a number of clients with self-managed super funds (SMSFs) who are aspiring to an accumulation of wealth after a lifetime of hard work and diligent saving.
Generally, Australians talk to a mortgage broker at the beginning, or at key stages of their financial life cycle.
So, as a mortgage broker, if you were in a position to offer your clients more than just finance at the beginning of their financial journey, you have a big opportunity to build a relationship based on trust, encourage client loyalty and, diversify and increase your revenue stream.
There has been (and I’m sure will continue to be) a lot of conversation around the structure of life insurance commissions and the sustainability of the industry, in particular the debate over upfront versus hybrid/level. The conversation is valid, and as professionals of this industry we should try to understand why the argument for hybrid and level over upfront isn’t going away.
Contrary to what you may think, your most valuable business asset isn’t your expertise, your experience, or your technical knowledge. By a long shot, your most valuable asset is the strength of your relationships.
It’s no secret that one of the cornerstones of a successful business is strong client relationships, and that strong client relationships lead to advocacy and increased referrals.
In 2014, let’s focus on getting back to the basics, writes Craig Parker, general manager, Affinia. Advisers should ask themselves three simple questions…
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