The Advisor Solutions Podcast

The Advisor Solutions Podcast EP 100- The Best of The Best Podcasts

What do you think of when you see the number #100? Some people might think of a birthday milestone. Others might think of an income goal related to the number.  For me, the number #100 relates to what you are reading about or listening to today, my one-hundredth episode of the Advisor Solutions Podcast.
Whew…it means one hundred weeks of writing, recording, editing, and posting these podcasts. Hitting this BIG number has caused me to pause and reflect on my listeners who have subscribed to this podcast over the past two years. I hope that these podcasts have helped you as much as it has other advisors and agents that I have heard from.
And, what better topic to talk about today than “The Best of the Best,” episodes that I have recorded so that you can learn about what your peers in 24 different countries have listened to the most! This is the first in a two-part series where I’ll share with you the ten most downloaded episodes.
This episode teaches how successful advisors and agents have used The Advisor Solutions Podcast as a solutions library for their business!

The Advisor Solutions Podcast EP 99- From Beyond the Logo to Building a Brand

I’m sure you’ve heard the old saying, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” However, have you considered when that first impression is? Maybe it’s before you ever meet that person. Some people might hear about you or read about you before you speak with them. And, if that’s the case, do you know if you have a good reputation or brand? 
Most financial advisors, insurance agents, wholesalers, branch managers, and even agency managers don’t understand the value of their brand. They have never really viewed building a business brand as something that speaks volumes about their business when they are not around.
Your brand is not just about having a catchy logo or a clever slogan. It’s a journey that involves creating a unique identity, adding meaning to your brand, creating the right emotions, and nurturing lasting relationships so your target market knows what you can do for them.
This episode teaches how successful advisors and agents go beyond their logo to brand-building!

The Advisor Solutions Podcast EP 98- The Art of Managing Emotional Client Behavior

Do your clients always seem to be on an emotional roller coaster ride? When the market is up, they are happy and sometimes greedy, but when the market is down, they are concerned, fearful, and maybe anxious. As financial advisors, understanding and managing these emotions are critical for maintaining long-term client relationships. 
Most financial advisors ride the ups and downs of the emotional roller coaster along with their clients. The reason is that they have never realized that there is an art to managing clients when their emotions are tethered to the market.
You see, money can be a very emotional subject for a lot of people. And, when the market is volatile, emotions such as fear, panic, greed, euphoria, anxiety, uncertainty, and loss aversion can become everyday occurrences that financial advisors face. It’s not just financial advisors and their clients that have to face this type of emotional turbulence. In fact, when insurance agents are faced with increasing premiums, their clients get very emotional as well. And, when wholesalers call on advisors and agents, they feel the effects of what the advisors and agents are going through. 
This episode teaches how successful advisors and agents can manage emotional client behaviors!
 

The Advisor Solutions Podcast EP 97- The 7 Steps to Building Business Resilience

Are you on an emotional roller coaster? Do you find it challenging to regulate your emotions when faced with a volatile market, client concerns, compliance, or any other kind of adversity? If this sounds like you, know that you are not alone!
Most financial advisors, insurance agents, wholesalers, branch managers, and even agency managers are on an emotional roller coaster ride, depending on what is happening at any given moment, because they haven’t learned a step-by-step process for building emotional resilience in their business. Most individuals don’t understand that resilience isn’t just about surviving—it’s about thriving in an ever-changing financial landscape.
When your livelihood depends on you being a pillar of stability for others in the midst of chaos, learning strategies to emotionally bounce back is a must. Many people don’t realize how important it is or don't have the tools or techniques to become more resilient.
This episode teaches how successful advisors and agents use The 7 Steps to Building Business Resilience to succeed!

The Advisor Solutions Podcast EP 96- Learning From The Lessons of Failure

Do you let your failures get the best of you? Do you view losses such as not closing a prospect, losing a client, or making poor client recommendations as business setbacks? If this sounds like you, know that you are not alone!
Most financial advisors, insurance agents, wholesalers, branch managers, and even agency managers let business failures get the best of them. They have never realized how they view their losses can lead to even greater wins. In other words, winning is exciting, but it’s the losses that can shape us more profoundly because they can lead to personal growth, resilience, and future victories that are much more impactful than present situations.
I’ve always felt that a loss is never a loss if you learn from it. If you live by this perspective, learning from the lessons of failure can lead to better results over the long term.
In this episode, learn how successful advisors and agents change their perspective on failing so that you can learn from them and implement strategies to succeed! 

The Advisor Solutions Podcast EP 95- Mastering Your Stress Management System

Are you stressed out most days? Running a business in the financial services industry can be very stressful. There are plenty of things that you can’t control, such as the stock market, clients, and the economy. As a result, at times, you might be full of anxiety and stress. If this sounds like you, know that you are not alone!
Most financial advisors, insurance agents, wholesalers, branch managers, and even agency managers spend their days at the office unaware that they are in a constant state of low-level stress. They don’t know it because they are so used to living this way it has become the norm. And, they’ve never learned a stress management system, much less mastered it, in order to live less stressed.
You don’t have to live this way! You have a lot more control than you might think. In fact, realizing that you are in control of your life is the foundation of stress management.
Stress management is about taking control of your thoughts, emotions, time, activities, and energy, as well as how you react to challenging situations when they arise.
In this episode, learn what successful advisors do to master stress management! 

The Advisor Solutions Podcast EP 94- Strategies for Creating Instant Connections

Do you know how to create an instant connection with prospects? If not, know that you are not alone!
Most financial advisors, insurance agents, wholesalers, branch managers, and even agency managers don’t know strategies for creating instant connections. They have never learned the techniques and exercises to increase their interpersonal soft skills.
If all you focus on is the information you provide prospects and not the connection you can create with them, they most likely will not work with you because they don’t feel connected.
I’m sure you have heard the saying, “People tend to work with people they like. And, people tend to like people that are like them.” So, how do you help people understand that you are like them? It’s in knowing how to connect instantly and having real-world exercises to do just that.
In this episode, learn what successful advisors do to increase their interpersonal soft skills!

The Advisor Solutions Podcast EP 93- Building Your Business Soft Skills

Do you know how to make effortless connections? What I mean is, can you connect with anyone, anywhere, and at any time? If not, know that you are not alone!
Most financial advisors, insurance agents, wholesalers, branch managers, and even agency managers don’t understand how to make effortless connections. The reason is that they have never really viewed building your business soft skills as something that could take their business to the next level.
You see, to do well in the financial services industry, you need two kinds of skills: hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are the technical skills you use in your business, like creating a financial plan or doing an insurance quote. They are easy to measure because you know how to do it or you don’t. Soft skills are people skills that are about making connections with others.  They are harder to gauge because measuring things such as communication, collaboration, and conflict resolution is difficult.  
Without mastering the soft skills of connecting with others, you won’t utilize your hard skills, like creating a financial plan, because prospects won’t be interested in working with you. Having excellent soft skills makes a prospect want to become your client.
In this episode, learn what successful advisors do to build effortless connections!

The Advisor Solutions Podcast EP 91- Learning Your Leadership Style

Have you ever wondered if great leaders are born or made? I believe anyone can be a great leader if they understand themselves, understand what motivates others to want to follow them, and apply what they learn.
Do you understand yourself? In other words, do you know your leadership style and how you lead others? Most likely, you don’t. If so, know that you are not alone!
Most financial advisors, insurance agents, wholesalers, branch managers, and even agency managers don’t understand their leadership style! The reason is they have never really viewed the topic of leadership styles as something that can be motivating or even demotivating to those they are leading. Instead, most people don’t give the topic much thought.

The Advisor Solutions Podcast EP 90- The 7 Skill Sets to Become an Effective Leader

Do you consider yourself an effective leader? Whether you’re responsible for leading your clients, an assistant, a staff member, an entire team, a branch, or region, having the skill sets to be an effective leader is important because it not only makes you more productive but it also has a positive effect on others.
Most financial advisors, insurance agents, wholesalers, branch managers and even agency managers don’t understand the importance of being an effective leader! The reason is that they have never viewed the topic of leadership and how to become an effective leader as a set of skill sets that you can sharpen at any time.  
In this episode, learn what successful advisors and agents do to bring their skill sets around effective leadership into stronger focus.