Jun 5, 2014
HOLLYWOOD, Fla., June 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- While most advisors are enjoying greater success than they did a few years ago, many are challenged with how to best communicate with their clients, according to new research released today from Pershing LLC (Pershing), a BNY Mellon company. The Second Annual Study of Advisory Success: A New Age of Client Communications and Client Expectations explores the value of key client touchpoints and identifies opportunities for financial advisors to strengthen their connections and be more effective.
Study of Advisory Success is a longitudinal study that defines what success means for advisors in today's environment and highlights the most salient issues that advisors face. Based on this year's research, advisors who adapt to client communications preferences and expectations are more successful than those who do not.
"Lessons learned from the financial crisis, combined with the popularity of smartphones and other devices, have raised client expectations," says Kim Dellarocca, managing director at Pershing. "With the proliferation of different touchpoints and a greater apprehension of financial risk, clients expect more frequent, tailored communications in real time, and many advisors have not yet developed a consistent communications strategy. It is essential for advisors to understand how, where and when current and potential clients prefer to communicate."
Twenty years ago, advisors connected with clients through three primary channels: phone, mail and in-person meetings. Today, these channels have grown to include email and social media, which are ingrained in their clients' lives, raising the bar for effective communications between advisors and their clients.
The study identifies three key areas in which advisors should focus their communication efforts and actionable steps they can take to improve in these areas:
Advisors should see themselves the way their clients do, particularly online. Brands are most impactful in helping to attract and engage the right customers, and advisors should take the time to see themselves the way their clients and prospects do by taking the time to discover their own online presence through searches and then refining that presence to be more effective.
Advisors should capitalize on social media and become savvy content curators. While many advisors cite a lack of time as the reason for not using social media, there are a number of platforms that can serve as an efficient vehicle for listening, distribution and engagement. Advisors should have the ability to discern which information has value and is worth sharing. It is important that advisors do not overextend themselves. They need to make sure they are able to reasonably maintain any social properties they create. Advisors should value quality over quantity in this case.
Advisors should reach out about the good news, too. Clients are interested in hearing from their advisors regarding positive milestones, such as a birthday, new job or the birth of a child. Communicating with clients under a range of circumstances will make outreach in turbulent times less reactionary and forced.
"With client communication channels and protocols continuing to evolve, what advisors say and how quickly they respond counts more than ever," says Dellarocca. "If they are not sure how their clients prefer to communicate, they should just ask."
To obtain a copy of Pershing's Second Annual Study of Advisor Success: A New Age of Client Communications and Client Expectations, please visit pershing.com/advisorsuccess.
Pershing and its affiliates provide global financial business solutions to approximately 1,600 financial organizations, broker-dealers, registered investment advisory firms, advisors, fund managers and asset managers who represent over 5.6 million active accounts. Located in 23 offices worldwide, Pershing delivers dependable operational support, robust trading services, flexible technology, an expansive array of investment solutions, practice management support and service excellence. Pershing is a member of every major U.S. securities exchange, and its international affiliates are members of the Deutsche Borse, Australian Stock Exchange, Irish Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange and Toronto Stock Exchange. Pershing LLC (member FINRA/NYSE/SIPC) is a BNY Mellon company. Additional information is available on pershing.com, or follow us on Twitter @Pershing.
BNY Mellon is a global investments company dedicated to helping its clients manage and service their financial assets throughout the investment lifecycle. Whether providing financial services for institutions, corporations or individual investors, BNY Mellon delivers informed investment management and investment services in 35 countries and more than 100 markets. As of March 31, 2014, BNY Mellon had $27.9 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration, and $1.6 trillion in assets under management. BNY Mellon can act as a single point of contact for clients looking to create, trade, hold, manage, service, distribute or restructure investments. BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE: BK). Additional information is available on www.bnymellon.com, or follow us on Twitter @BNYMellon.
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SOURCE BNY Mellon