Strategic Planning for 2025
Includes Q&A - with Duncan
Tuesday, November 19th at 12 pm ET
By refining your plan for the coming year over the next few months, rather than on a Sunday evening over the holidays in December, you'll create a plan that better serves you and your team, is more actionable and predictable, and consists of goals that are balanced, clear and attainable.
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Proven Strategies Blog

2024-09-26 • 4 min video

In this clip from Always ON, Duncan MacPherson and Cathi Durrell explore the profound concept of "saying it now," inspired by Walter Green's movement. Why wait until it's too late to express gratitude or appreciation? Financial advisors can deepen client relationships by acknowledging meaningful moments in real-time, creating lasting bonds. Duncan also highlights key insights from John Kralik's book, 365 Thank Yous, which emphasizes how small acts of gratitude can have a ripple effect, enriching both personal and professional relationships.

To learn more about Lavish Cards visit: lavishcards.com

Subscribe to Duncan MacPherson's Always ON podcast for more insights on building a high-touch client experience: paretosys.co/aodm

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2024-09-25 • 20 second read

Proven Strategies to Maximize Your Endgame

Missed the September 24th webinar where Duncan MacPherson, along with special guest Ted Jenkin, CEO of oXYGen Financial and President of Exit Stage Left Advisors, discussed how to maximize the value of your business and plan for a successful exit?  No worries, watch the webinar replay by clicking here:

WEBINAR REPLAY: Every Business is Built to Be Sold

Whether you're preparing for a liquidity event, succession, or simply future-proofing your business, this session will provide you with the insights and strategies needed to navigate your endgame with confidence.

Key Takeaways:

  • Master Your Exit Strategy: Learn how to position your business for a successful transition that maximizes value and ensures continuity.
  • Partial Book Sale: Explore how downsizing your client base can simplify your life, giving you the freedom to focus on higher-value opportunities and grow further upmarket.
  • Build a Sale-Ready Business: Discover the process-driven methodologies to streamline operations, boost profitability, and attract the right buyers.
  • Real-World Insights: Hear directly from Ted Jenkin, an expert in business exits and transitions, as he shares actionable tips from his own experiences as CEO and exit advisor.
  • Leverage Your Legacy: Learn how to align your business with your personal vision for the future, ensuring your hard work leaves a lasting impact.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn proven strategies that will prepare your business for its next chapter on your terms. Watch the Replay now!

2024-09-24 • 1 min video

This short is an excerpt from my recent "Give your clients what they CRAVE" video. 

WATCH the entire video clip on YouTube: https://youtu.be/inDjSqlo9JM

2024-09-23 • 4 min video

BRAG framework"Belonging, Recognition, Appreciation, and Gratitude

How to Turn Clients Into Advocates Using BRAG | Always ON Clip - Ep. 64

In this clip from "Always ON with Duncan MacPherson" Duncan introduces the BRAG framework"Belonging, Recognition, Appreciation, and Gratitude - to help financial advisors foster deeper client relationships and turn clients into advocates. Learn how creating a sense of belonging, recognizing important moments, and showing appreciation can elevate your practice and drive client loyalty. This proven strategy balances high tech with high touch to meet the growing need for safe harbor in financial advising.

To learn more about Lavish Cards visit: lavishcards.com

Subscribe to Duncan MacPherson's Always ON podcast for more strategies on building a referable business: paretosys.co/ao_bb

2024-09-20 • 1 min video

This short is an excerpt from episode 64 of the "Always On with Duncan MacPherson' financial advisor podcast featuring Cathi Durrell owner of Lavish Fine Art Greeting Cards. Stream episode 64, "The Power of Personalized Gratitude: Building Client Loyalty", on your favorite podcast channel by clicking a link below:

Apple Podcasts: paretosys.co/ao_ap 
Spotify: paretosys.co/ao_sp
Find Your Channel: paretosys.co/ao_bb

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2024-09-19 • 20 second read

The Power of Personalized Gratitude: Building Client Loyalty with Cathi Durrell - Always On with Duncan MacPherson Podcast, Ep. 64 

In this episode of the Always On with Duncan MacPherson Podcast, Duncan sits down with Cathi Durrell, co-founder of Lavish Cards, to discuss the power of personalized gratitude in building lasting client relationships for financial advisors. Discover how sending customized cards to clients can enhance your client retention strategies, foster loyalty, and increase client advocacy.

Cathi shares insights from her 12+ years of experience in helping financial professionals use hand-crafted greeting cards to make a lasting impact with clients.

Tune in to learn:

  • Why Thanksgiving cards can give your business an edge over competitors
  • How to make gratitude part of your daily routine to deepen client relationships
  • Real stories of financial advisors using gratitude to boost referrals and client advocacy
  • The BRAG method: How Belonging, Recognition, Appreciation, and Gratitude drive client engagement
  • A look at Lavish Cards' One Card at a Time program designed for financial professionals

This episode is full of actionable strategies to humanize your client experience, foster stronger client loyalty, and generate organic referrals.

Stream the full podcast for valuable insights:

Apple Podcasts: paretosys.co/ao_ap 
Spotify: paretosys.co/ao_sp
Find Your Channel: paretosys.co/ao_bb

2024-09-18 • 4 min video

How Giving Creates Lasting Client Connections

Give your clients what they CRAVE Part 2

In this follow-up video, Duncan continues to explore the concept of giving your clients what they truly crave. You've likely heard that giving starts the receiving process, but this isn't just a business tactic"it's a universal principle. In a world where acts of kindness and acknowledgment are often overlooked, embracing the law of reciprocity can strengthen your client relationships and make a lasting impact.

Duncan shares examples like sending personalized Thanksgiving cards, highlighting Lavish Cards as a valuable tool to elevate your client engagement. Small, thoughtful gestures like these make a big difference, reminding clients that you care about them and what matters to them. He also discusses how gratitude and positivity can shift your entire business culture, helping you connect on a deeper level.

Key Insights:

  • Discover the impact of random acts of kindness and how they strengthen client loyalty.
  • Learn how to incorporate gratitude into your standard operating procedures.
  • Why acknowledging your clients' lives and achievements makes you fee-worthy.

He'll be diving deeper into these themes on an upcoming podcast, but for now, focus on humanizing your branding strategy and creating a culture of positivity and acknowledgment.

Check out Lavish Cards (lavishcards.com) for more ideas, and let's continue to activate gratitude in your practice. Thanks for watching!

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2024-09-17 • 20 second read

True leadership isn't about forcing people to follow you. It's about inspiring them, guiding them, and leading by example.

When you push, you create resistance. But when you lead with vision and empathy, you create alignment and buy-in. Leadership is about creating an environment where people feel motivated and empowered to move in the same direction.

People are naturally drawn to leaders who understand their needs, value their contributions, and guide them towards a shared goal.

If you want to lead effectively, focus on being the kind of leader people want to follow, not the one they're forced to follow.

Learn more about the principles of effective leadership by listening to episode 63 of the "Always On with Duncan MacPherson' financial advisor podcast, featuring Sybil Verch. Episode 63: "Empowering Financial Advisors: Core Values, Work-Life Balance, and Client-Centric Strategies." Links here:  

Apple Podcasts: paretosys.co/ao_ap 
Spotify: paretosys.co/ao_sp
Find Your Channel: paretosys.co/ao_bb
 
 

2024-09-16 • 3 minute video

Strengthening Client Relationships Through Authentic Acknowledgment 

In this video, I share a concept that's been incredibly effective for the fee-for-service financial professionals I coach: humanizing your culture by genuinely noticing and honoring what's going on in your clients' lives. With the world becoming more self-absorbed, I've noticed that clients crave a sense of belonging and deeper relationships.

I break down my CRAVE framework - Celebrate, Recognize, Acknowledge, Validate, and Encourage - to show how these simple actions can transform client relationships. I also offer practical tips, like sending personalized cards and creating a Chief Noticing Officer role, to help you build lasting connections and become truly fee-worthy.

These small gestures can make a huge difference, and in this video, I'll show you how to make it a standard practice in your business.

What You'll Learn:

" How to create a client-first culture by recognizing their personal milestones.
" The importance of gratitude and how it strengthens loyalty.
" Why sending a card can be one of the most powerful tools in your toolkit.

If you're looking to humanize your client relationships and elevate your practice, this is a great place to start. Thanks for watching, and let's continue to activate a higher level of gratitude.

Learn more about Lavish Cards: lavishcards.com

2024-09-13 • 1 min video

This short is an excerpt from episode 63 of the "Always On with Duncan MacPherson' financial advisor podcast featuring Sybil Verch, Wealth Advisor, TV show host, and Author. WATCH the entire video clip on YouTube by clicking here: https://youtu.be/wJ1JNv3F40I

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