Financial advisors have a very challenging job. When hiring any type of professional, of course one would like to have references in order to be able to trust with whom they are working.  Wealth managers are entrusted with peoples money and livelihood. Financial professionals have to not only gain trust but also serve as a psychologist, a money manager, a family mediator, a friend and sometimes even a punching bag. If you have ever seen the movie the Pursuit of Happyness with Will Smith you’ll remember that prospecting for clients is more than a fulltime job. Though Will Smith was obligated to make hundreds of cold calls, he landed his biggest client through persistence and joining his potential client at a local professional sports event. 

Personal introductions are the best way for financial advisors to gain new clients. So what happens after the young financial professional has exhausted all of his or her contacts through family and friends? Networking within general business networking groups is definitely a good start, but strategic networking is really where the money is found. Sporting clubs, gyms, golf outings, tennis events, charity events, country clubs and alumni dinners are great places that hone in on the population with higher socioeconomic means. However, not all financial managers prospect for the top 1-10%. There are plenty of people with under one million dollars in their bank accounts that still need solid financial planning and advice. These every day normal average people have regular 9-5 jobs, send their kids to private and public schools, play softball on the weekends, belong to churches, synagogues, community centers, bring their kids to their little league and junior hockey games. These prospects not only will be found through personal networks, they will also be found through digital marketing.