Best Networking Practices for Financial Advisors

Networking is not a “numbers game.” You don’t need 1,000 connections. You need 3 that turn into doors. Here are networking moves no one's talking about, But absolutely should be. Let’s go: 1. Be Someone’s Research Assistant (Unofficially) If you admire someone in your industry… read everything they’ve published. Then create a mini-insight report on it. How to do it: Find a professional who shares thought pieces or speaks at events Create a one-pager: Key takeaways from their work A quote you loved 1 original idea inspired by them Email them: “Hi [Name], I’ve been following your work on [topic] and wanted to say thank you—so I put together a quick reflection based on what I’ve learned. I’d love to know what you’re currently excited about. No pressure to reply!” Why it works: You become the person who listened deeply. That’s rare. 2. Offer to Practice a Presentation with Them Sounds odd? It’s genius. Everyone has something they’re prepping— a keynote, a team training, a class lecture. How to do it: Reach out to a professional speaker, teacher, or founder Say: “Hi [Name], I saw you’re presenting at [event]. I’m a recent grad trying to improve my public speaking. If you ever want someone to practice with or give feedback from a student’s POV—I’d be thrilled to help.” Best case? You get mentorship. Worst case? You become unforgettable. 3. Build a “Networking Project” Instead of a Spreadsheet Instead of a contacts list, create something with the people you’re meeting. How to do it: Pick a theme: “Women in Fintech” or “Immigrant Voices in Product” Every time you talk to someone cool, ask: “Would you be open to being featured in a short post or roundup I’m creating?” Publish it on LinkedIn with their name, tip, and photo (if approved) You just turned networking into content. And you just helped them build their brand too. 4. Show Up in Their DMs... But Only After You Show Up in Their Comments (3x) It’s like playing a slow, respectful game of ping-pong. How to do it: Identify 5 people you really want to connect with Turn on notifications for their posts Leave value-packed comments 3 times Then message them: “Hey [Name], I’ve been learning a lot from your posts—especially your take on [X]. Would love to connect and hear your story sometime if you're open to a quick Zoom or coffee.” This warms them up, so you’re not a random message in the void. Final reminder: Networking doesn’t have to feel transactional. It can feel like helping. If you’re still reading this, try one this week. Even if it feels weird. Because they might. And that might change everything. #May2025Grads #JobSearchJourney #CreativeNetworking #GradLife #NetworkingWithoutCringe #HumanConnection #CareerMoves #InternationalStudents #LevelUp

Loved connecting with Keven Jimenez, a young Latino still in undergrad but already determined to be in this industry, who reached out to talk through some thoughtful questions. 🙌🏽 I always get excited when someone’s already taking the right steps, doing the work, staying curious, and just needing a little guidance to help navigate the early stages of their journey. Some gems from our conversation that I think others entering financial services might find helpful: ✨ “What orgs should I get involved with?” - FPA NexGen: A community within the Financial Planning Association focused on supporting students and early-career professionals in the planning profession. – SER Summit for Latin@s in FinServ: A powerful annual gathering of Latino financial professionals designed to build community, visibility, and collaboration across the industry. – ALPFA Los Angeles Chapter: One of the largest associations for Latino professionals, with national and local chapters, student opportunities, and access to a wide network across finance and business. ✨ “What designations can help me stand out early on?” The SIE and Series 65 are great entry points to show initiative and interest before you’re eligible for the CFP®. The CFP® is widely respected among RIAs and is a strong long term goal, but focus first on getting real world experience. You’ll learn so much about what excites you and how you want to show up in this work. Programs like Amplified Planning's Externship are amazing. ✨ “Any other designations or advice on niches?” -There are HUNDREDS of designations out there, and it’s easy to feel pressure to collect them all, but don’t rush. 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭, 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫. You might think you’re into investments and find out you love working with retirees, small biz owners, or divorce planning instead. -Same goes for niches: don’t pigeonhole yourself right out of college. Explore broadly, learn from mentors, and let your client style and ideal niche develop naturally as you grow. ✨ And one more thing: 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭. Be curious. Reach out. Learn from others. That warm network you build now could be the door to a future mentor, job opportunity, or client referral. There’s no one “right” way to do this, especially as a Latino in the industry. Many of us are navigating brand new territory with few paths to follow. These are just resources I hope can help the next person. Because if I knew even half of this in college? That would've been a game-changer. 😂 I didn’t learn most of this until two years after graduating, after I’d already changed careers. All to say: there’s no one path and no perfect answer. Just keep going. 🚶🏽♀️ #LatinosInFinance #FinancialPlanning #FirstGen #CFP #NextGenAdvisors #MentorshipMatters #RepresentationMatters #LatinaVoices

Stop Asking Clients What They Have  Start Asking Them What They Want Why Financial Advisors Need to Master High-Impact Discovery Questions “The quality of your questions determines the quality of your relationships.” Most advisors are great at fact-finding. Assets. Income. Retirement goals. That’s important—but it’s not enough. Here’s the part we don’t talk about enough: The quality of your questions determines the quality of your relationships. Want better referrals? Want higher client retention? Want to uncover held-away assets? Then ask better questions. High-impact discovery questions go beyond numbers. They uncover emotion, motivation, fear, legacy, identity. Try these: “What do you want your money to do for you?” “What’s a financial decision you regret—and why?” “When you think about your family 10 years from now, what do you hope is different?” “What keeps you up at night that most people wouldn’t guess?” They’re business-building questions. They lead to deeper trust—and trust leads to action. 💡 Aha moment: Most advisors are trying to give better answers. The best advisors are learning to ask better questions. Stop filling out a form. Start opening a conversation. Because the best discovery questions don’t just collect data. They create insight. And insight is what makes you unforgettable. Actions You Can Use Tomorrow: ✅ Replace data-first questions with meaning-first questions Instead of asking: “How much do you have in retirement accounts?” Start with: “What does retirement look like for you?” (Follow-up: “Why is that vision important to you?”) ✅ Start every discovery meeting with one deep-opening question “What would make this relationship feel incredibly valuable to you—beyond just investment returns?” (This instantly uncovers expectations, values, and service opportunities.) ✅ Use the “Before and After” Frame “Before we dive into numbers, can I ask—what would a great outcome from our work together look like for you a year from now?” (This sets a future-focused, client-centered tone.) ✅ Introduce emotion into financial priorities “When you think about money, what emotion shows up most often—stress, excitement, confidence?” (Then ask: “Why do you think that is?”) ✅ Turn hesitation into a trust opportunity When a client seems unsure or vague: “That pause tells me something—can we explore that a little?” (This validates their hesitation and invites honesty.) ✅ Add this question to every client review “Has anything changed in your life that I should know about—even if it doesn’t feel financial yet?” (Captures early-stage changes before they become major events.) 🔁 Practice This as a Habit (Bonus Tip) Tomorrow morning, write down 3 high-impact questions on a sticky note and bring it to every client meeting. Pick one to lead with—before talking numbers. Even if nothing else changes, this one habit can dramatically deepen your client engagement. 👉 How will you use this guide to develop your client relationships?