Another Trusted Advisor and I are planning to get a sample of our Ideal Clients (husbands and wives) together for a cocktail party. Say 3x2 each - total of 12 people plus ourselves. The purpose is to really question whether the VBFP full service and our communication are the same - the 3 meeting process, being part of the Ideal Client Community, 144 point checklist, the 5 critical reports, etc - is working for them. Are we getting our message across or is our enthusiasm remaining with us? Sort of a Client Board of Review. What's working for them and what is not! If it is working, why then aren't our Ideal Clients referring more friends and colleagues to have a Financial Road Map® experience? The cocktail party is a genuine attempt to understand, learn and improve where there are gaps. Not just a subtle push for referrals! So, my questions are - do you think such a meeting would be productive? How would you frame the invitation? How would you stage manage the cocktail party? Are there any "scripts" that might be useful? And any other questions I can't think of yet!

Article ID: 387

Last updated: 20 Nov, 2019

I like the fact that you are thinking about really getting to the bottom of what your Ideal Clients think and feel about your service and what has to happen for them to refer, if they are so happy with the work you are doing and like being an Ideal Client.

What you are describing sounds like a Referral Conversation with cocktails. Why not just have a really good referral conversation with them, either at the end of their next Progress Meeting or schedule a separate Referral Conversation meeting? The benefit of doing it with the individual couples is that it's easier for them to "go deep" about the value of their experience working with you when it's just the two of them.

For those who are reluctant to refer you are likely to hear the same excuses in a group that you would hear one-to-one. The bottom line is that are going to have to be very good at responding, whether in a group or one-to-one. What are the most common excuses you get from your clients who don't want to refer? What are your responses? Are these documented in your Referral Process Script Binder? Do you practice? There really isn't any need to invent new ways to apply the VBFP processes. They actually work as they are.

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I have been feeling and expressing more conviction in my Referral Conversations™ with those who have provided referrals in the past, and either less conviction or sometimes skipping the conversation altogether with those who have not. Other than "perfect the conversation, and do the conversation the same way, every time, similar to the analogy of great athletes perfecting their swings and repeating it the same way every time", do you have any other suggestions?

I have an Ideal Client who has given me referrals but has not contacted the referrals for permission to send the books, newsletters, and follow-up call. What’s the conversation to have with the Ideal Client so that they will follow through and contact the referrals so that I can finish the process?

At last Progress Meeting I asked for introductions and this was the response. "We have approached our friends and everybody is in the frame of mind they have their things in order, they have their ducks in a row and don't want to talk about it?" I responded - this is about sharing the positive experience that you have had with Values-Based Financial Planning™( security, peace of mind) and allowing others to have a Financial Road Map® to guide their decisions. Bill how would you have responded?

I had a client who completed an implementation meeting but was not very effusive about the benefits of our work together so far. She is an elderly lady who is very passive and doesn't seem to have many friends she hangs out with. She sticks with mostly family who are all broke.

I am a little frustrated at the present with the referral conversation in the Progress Meetings. In most of the referral conversations I am getting good emotional responses to the work we are doing and clients have noticed the change from the old service. When we get to the referral conversation, however, I am finding it difficult to get the clients to introduce me the people they know. I have used a lot of the responses you have coached recently and none seem to be working. (It could be that I am not delivering this right). However clients seem to understand what we are doing, (i.e. not soliciting) but still will not introduce me to anyone. It seems to be their view that they are all around the same age and all sorted out and have been with advisers for a very long time. I am coming to the conclusion that, given that my client base is mainly post-60 years of age and not working, maybe this is the way they think. I know that, in your eyes, they would not be Ideal Clients anymore but I am now concentrating more on the self-referral process which is a harder way to go but better than me continuing this process with my clients. I am very interested in your comments.

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