Exceptional Advisor Initiative: Elevate Your Value as an Investment Advisor
Posted by Allison Edmondson, Director of Communications
May 8, 2018 3:00:00 PM
Denver, CO — May 8, 2018 — The Investments & Wealth Institute announced The Exceptional Advisor™ initiative today at its Annual Conference Experience–ACE Nashville to help Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®), Certified Private Wealth Advisor® (CPWA®), and Retirement Management Advisor® (RMA®) certificants showcase their advanced knowledge, expertise, and certifications to their clients.
“The Exceptional Advisor initiative helps advisors differentiate themselves from other professionals in a global and highly competitive marketplace. By concentrating on areas identified by research as key attributes valued by clients, advisors can better demonstrate their advanced knowledge earned through certification,” said Sean Walters, CAE, chief executive officer. “The Exceptional Advisor provides members with the tools needed to communicate with their clients and prospects through the right message, at the right time, and with the right amount of depth. It also helps to grow consumer awareness of the importance of advanced certifications and the knowledge certified-professionals can provide.”
Based on “Investments & Wealth Client Research 2017”, a research study conducted by AbsoluteEngagement.com in partnership with the Institute, “exceptional advisors” were identified as those advisors who:
Understand what clients need and value
Provide meaningful guidance
Demonstrate advanced knowledge
Act ethically
As part of the Exceptional Advisor initiative, the Institute has prepared an Exceptional Advisor digital toolkit, accessed through the Member Dashboard with resources for advisors to demonstrate how their advanced knowledge and certifications benefit their clients. Advisors can choose from a variety of communication tools, including brochures, templates, or an investor-focused website, www.InvestmentHelp.org, and from a selection of advisor learning resources, such as an online course focused on determining what clients want, delivering what they need, and demonstrating value. Certificants can also find specific client materials created to showcase the competencies provided by their certifications.
Exceptional Advisor™ Online Course: Communicate Your Value & Build Client Engagement, available in July 2018, helps advisors understand the traits of an exceptional advisor, explores the importance clients place on advisor knowledge, and educates advisors on how to best communicate their expertise and credentials more effectively. Throughout the five module course, participants garner practical strategies and skills, culminating in plans that will help enhance the advisor-client relationship. Registration for the course will begin this summer.
In addition to the Investments & Wealth Institute Exceptional Advisor initiative, the Institute as an advanced education provider and standards body for financial advisors, investment consultants, and wealth managers, offers a number of learning resources for advisors. The Institute also provides investors with the ability to Find a CIMA, CPWA, RMA-Certified advisor through www.Investment.Help.org.