By Brad Shepard, Head of Advisor Innovation
Just last year we launched the Advisor Solutions programs to help advisors engage more effectively with their existing and prospective clients. Brad Shepard, Head of Advisor Innovation at WisdomTree, will take you through one of the pillars of this program, Kredible, an offering that helps advisors build and enhance their online image.
Financial advisors are constantly being told they need to have an online presence.
For most advisors, this is something they need. But like anything else, how it’s done and why are the critical issues.
Related: Top Mistake When Choosing a Financial Advisor
Why Do Advisors Need an Online Presence?
All you need to do to answer this question is to look at how you find professionals and other service providers. Maybe this is a doctor, a CPA or a plumber. You might be able to get a recommendation from a trusted colleague or friend. Or just as likely, you might do an online search. Even with a referral, we imagine that you would check that professional out online before you engage his or her services.
That’s exactly what prospects looking for a financial advisor are doing. Kredible’s internal research1 shows:
Prospects typically seek 3 RECOMMENDATIONS from trusted contacts when looking for a financial advisor.
The first thing they do after receiving names is online research. In fact, 72% CONSIDER such research “very” or “extremely” influential in their hiring decisions.
ALMOST 50% said they have eliminated advisors from consideration purely because of what they did—or didn’t—find online.