How an advisor appears is also important to advancing a career and increasing the client base, Danzig said. “Are you professional looking? Are you on time? Establishing your own brand helps you articulate to your clients the value you can provide.”
“In advancing your career, you are going to need to leverage relationships,” Stewart said. “Reach out to others and ask them great questions to draw them out” rather than just reciting a prepared introduction. That’s boring for you and does not raise enthusiasm in others, she said.
Danzig added, “I always set a goal, when attending a meeting or conference, such as telling myself I will connect with two people today who can be clients.” Otherwise, she said she will set out to find two people who can support her in her career.
“Think through the people you already know and identify ones who are supportive of your career path,” Danzig said. “The more clear you can be about your career path and what you want to experience, the more likely you are to find supportive people.
“If you find people who are supportive or who might be clients, schedule a follow-up call with them immediately,” Danzig added. “If you wait for those who have expressed enthusiasm about you to call, you might soon be out of business. Reach out proactively after the initial contact.”
“Know that this is an ongoing process of growth,” Stewart said. “You are never done.”