Speaking and Consultancy for IFAs, Financial Planners and Providers

Consumers have never had more choice in how they can search for, find and assess IFAs and financial planners.

Most rely on the referral or recommendation of a friend, colleague or family member, but the Internet is now the first port of call for finding financial planning professionals.

Whether it's to search using Google, or to assess a financial planner's expertise and credibility through their website, articles, blogs, Social Media profiles or videos - the Internet is now the core platform on which investors asses the service proposition of financial planners and to check out and reinforce the recommendation of others.

Whilst professional qualifications and designations such as CFP® and Chartered Financial Planner are recognised throughout the financial planning community as symbols of dedication to professionalism, most consumers are arguably none the wiser as to their meaning.

With or without such designations, consumers expect professionalism and in today's Internet world they have a multitude of tools at their disposal to find the right financial planner for their needs – and many will choose financial advice professionals based on many factors other than just qualifications.


So how do top quality financial planners get noticed? How do they differentiate and stand out from the crowd?

How do they make their professional qualifications really mean something in the eyes of consumers - and particularly while the Internet offers more and more 'DIY' financial planning solutions?

The truth is that very few financial planners have a robust and carefully thought-through marketing strategy - let alone an Internet marketing strategy.

This leaves them vulnerable to competition from Internet-savvy financial advisers who have invested time and money in building a deep understanding of how the Web can help them to both attract new clients and add value to existing clients - not to mention build close relationships with professional introducers.

Many financial planners have 'dabbled' with Social Media, including Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and others - but most have absolutely no strategy behind it. At best they may be wasting their time - at worst they are potentially damaging their online reputation without realising it.

For example, research from IFA Life suggests that whilst 70% of financial advisers have profiles on LinkedIn, remarkably few have any idea why and have no understanding of how LinkedIn can benefit them.

For financial professionals to fully benefit from the Internet and Social Media, they need to work with a specialist - someone who understands in depth how financial planners work, their business and client propositions - and who has deep experience of how the Internet can be harnessed to add value to their proposition as a powerful marketing tool, a valuable communication medium and to enrich their brand image.

Philip Calvert has over 30 years experience working with IFAs and financial planners in senior roles with Life Offices and as an independent Internet and Social Media consultant. He is the founder of IFA Life – the award-winning social networking site for Financial Planners, IFAs and Financial Services professionals.

Speaking services for Financial Services conferences and events

"I saw Philip present at a conference in January and he really is very, very good." Martin Trenchard, Head of Corporate Client Management, Standard Life

• Conference keynote speeches – startling, entertaining and high energy presentations that will educate, excite and motivate your audience.
  
  
• Conference breakout sessions – in-depth, hands-on workshops that leave your audience with practical tools – not theoretical fluff. Where high-speed Internet access is available, many of Philip’s workshops will include live examples of how to use Social Media.
  
  
• Conference Q & A sessions – Philip is a skilled and experienced panel member who brings in-depth personal experiences of how to use Social Media to build community around your brand, increase sales and add value to customers.
  
  
• Conference MC – Philip has experience of hosting and moderating conferences, seminars and trade shows – providing continuity and sparkle to your conference schedule, plus a proven ability to energise your audience and to encourage networking.
  
  
• Staff training – In house training on Internet and Social Media marketing. Ideal for both IFA and Provider companies and recommended for Marketing departments, Sales departments, Senior management teams, PR professionals, HR teams and Key Account personnel

Consultancy services to IFA/Financial Planner businesses, Financial Services Providers/Suppliers, Financial Services Advertising and Creative Agencies and PR firms

Whilst a search on the Internet reveals tens of thousands of Social Media ‘experts’, Philip is one of a very small handful of people around the world who actually founded and runs a thriving social networking site. This brings him unique insight into the planning, development, marketing and growth of online communities and how to use them to engage with customers and niche markets with a view to increasing awareness online, increasing sales and ‘humanising their brand’.

Consultancy meetings (one-off or a six month programme) will help both IFA/Financial Planner businesses and Financial Services Provider/Supplier businesses (large and small) to clearly identify their long-term priorities and to develop a robust Social Media strategy.

Contact Philip Calvert today to discuss how to turn the mystique of Social Media into a tangible, robust strategy that meets your business goals.

Telephone: +44 (0)1483 548666
Mobile: +44 (0)7773 359619
Email: philip[AT]ifalife.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/IFALife

What people are saying about working with Philip Calvert

"Just wanted to say thanks for the talk last night - several people who haven't missed an event in 18 months have universally declared you to be the best speaker we've had so far. Your talk encouraged so much active networking afterwards that I had a hard job getting everyone to go home." Ann Hawkins - Inspirational Speakers

“I fully expect to look back in 5 years time and regards my first contact with Philip as a major milestone in my life. One week later and I have alrady gained an incredible amount of knowledge. Fantastic!” Chris Kelly, Hanson Wealth

From conceiving the idea, through to building, marketing, promoting and spearheading its growth, Founder of IFA Life Philip Calvert is a proven, entertaining and accomplished professional speaker on Sales and Social Media.

Philip’s experience of speaking at leading financial services conferences is second to none, but he is also in demand as a speaker at a wide range of other events, including the Academy for Chief Executives, the Institute of Sales and Marketing Management, the Business StartUp Show, Young Institute of Directors, the IT Directors’ Forum, the EyeForPharma European eMarketing Summit and the Catering and Hospitality Forum amongst others.

Speaking on how to use Social Media effectively in business, Philip’s audiences have included senior Directors from Hitachi, the Eden Project, Estee Lauder, Crossrail, Blockbuster Video, DVLA, The Royal College of Surgeons, the DTI, Del Monte, Oracle, River Island, Scottish & Newcastle, BUPA, Zurich, the Personal Finance Society, The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, France Telecom, BP, University of London, the British Medical Association, National Express, Oxfam, Ford, George Wimpey, Domino's Pizza Group, HM Prison Service, Littlewoods Gaming, Fullers, the Food Standards Agency, the Independent Police Complaints Commission, Miele and John Lewis.

Philip has also been a speaker at Oxford University on how business people can increase sales through better online communications through social networking websites, and he has appeared on BBC radio and breakfast television.

Philip is also an accomplished author, with two published books and numerous eBooks and Guides to his name. His book Successful Seminar Selling is widely acknowledged as the leading and most comprehensive guide to planning, promoting and presenting successful seminars and workshops.