Why surge review meetings are the way forward...

I have seen numerous articles around the year that was 2020, so I don’t want this to be a review. Instead, it’s time to look forward. It’s time to level up.

We started a new surge meeting process this month. All new and existing clients are going to have their annual reviews moved to January and February only going forwards. This will be their main planning meeting for the year. We have 60 scheduled over a few weeks – all virtual, thanks to the latest lockdown restrictions.

I got the idea of batching together these meetings from some very successful advisers over in the US. It makes a lot of sense.

When in annual review mode, we will be able to use economies of scale in conversations to discuss the previous year’s performance and ideas for the year ahead. There will be pre- and post-tax year end advice, which means we won’t have to revisit that for each and every client.

Clients who come on board midway through a year will receive their first annual review at their half-year point, and those who come on in the latter stages will have to wait slightly longer in the first year. We think this is going to bring lots of efficiencies and scalability, which is something we are really striving for as we look to grow.

We know there will be client queries or challenges throughout the year, however we need to have standardised practices in place. I want to make sure that if another adviser were to join the business, everyone knows exactly how we do things and so the period of adaptation is short and simple.

Other areas we have been working on are branding and marketing. This year we have 10 new videos to put out for these purposes.

We decided to hire some videographers and creators last year as there were a lot of people out of work and it was mutually beneficial. We are really happy with them and look forward to putting them out in the world.

We also want to revamp our website, review our communications, our Google and Vouchedfor review processes and really push on with our podcast and digital marketing. We are really leveling up in every area of the business.

As well as this, I intend to do the certified planning qualification later in the year. This should up my skillset and develop me as an adviser. I was hoping to do it in March but lockdown and surge meetings mean I won’t have enough time to study. Hopefully, if life returns to normal by the middle of the year, I can put my studying brain back into gear.

My human capital is the present value of my future earnings. When I look at my business through that lens, I need to reinvest in myself, in the team and in the business. This investment should provide continues success and growth in my own valuations and metrics.