The Consumer’s Perspective
Let’s take a look from the consumer’s perspective. Financial illiteracy is alive and well, especially with baby boomers. Next, throw in brand confusionthe convergence in financial services has produced new players, company names, and products. Everybody is now playing in everybody else’s backyard. Insert the media’s frequent coverage on retirement planning and increased advertising dollars being spent targeting “the confused generation.” Now, throw in the fact that there is widespread incoherence around what the term “financial planner” even means. At its best, this situation is overwhelming to prospects, current clients, and maybe even your employees. At its worst, people are sticking their heads in the sand and saying, “leave me alone!”
Marketing financial products and services has always been an information and relationship sale. You are in the personal finance education business, whether you like it or not. And it’s not nearly as sexy as the ad agencies make it seem. No matter how many sailboats, moonlight beaches, or mansions your advertising agency plasters in...