<img height="1" width="1" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=1679314142361781&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">
Skip to content

Referrals (Introductions) Are Not About You!

Referrals (Introductions) Are Not About You!
Jun 27
2023

If you have been in our industry for even a week, you no doubt have heard the adage “the best lead is a referral”. After many years of coaching and consulting with hundreds of advisors and practices of every different size, makeup, and description, we would beg to differ. A referral is not the best lead, but in fact an introduction is.

Introductions Are Not About You_Cover

Before you start to think that we are splitting hairs on the difference between a referral and an introduction, let us ask you a question. Has this ever happened to you? You have one of your very best clients say something along the lines of:

Hey, I have a good friend that I want to send over to you, do you have a business card I can give him? His name is Matt and I've told him how amazing you are and how much I like working with you, and I told him to give you a call. You should be hearing from him anytime.”

And then two or three, or even four, months goes by, and you never heard from Matt. So, you call your good client and say “Hey I never heard from your friend, anything I can do there? Anything I need to know?” I'll ask again, has this ever happened to you? When we ask that question of advisors that we are actively consulting and coaching with, they start to laugh out loud before I can even finish the question because it has happened so frequently. The client obviously meant well; they asked for your card, said nice things about you, but in a large majority of those situations it never seems to go any farther. What do you make of that?


Want to keep reading?

Related Posts

What’s Trending: Why Active Management Matters When Emotions Run High
Wealth Management

What’s Trending: Why Active Management Matters When Emotions Run High

In this November’s Trending Report, Kevin Roskam of USA Financial dives into the emotional side of investing and why keeping short-term fears in check is crucial for long-term success. He shares a real-life client story that highlights how media-driven anxiety can derail financial plans and reminds us that market corrections aren’t just possible—they’re normal. Kevin explains how trends show the importance of active management in today’s market, where not all 500 S&P stocks are moving together. He explores how diversification, discipline, and a clear understanding of your portfolio’s purpose can help investors navigate volatility with confidence. Whether you’re an advisor guiding clients or an investor staying the course, this report is a timely reminder that disciplined strategies—not emotions—drive lasting results.

Building a Client-Centered Practice: Insights from Duncan MacPherson & Pareto Systems
Practice Management

Building a Client-Centered Practice: Insights from Duncan MacPherson & Pareto Systems

In this episode of the Rare Advisor, host Aaron Grady sits down with Duncan MacPherson of Pareto Systems to unpack the “Always On” client experience from The Blue Square Method—showing financial advisors how to move from personality-driven to process-driven, scalable firms. You’ll learn the four quadrants (Onside, Onboard, Ongoing, Onward), why a documented fit process and onboarding sequence create professional contrast, how the 12-4-2 service model competitor-proofs relationships, and why systematizing moments of truth builds advocacy and referrals. We cover turning know-how into intellectual property (playbooks/SOPs), becoming “fee-worthy” and referable, leveraging the Pareto principle for AAA clients, and shifting from B2C to B2B growth.

The Loyalty Ladder: Turn Clients into Advocates
Relationship Management

The Loyalty Ladder: Turn Clients into Advocates

Before we can start an effective coaching and consulting process with an advisor or team, it helps to understand where certain opportunities might exist; we call those “Opportunity Gaps”.