Ep 405: When Being ‘Youthful’ Turns From A Liability To An Asset In Building Your (Long-Term) Advisory Business with Gaetano Sacco
Oct 1, 2024
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Gaetano Sacco, a partner and senior financial advisor at Fountainhead Advisors, turned his youthfulness into a powerful asset for his financial advisory business. He shares how he transformed initial perceptions of inexperience into a strong bond with retirees, emphasizing client relationships and proactive communication during market downturns. Gaetano highlights the importance of networking, mentorship, and community involvement, as well as the pivotal role of a supportive study group in enhancing his career. Listen in to discover his journey from insurance to running a thriving practice.
Gaetano Sacco transformed his perceived inexperience into an asset by positioning his youth as a long-term commitment to clients.
Proactive client communication strategies, especially during market downturns like COVID-19, significantly contributed to Gaetano's impressive growth in assets under management.
Organizing client appreciation events has been crucial for Gaetano in building loyalty and fostering relationships to generate referrals.
Deep dives
Transforming Youth into an Asset
Starting a career in financial advising at a young age can initially present challenges, particularly in gaining client trust. However, Gaetano Sako turned his youth into an advantage, presenting himself as a long-term financial partner for retirees. By showcasing his commitment to a lengthy career in financial advising, he reassured clients of his reliability and capability. His personal experiences, such as getting married and having children, helped him connect better with older clients, further enhancing his credibility.
Proactive Client Engagement
Sako achieved significant growth in assets under management (AUM) by adopting proactive outreach strategies to address client concerns. He utilized various methods, including phone calls, webinars, and written commentaries during market downturns, to maintain client engagement. Notably, he capitalized on the COVID-19 pandemic by offering insights on Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, positioning himself as a resource during times of uncertainty. This hands-on approach resulted in several client referrals, accelerating his practice's growth.
Leveraging Client Appreciation Events
Client appreciation events have become a cornerstone of Sako's strategy for building loyalty and generating referrals. He organized various gatherings, such as restaurant tours and horse racing events, to engage existing clients while encouraging them to bring friends. These informal settings allowed for deeper connections, reinforcing relationships and cultivating a loyal client base. By prioritizing client satisfaction, he effectively transformed these events into valuable marketing opportunities.
The Value of Mentorship and Study Groups
Participating in a structured advisor study group significantly influenced Sako's professional development, providing a platform for continuous improvement and networking. This group facilitated knowledge sharing on best practices and challenges, encouraging members to support each other in achieving their business goals. The insights gained from these interactions helped Sako navigate his transition from the insurance industry to a fiduciary-focused practice more effectively. His positive experience underscores the importance of mentorship and community in the financial advisory field.
A New Approach to Financial Planning
By transitioning to Fountainhead Advisors, Sako found an environment that aligned with his values and approach to financial planning. Fountainhead provided comprehensive support, allowing him to concentrate on building client relationships and delivering tailored financial plans. The infrastructure enabled Sako to streamline investment management and client servicing, fostering a business model focused on empowering clients rather than solely selling products. This shift not only benefited his practice but also enhanced his personal fulfillment and work-life balance.
Gaetano Sacco is a partner and senior financial advisor at Fountainhead Advisors, an RIA based out of New Jersey that oversees approximately $900 million in assets under management for 1,000 households. Gaetano transformed his early career challenge of perceived inexperience into a distinct advantage, highlighting his youthfulness to reassure retirees that he can be their dedicated financial advisor for the long haul. Since breaking away from the insurance world, he has impressively grown his practice to $75 million in AUM in just five years, capitalizing on his long-term commitment to clients as a major selling point.
Listen in as Gaetano shares how his early experiences in insurance sales and, ironically, achieving "Financial Planner of the Year" led him to transition from insurance to the RIA channel, driven by a desire for deeper client relationships and personal life changes like marriage and fatherhood that enhanced his ability to connect with clients. He also discusses how leveraging his age as an asset has helped grow his practice through proactive client communication during the COVID-19 downturn and by hosting in-person client appreciation events to build loyalty and attract new clients. You'll learn the pivotal role of joining an advisor study group in Gaetano's professional development, his decision to reject a job offer due to poor company culture, and how his commitment to a client-centric, planning-focused career provides daily motivation while maintaining work-life balance.