Secrets of Successful Advisors℠ with Ken Haman

For years advisors have been taught the importance of closing a  prospective client quickly – if possible, during the first meeting. On closer look advisors will have much more success if they slow down, take their time and give the client time to fully appreciate what the advisor has to offer. There has always been a dynamic tension for advisors between  taking the time to build trust in a new relationship and getting the client to sign on the dotted line. Especially when new clients seem scarce, advisors can feel a compelling need to get the new relationship started, even if it means offering a steep discount. In this fast-paced conversation, Ken and Scott explore how the thoughtful advisor can manage the first few meetings with a client to provide powerful experiences that build trust, reveal value and stimulate strong feelings of confidence. The program includes specific strategies that advisors can use to create meaningful experiences for clients in the first few meetings. Also in this episode, the AllianceBernstein Digital Coach – see practice management solutions for advisor success: abfunds.com/go/digitalcoach DISCLAIMER Note to All Readers: The information contained here reflects the views of AllianceBernstein L.P. or its affiliates and sources it believes are reliable as of the date of this podcast. AllianceBernstein L.P. makes no representations or warranties concerning the accuracy of any data. There is no guarantee that any projection, forecast or opinion in this material will be realized. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The views expressed here may change at any time after the date of this podcast. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. AllianceBernstein L.P. does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. It does not take an investor’s personal investment objectives or financial situation into account; investors should discuss their individual circumstances with appropriate professionals before making any decisions. This information should not be construed as sales or marketing material or an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument, product or service sponsored by AllianceBernstein or its affiliates.

It takes time for trust, perception of value and feelings of confidence to  develop within a client. Observations over time have revealed that trust, confidence and value reach their highest point about 3 years into a relationship between an advisor and a client. Unfortunately, most advisors are in such a rush to “close” a new relationship they set the price of their services before the client has had any meaningful experiences with the advisor. In this deep dive, Ken and Scott look at how an advisor can curate experiences intentionally to accelerate the trust-building process. Also in this episode, the AllianceBernstein Digital Coach – see practice  management solutions for advisor success: abfunds.com/go/digitalcoach DISCLAIMER Note to All Readers: The information contained here reflects the views of AllianceBernstein L.P. or its affiliates and sources it believes are reliable as of the date of this podcast. AllianceBernstein L.P. makes no representations or warranties concerning the accuracy of any data. There is no guarantee that any projection, forecast or opinion in this material will be realized. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The views expressed here may change at any time after the date of this podcast. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. AllianceBernstein L.P. does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. It does not take an investor’s personal investment objectives or financial situation into account; investors should discuss their individual circumstances with appropriate professionals before making any decisions. This information should not be construed as sales or marketing material or an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument, product or service sponsored by AllianceBernstein or its affiliates.

For almost two decades, financial advisor fees have been under pressure. Factors such as clients expecting discounts, skeptical next-gen clients and anxious competitors willing to do anything to secure a new client make it difficult to set attractive fees. But slashing fees isn’t the answer—it’s time to shift the conversation. In this episode, we discusses how to position your value so clients see your worth—without asking for a discount.   Additional resources: https://info.alliancebernstein.com/2025-Q1-ABAI-WEBCAST.html?partnerref=ABPodcast   Also in this episode, the AllianceBernstein Digital Coach – see practice management solutions for advisor success: abfunds.com/go/digitalcoach   DISCLAIMER Note to All Readers: The information contained here reflects the views of AllianceBernstein L.P. or its affiliates and sources it believes are reliable as of the date of this podcast. AllianceBernstein L.P. makes no representations or warranties concerning the accuracy of any data. There is no guarantee that any projection, forecast or opinion in this material will be realized. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The views expressed here may change at any time after the date of this podcast. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. AllianceBernstein L.P. does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. It does not take an investor’s personal investment objectives or financial situation into account; investors should discuss their individual circumstances with appropriate professionals before making any decisions. This information should not be construed as sales or marketing material or an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument, product or service sponsored by AllianceBernstein or its affiliates.

Market volatility continues to threaten the advisor-client relationship. At the end of the day, the advisor’s role is not just about managing a client’s wealth—it’s helping navigate experiences and surprises. In this episode, ABAI’s Ken Haman explains why the main reason clients hire an advisor is to manage their own emotions. He’ll also dive into how advisors can go beyond wealth management to empower clients' financial futures. In addition, exploring the emotional impact of advisor interactions and how they influence client experiences—both expected and unexpected, and mastering the art of reducing client anxiety, boosting confidence and navigating volatility   Also in this episode, the AllianceBernstein Digital Coach – see practice management solutions for advisor success: abfunds.com/go/digitalcoach DISCLAIMER Note to All Readers: The information contained here reflects the views of AllianceBernstein L.P. or its affiliates and sources it believes are reliable as of the date of this podcast. AllianceBernstein L.P. makes no representations or warranties concerning the accuracy of any data. There is no guarantee that any projection, forecast or opinion in this material will be realized. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The views expressed here may change at any time after the date of this podcast. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. AllianceBernstein L.P. does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. It does not take an investor’s personal investment objectives or financial situation into account; investors should discuss their individual circumstances with appropriate professionals before making any decisions. This information should not be construed as sales or marketing material or an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument, product or service sponsored by AllianceBernstein or its affiliates.  

Many advisors feel a compelling need to discount their fees in order to seal the deal with a new client. As a result, average fees across the industry have been steadily dropping for years. In this fast paced episode, Scott and Ken look at the psychological dynamics that cause advisors to automatically assume they need to discount their fees, and then explore what they can do differently in the first few meetings that will support charging a premium fee for premium services. Also in this episode, the AllianceBernstein Digital Coach – see practice management solutions for advisor success: abfunds.com/go/digitalcoach DISCLAIMER Note to All Readers: The information contained here reflects the views of AllianceBernstein L.P. or its affiliates and sources it believes are reliable as of the date of this podcast. AllianceBernstein L.P. makes no representations or warranties concerning the accuracy of any data. There is no guarantee that any projection, forecast or opinion in this material will be realized. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The views expressed here may change at any time after the date of this podcast. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. AllianceBernstein L.P. does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. It does not take an investor’s personal investment objectives or financial situation into account; investors should discuss their individual circumstances with appropriate professionals before making any decisions. This information should not be construed as sales or marketing material or an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument, product or service sponsored by AllianceBernstein or its affiliates.

Our modern financial services industry is designed to help clients prepare for a financially comfortable retirement. Observations over time have revealed that many people prepare well financially, but launch into retirement without a clear vision of what they will do in the next stage of their life. In this episode Ken talks with Cara Gray about her consultancy Good Morning Freedom that helps successful people create a vision for a more passionate retirement.Also in this episode, the AllianceBernstein Digital Coach – see practice management solutions for advisor success: abfunds.com/go/digitalcoach Note to All Readers: The information contained here reflects the views of AllianceBernstein L.P. or its affiliates and sources it believes are reliable as of the date of this podcast. AllianceBernstein L.P. makes no representations or warranties concerning the accuracy of any data. There is no guarantee that any projection, forecast or opinion in this material will be realized. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The views expressed here may change at any time after the date of this podcast. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. AllianceBernstein L.P. does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. It does not take an investor’s personal investment objectives or financial situation into account; investors should discuss their individual circumstances with appropriate professionals before making any decisions. This information should not be construed as sales or marketing material or an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument, product or service sponsored by AllianceBernstein or its affiliates.

Thousands of established financial advisors are either actively seeking a buyer for their business or starting to think seriously about their exit strategy.  There has never been a time in the history of our industry where so many businesses were available for acquisition.  Acquiring another advisor’s business can be one of the best ways to add new clients but observations of many transactions have revealed a significant number of challenges that are built in to the process of navigating a transaction.  In this fast paced program Ken and Scott look at how insights from Behavioral Economics can help advisors make better decisions about buying a business.   Note to All Readers: The information contained here reflects the views of AllianceBernstein L.P. or its affiliates and sources it believes are reliable as of the date of this podcast. AllianceBernstein L.P. makes no representations or warranties concerning the accuracy of any data. There is no guarantee that any projection, forecast or opinion in this material will be realized. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The views expressed here may change at any time after the date of this podcast. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. AllianceBernstein L.P. does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. It does not take an investor’s personal investment objectives or financial situation into account; investors should discuss their individual circumstances with appropriate professionals before making any decisions. This information should not be construed as sales or marketing material or an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument, product or service sponsored by AllianceBernstein or its affiliates.

A big challenge for advisors is recognizing when their clients have shifted from rational decision-making to one of the mental “shortcuts” that are built in to the way humans make decisions.  Even advisor’s struggle to maintain their rational process when decisions become complicated or have potential negative consequences.  In this program Scott and Ken discuss how to recognize when a client has shifted away from a rational process and how to help a client make more rational decisions. Also in this episode, the AllianceBernstein Digital Coach – see practice management solutions for advisor success: abfunds.com/go/digitalcoach   Note to All Readers: The information contained here reflects the views of AllianceBernstein L.P. or its affiliates and sources it believes are reliable as of the date of this podcast. AllianceBernstein L.P. makes no representations or warranties concerning the accuracy of any data. There is no guarantee that any projection, forecast or opinion in this material will be realized. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The views expressed here may change at any time after the date of this podcast. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. AllianceBernstein L.P. does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. It does not take an investor’s personal investment objectives or financial situation into account; investors should discuss their individual circumstances with appropriate professionals before making any decisions. This information should not be construed as sales or marketing material or an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument, product or service sponsored by AllianceBernstein or its affiliates.

One of the most powerful trends in Financial Services in recent years has been the rise of advisory teams.  Most firms are encouraging advisors to join or form teams, and many advisors feel that  their team gives them a competitive advantage over sole practitioners when they engage more sophisticated clients.  Unfortunately, most advisors are not well equipped to define the roles they need on their team and how to hire the right person.  In this provocative conversation, Scott and Ken explore the hidden challenges of hiring from the perspective of Behavioral Economics, and offer some guidance on how to avoid common hiring pitfalls. Note to All Readers: The information contained here reflects the views of AllianceBernstein L.P. or its affiliates and sources it believes are reliable as of the date of this podcast. AllianceBernstein L.P. makes no representations or warranties concerning the accuracy of any data. There is no guarantee that any projection, forecast or opinion in this material will be realized. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The views expressed here may change at any time after the date of this podcast. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. AllianceBernstein L.P. does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. It does not take an investor’s personal investment objectives or financial situation into account; investors should discuss their individual circumstances with appropriate professionals before making any decisions. This information should not be construed as sales or marketing material or an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument, product or service sponsored by AllianceBernstein or its affiliates.

For years advisors have been fascinated by the insights coming out of the discipline of Behavioral Economics about how human beings make decisions.  In this provocative conversation, Ken and Scott explore how advisors are uniquely vulnerable to making series decision-making mistakes because of the way the human brain reacts to complexity.  Several common, built-in types of mistakes are explored and then they present a 6-step “investment decision-making checklist” to help advisors avoid these challenges. Also in this episode, the AllianceBernstein Digital Coach – see practice management solutions for advisor success: abfunds.com/go/digitalcoach Note to All Readers: The information contained here reflects the views of AllianceBernstein L.P. or its affiliates and sources it believes are reliable as of the date of this podcast. AllianceBernstein L.P. makes no representations or warranties concerning the accuracy of any data. There is no guarantee that any projection, forecast or opinion in this material will be realized. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The views expressed here may change at any time after the date of this podcast. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. AllianceBernstein L.P. does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. It does not take an investor’s personal investment objectives or financial situation into account; investors should discuss their individual circumstances with appropriate professionals before making any decisions. This information should not be construed as sales or marketing material or an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument, product or service sponsored by AllianceBernstein or its affiliates.