Cultivating Success

This is where you will find profiles of top agents and general tips for success.

Creating the Right Impression: 22 Dos and Don'ts
John Graham
Don't ruin your chances with your client or prospect by ignoring the small things.

A Golden Opportunity
Interview by Maggie Leyes
Lloyd Lowe Sr. has built a successful fee-based practice by training his staff to support his clients—instead of supporting him.

A Gentle Reminder
Richard J. Gladney
Ethics training is important, even if you’re sure you always do the right thing.

Four Under Forty
Maggie Leyes, Helen Thompson, Ayo Mseka and Lisa Singh
These four young advisors are making a mark on the industry.

The Secrets of Top Producers
Maggie Leyes
What does it take to get to the top of your profession? Three advisors who have reached MDRT’s prestigious Top of the Table share their tips for success.

Enhancing Your Practice
John P. Enright
Start by creating a unique process you can use over and over again.

Advanced 20-Point Days
Robert M. Nelson, CLU, ChFC
A daily system for success, formulated by an industry master.

Pick Me
Jeff Thorsteinson
Here are six factors that influence a prospect’s decision to do business with you.

Generation to Generation
Helen Thompson
Here are some additional nuggets of wisdom from multigenerational advisors.

Family Ties
Helen Thompson
Three families share their insights on why working together as financial advisors offers so many benefits for their clients and for them.

Strategies for Success
Helen Thompson
Four young advisors and a professional coach describe the ways you can get through the tough times and start moving ahead.

Four Under Forty
By Maggie Leyes, Helen Thompson, Ayo Mseka and Lisa Wahlgren
When you ask these four advisors what underpins their success, they answer: community, team, and family—the same things that are dearest to their hearts. They have found their niches, dreamed big dreams, drowned their egos and hit their stride to give back, as well. With so much going for them, it was just a matter of time before they joined the ranks of Advisor Today’s Four Under Forty. Click on each headline for their stories.

The Producers
Maggie Leyes
Six high-performing producers give us 10 tips for making the big numbers, growing a successful practice, developing a unique niche—and waking up each day passionate about this business.

Women on the Move
Maggie Leyes, Michele Bupp and Helen Thompson
We talked to three women who are making their mark to find out why they chose this field and what it takes to succeed.

The Competitive Advantage
Juli McNeely, LUTCF
In today’s market, the only way to succeed is to provide value to your clients.

Five Habits for Success
Gregory B. Gagne, ChFC
Develop these traits and watch your profits grow.

The Financial Advisor’s Guide to Success
Janet Arrowood
This long-range calendar breaks your major activities into manageable chunks you can fit into each month.

Selling Life Insurance Today
Karl Lueders and Lucretia DiSanto Jones
Success begins with profiling your clients, offering them value, partnering with other professionals and—above all—developing a passion for your product.

Go From Good to Great
Chip Eichelberger
Just because you've been doing something for years doesn't mean you can't or don't need to improve.

The Many Paths to Success
Dave Willis
What do the four men profiled in this article have in common? They all took unusual paths to becoming top producers.