Key Takeaways
- You can use FAST to build the fundamental advising and business skills under the guidance of expert faculty and an internationally benchmarked curriculum.
- By simplifying your practice and adopting cutting-edge tools, you’ll become more efficient, less bogged down by grunt work, and generate more space for high-impact client work.
- Amplifying client value through personalized advice and client psychology will help you build stronger bonds and increase satisfaction.
- How the heck to find your magical niche — and customize your services — so you can differentiate yourself in a crowded worldwide marketplace and serve particular client needs.
- Incorporating FAST into your practice fosters teamwork, feedback, and iteration to keep growing and iterating sustainably.
- By joining FAST, you’re helping your evolution into a forward-thinking, world-class adviser, prepared for the changing landscape.
The FAST program helps financial advisors build their ideal practice, focusing on providing you with concrete tools and actionable steps to manage your work more effectively. You receive assistance in keeping track of client needs, managing data, and selecting appropriate tools. A lot of advisors implement FAST to establish workflows that reduce errors and save time. Through concentrated effort, you acquire abilities that enable you to service small and large client bases alike. The program provides you with actual examples and templates, so you can make changes quickly and observe the results. By keeping its steps simple, FAST allows you to create a configuration that suits your needs. Below, we detail how each component of FAST can assist you on a daily basis.
What Is The FAST Program?
FAST, or Financial Advisor Sales Training, provides you with a complete toolkit, coaching, and education to scale your financial advising practice. It was built by veteran faculty from the College for Financial Planning, an institution with a rich history and in-depth knowledge of the industry. It’s designed to accelerate how you learn the real-world skillsets you need, so you can make an impact in your practice earlier. FAST’s design isn’t just theoretical. It gets you busy doing — with an emphasis on practice, achievement, and self-development.
To really know what the FAST Program covers, use this checklist:
- Specialized training modules that dissect every step of a client meeting, from initial contact through closing and follow-up.
- Sales and marketing plans that are built for you, including a 90-day calendar with clear tasks and goals.
- High-touch coaching from experts who work with you to build your mindset, set milestones, and solve challenges as they arise.
- Workshops that allow you to practice new skills in a safe environment, receive feedback, and make adjustments prior to interacting with real clients.
- Resources to assist you in establishing your personal brand, identifying what sets you apart, and presenting yourself to clients with self-assurance.
- Lessons in executive presence, so you can shine in meetings and inspire confidence with every client.
- Immediate help to communicate well, so you can discuss complicated things in ways people understand, regardless of their background.
The focus of this is to fast-track the essential skills you require for financial planning success. That means you receive more than just the nuts and bolts. FAST equips you with cutting-edge frameworks and personalized guidance to help you close the gap. If you want to construct a practice that endures, you must learn how to mold your mentality, control your schedule, and maintain your objectives in view. We’ll help you do all of that — usually in as little as three months, so you can see results immediately.
The minds behind FAST have been in the trenches, year after year, both as instructors and consultants. Their hands-on experience ensures that you’re not just learning from a textbook, but from real-life cases and real-life problems that other advisors have confronted. This causes the learning to be much more practical. You get to observe what works, what doesn’t, and how to repair it. The expert coaching, paired with workshops, helps you develop the precise skills you need for your strengths, your clients, and your market.
A large component of the program is learning the mental aspect of sales. Much like athletes train their bodies and minds, you master the art of keeping sharp, maintaining your focus, and rebounding from setbacks. This mindset training is key for scaling your business, managing stress, and arriving every day as your best possible self.
How The FAST Program Helps
The FAST program provides financial advisors with actionable strategies to improve their workflow. It centers on client value, growth, niche definition, and technology, supporting successful advisors in achieving their financial goals.
- Streamlining Operations
- Enhancing Client Value
- Accelerating Growth
- Defining Your Niche
- Mastering Technology
1. Streamlining Operations
You want to slash waste from your day and deliver to clients quickly. FAST makes you examine every step of your business, identify what’s the bottleneck, and address it. That’s fewer manual steps and more time to chat with clients.
It guides you through crafting a business model that scales with you. For instance, FAST gets you to put easy, transparent value-forward plans in front of clients in as little as 5-10 minutes. You are able to construct and test cases in real-time during meetings — even generate one-page summary plans on the fly. Automating tasks, such as follow-up reminders or budget reports, allows you to redirect your energies to planning and making your business grow.
2. Enhancing Client Value
When you use FAST, you begin with what your clients desire and require. It helps you know their goals — like consistent income in retirement or home ownership. You can plan for them specifically, not just anyone.
FAST also allows you to present to clients their plan as you construct it, so they witness the value you deliver. You can model different scenarios: What if they save more? What if returns go down? This makes your tips more tangible, more connected to their concrete lives. In time, leveraging client talk insights ensures you stay improving and your clients stay happy.
With FAST, each client is understood and receives a strategy tailored to their aspirations and concerns. This makes them more likely to stick with you and spread the word about your service.
3. Accelerating Growth
FAST provides you with tools to identify new business and retain clients. You define your objectives and segment them. For example, you may seek to acquire 20 new clients in 6 months, through specific outreach and live plan demos.
Coaching and peer feedback are embedded, allowing you to continue honing your sales abilities. You monitor your progress, see what’s effective, and adjust when necessary. This consistent feedback loop keeps you in motion.
4. Defining Your Niche
What FAST does is help you study the market and select a niche that fits your abilities. You can craft your brand and your pitch to appeal to the customers you desire most.
By creating specialty services—like packages for physicians or small businesses—you shine. Knowing more about your niche keeps you one step ahead of the others.
It’s not cookie-cutter. You concentrate your efforts; therefore, you do it more effectively.
Stay visible, stay sharp.
5. Mastering Technology
FAST makes you work with the right tools. You leverage tech to accelerate chores and impress clients by displaying their layouts in action. Technology-assisted coaching has two facets.
You continue to learn about new tools and, therefore, provide better service. Training makes sure you’re good at using these tools, not just purchasing them.
The Advisor’s Transformation
A true transformation for you as a financial advisor transcends merely patching old habits or addressing what’s broken. The best financial advisor sales training programs prepare you for the future, not just the now. This transformation requires time, as most financial advisors in today’s market don’t just wake up and switch paths overnight. The move is slow, crafted out of incrementalism and deliberation. The fast program frees you to view your work with fresh eyes. You become more aggressive, not just waiting for clients to request assistance but initiating contact. This mindset shift is crucial; it means you begin to take the reins of the client’s path, not merely tag along behind it.
You begin to really get inside the minds and behaviors of your clients. The app provides you with instruments to monitor and interpret their behaviors. For instance, you may notice that some clients fret over market dips while others fixate on saving for their kids’ college. When you understand what molds their decisions, you can offer guidance that aligns with their actual demands. This isn’t guesswork; it’s about leveraging small measures and direct feedback to identify movement. If you witness client” meltdowns when the market falls five percent, you can arrange check-ins or disseminate straightforward updates to soothe worries before it implodes, enhancing your financial advisor workflow.
You learn to structure your practice around comprehensive wealth management. That means you view the big picture—investments, taxes, savings, goals, and what clients aspire to in life. Instead of simply peddling products, you assist clients in charting their dreams with actionable steps. If they want to buy a home in 2 years and retire in 20, you sketch out a plan that spans both, using simple tools from the financial advisor training programs. It’s more about being human and less about pieces of paper with numbers on them. Your offering becomes a compass for not only their money but all aspects of your clients’ lives.
With the fast program, you create a culture of constant improvement within your firm. You normalize checking what’s working and experimenting. The program trains you to manage change, not dread it. Initially, the concept of shaking things up might appear difficult or dangerous. Many advisors fret that their clients won’t stay with them. In reality, the majority of those who transfer transfer more than 96% of their assets, and some retain an even higher amount. The initial 90 days after you begin are critical. That’s when you roll out the carpet, reconnect with clients, and demonstrate that you’re still their trusted advisor.
This shift provides an opportunity to re-imagine your work-life balance as well. Old habits, such as rigid office hours, frequently don’t align with real life. Now, you can craft a schedule that leaves you room for both work and home. The fast program makes the whole process less intimidating, so you don’t feel adrift or paralyzed, paving the way for sustained success in your financial advisor career in today’s competitive landscape.
Integrating FAST Into Your Practice
To build your dream advisory practice, you need a plan — and a method. The FAST program provides you with a framework to assist you in setting clear objectives, identifying opportunities for expansion, and maintaining your team’s collaboration as you grow. A few advisors think that going too fast can mess things up in terms of service or staff, but a slow, steady plan keeps you out of these traps. By planning well, you ensure that your business scales in a way that aligns with your vision and keeps your team and clients satisfied.
- Step 2: Examine your existing business model and identify where innovation is due.
- Establish specific, short-term objectives (6, 9, or 12 months) to measure your development.
- List your ideal client types, practice size, and target partners
- Take a regular planning ritual — for example, once per month.
- Conduct regular team meetings to ensure that all are aware of the program’s goals.
- Get input from clients and staff to discover what functions and what must shift.
- Employ output and feedback to generate small, consistent shifts in your work.
When you apply FAST, you begin by examining your practice size, your ideal types of clients, and your best partners. Many advisors find that small and mid-sized firms reach a wall where they have too many clients, making the financial advisor workflow unsustainable. Without a plan, you may be forced into difficult last-minute decisions about who to retain or what to slash. Planning keeps you from this. If you know the kind of clients you want, you can construct a rock-hard, targeted business that becomes easier to operate over time. For instance, if you aim to target 100 clients who require sophisticated planning, you can mold your team, software, and support to suit this ambition, instead of attempting to cater to all.
Teamwork is essential. By keeping your staff in the loop, you ensure that everyone is moving towards the same objectives. A monthly meeting keeps you on track and provides room for innovation or repairs. If one person notices an issue with the flow, the team can troubleshoot it before it escalates. It’s time-saving and prevents damaging service gaps. On larger teams, this additionally assists in distributing work equitably, which maintains your employee churn at a minimum.
The following results are equally important to goal establishment. Try rudimentary tools such as checklists or dashboards to indicate each month’s advancement. If you discover some steps don’t work, don’t hesitate to change them. Modify your model, and see if it gets you closer to your dream practice. Customer and employee feedback is a treasure. If a client complains that a process is slow, then you can start looking for ways to make it faster. If a team member feels stretched, you might need to adjust resources or reorganize your service load.
Building your dream practice isn’t just about growth. It’s about discovering the balance of clients, team size, and partners that matches your definition of success and sustains your business into the future. Schedule time to review your plan, tap your team’s wisdom, and constantly seek ways to improve, leveraging insights from financial advisor training programs to enhance your strategies.
Beyond The Playbook
Creating your dream practice as a financial advisor requires more than just a playbook; it demands the best financial advisor sales training programs to truly thrive. This fast program helps you move beyond the fundamentals to establish a practice that holds up for years, not just months. You need to think way, way in advance — not just where you are today, but what your financial advisor workflow will look like down the line, for yourself and succession, or even retirement. Other advisors get caught in the trap of short-term victories, losing out on the long-term rewards from planning and building for the future. The fast program encourages you to aim for both—what works now and what will matter in five, ten, or twenty years.
To make your practice flourish, it’s wise to identify a well-defined target market. This gang becomes your growth and profit nucleus. Most elite advisors find that roughly 30% of their clients generate a large chunk of their income—typically those earning in excess of $750,000. By concentrating on premium clients, you are able to deploy your time and talents where they are most valuable. Consider your own client list. Are you investing in customers who assist your business to thrive, or are you overextended? This quick program helps you identify these patterns and redirect your attention to those who power your outcomes.
Going beyond the traditional model, the quick program challenges you to seek innovative ways to serve your customers. That could translate to utilizing digital resources to achieve universal requirements or supplementing with planning offerings that accommodate various phases of life. You’re not just a planner; you’re a trend-savvy solution finder. For instance, if more people seek advice on sustainable investing, you could incorporate those choices into your menu. Or, with more clients working from home, you could provide virtual sessions to access a larger audience. The rapid schedule allows you space to experiment with novel thoughts without worry about lagging, making it an essential component of any financial advisor training program.
Building the right network is key to scaling your practice. Strategic partners—like accountants, lawyers, or techies—can help you deliver more to your customers. These partnerships open doors to new markets and allow you to exchange ideas across disciplines. If you want to serve business owners, partnering with a tax pro can help you provide smarter solutions. Our fast program provides you with resources and facilitation to form these connections, so you don’t miss out or have to figure it out on your own, ultimately enhancing your financial advisor career in today’s competitive environment.
Keeping up with industry trends is not a ‘set it and forget it’ activity. It’s about keeping you and your team nimble, prepared to pivot when regulations or clients demand something new. The fast program gets you to establish yearly goals and monitor your performance. That’s how you stay on the move, not stuck. It challenges you to focus on your own mindset, as growth begins with how you think and lead.
A powerful habit is never founded in one night. It swells with sure victories and defined striding. With the fast program, you discover how to scale your book of business, leverage your strengths, and create a culture that embraces innovation and smart risk-taking, essential for successful advisors in today’s financial landscape.
Is The FAST Program For You?
Finding the right financial advisor training program to help you evolve as a financial advisor begins with assessing your existing abilities. You could be great with numbers and market trends, but uncertain about how to grow client relationships or organize your financial advisor workflow. The FAST program is tailored for those who want to gain skills beyond textbooks. For instance, if you’re flummoxed by client onboarding or want to sharpen your compliance chops, the program’s process improvement and client engagement modules have you covered. We dive into topics typically excluded from conventional training, like methods for managing your time and leveraging digital tools to accelerate your workday. Evaluating your strengths and weaknesses allows you to determine if these align with what FAST provides.
Your career aspirations are another major consideration. Maybe you’re new and want to learn the fundamentals quickly. Certain FAST programs can be completed in under a year, while others extend as long as 36 months for those seeking additional depth. If you’re looking to transition into leadership or launch your own firm, a FAST program-style, abridged two-month possibility might help you get fast-tracked ahead of the usual alternatives. Many advisors want to create a niche practice, while others seek generalist knowledge. FAST’s structure allows you to prioritize your ambitions, offering the ability to select concentrations or minimize course load, which is particularly useful if you want to delve deeply into a single subject—say, portfolio management or client communication—without being overwhelmed by off-topic material.
When evaluating your return on investment, look beyond the cost. See if you could benefit from the mentorship and personalized attention the program provides. Small classes and individualized guidance from industry veterans help translate theory into practice. For instance, mentors could walk you through case studies or assist you in solving problems from your own practice. This practical assistance can lead to rapid growth, greater customer confidence, and improved business success. With its emphasis on relationships and implementation, the program equips you not just with theory—you gain immediately usable tools. If you aim to grow your practice, this type of financial advisor sales training program can yield fast results.
Preparedness for the trek is essential. The FAST program is designed for those who desire transformation and aren’t afraid to sweat for it. Other students need flexibility, so they seek out courses with online components or part-time schedules. This allows you to juggle education with family or a career. Others desire a program that matches their learning style, be that projects, collaboration, or independent learning. FAST’s combination of structure and flexibility allows you to choose the option that fits your goals, with quick results or deep, slow learning.
Conclusion
You want a practice that hums — sharp, smooth, yours. The FAST Program provides you with tools you can apply immediately. You identify bottlenecks in your workflow, repair them, and watch your efforts accelerate. You connect with other advisors who share real stories — not just sales jargon. You get steps that align with your objectives, whether you want to scale your book or reduce stress. You spot fast victories, such as reduced administrative hours and increased client face time. You continue to learn, with updates aligned to market freshness. Your practice begins to resemble what you always imagined. Ready to take the new way to work for a spin? Just try the FAST Program and experience the difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Is The FAST Program For Financial Advisors?
The FAST Program is the only proven system to help you build your dream practice as a financial advisor, offering step-by-step guidance and tools to achieve your financial goals.
2. How Can The FAST Program Improve My Practice?
The FAST Program assists you in enticing your dream clients and optimizing your financial advisor workflow while boosting your confidence. You’ll discover practical strategies to get more done and provide enhanced client experiences.
3. Is The FAST Program Suitable For New Financial Advisors?
Absolutely, the FAST Program offers financial advisor training programs for advisors at every level. So, if you’re just getting started or looking to hone your financial advisor workflow, you’ll discover practical strategies you can use to succeed.
4. Do I Need Advanced Technology Skills To Use FAST?
No, you don’t need nerd skills. What makes the best financial advisor sales training programs unique is that they offer straightforward instructions and continuous support to ensure that you can implement their techniques in your financial advisor workflow.
5. Can The Fast Program Help Me Stand Out From Competitors?
Sure, the FAST Program showcases key strategies to demonstrate your distinct value, cultivate client connections, and enhance your financial advisor workflow as a trusted option in the financial services landscape.
6. How Long Does It Take To See Results With FAST?
Most financial advisors see results within weeks or months, influenced by their bandwidth and the speed at which they implement strategies from the financial advisor training programs.
7. What Makes The FAST Program Different From Other Advisory Programs?
FAST focuses on practical, real-world solutions for financial advisors, offering battle-tested tools, expert mentorship, and a supportive community to help you achieve your financial goals quickly.
Discover What’s Holding You Back—And Move Forward With Confidence
Are you ready to elevate your financial services business but unsure where to begin? Whether you’re craving clarity, structure, or a strategy that delivers real results, Susan Danzig has a path tailored to you. Start by identifying your growth opportunities with the quick, insightful Financial Advisor Success Quiz—then take the next step by enrolling in the powerful FAST Program. Wherever you are in your journey, this is your chance to unlock the full potential of your brand and business.
