The joke came by way of the internet, and I have to admit that I laughed.
- Financial Planner: "A guy whose phone has been disconnected."
- Cash Flow: "The route your money takes as it disappears down the toilet."
Then I got to thinking. My financial planner is a trusted advisor who not only manages my retirement portfolio, but also refers business to me, as I do to him. I wondered "What is he going through right now?" "What can I do to support and reinforce the good relationship we enjoy?"
The answer came to mind immediately . I can tell the people who know and trust me just how much I trust my financial planner. His name is Dave Bowen, and I trust him with my money. His company is Cornerstone Financial. If you call him, tell him who sent you.
Trust goes to the core of successful relationships in business. The people who are bailing out of the markets are the same people who are afraid to make a move in real estate. They are paralyzed because they don't know who to trust.
True Story: I referred a Tucson client (who trusts me) to an Active Rain member in Chico, CA. Her name is Sandi Bauman, and my client and I found her through the Active Rain Real Estate Network. We read her posts. We read what people commented on her posts. Active Rain was the starting point for our due diligence. In short, we came to trust Sandi Bauman before we ever met her.
Sandi did a fabulous job for my client. See how it works?!
Action Item: Now ask yourself, "Am I trustworthy?"
If the answer is "YES!," people need to be talking about you, and you need to be talking about them!
EDIT: I challenge you to write a post today about a business referral partner whom you trust.
I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson, Arizona mortgage lender.
Think of me as your Tucson expert.
Mike as Brian Buffini says "good stuff". Referrals are still the best leads to generate.
TRUST is the basis of my business model. You've inspired a post this morning. Thanks.
Referrals are always the best..
Thanks for sharing
Rich
Charlotte NC
I love referrals... especially when they come from my own website!
Great post - Hopefully the people you sent to him understand what is going on in the market and it's not his fault if stocks go down.
Mike - Trust is sometimes hard to earn and easily lost - referrals are a good indicator of how folks trust you. Thanks for sharing!
I appreciate you...
Bobby Wallace
Networking is a sure way to get returns on your referal clients. I may get one for every 5 I send out but hey..its one more than I had.
You raise a very important issue. Trust really is what develops after you have made thoughtful contact with someone. Initially, it does not exist. First there is rapport, then over time trust. Thanks for the post.
I am always so appreciative of referrals. I have truly been blessed to have many past clients and colleagues refer clients to me. It is one of the best compliments one can receive. I try to give each client a higher level of service and to make their tranaction as pleasant as possible.
I think this past year 99.9% of our business is "by referral"....we value our network of folks and apparently, iand thankfully, it is mutual...
Great post Mike. I haven't seen the referral business yet, but I'm sure it will come.
Mike, over 70% of my business comes from personal referrals and is the best kind of business aperson can ever receive. the trust level from the start is great. I also enthusiastically refer business to others with whom I have dione business over the years and that have a proven track record!
Russell,
Trust rules! I challenge you to write a post today about a business referral partner whom you trust.
Larry,
Who do you refer business to? That's a person who has earned your trust. I challenge you to write a post today about a business referral partner whom you trust.
Sally & David,
So cool! Write a post today about one of those people whom you trust, and let them know you did that!
Joan,
Make a list of the business partners who have referred you business. I challenge you to write a post today about a business referral partner whom you trust.
Michael,
You're so right! Trust can't be demanded; it can only be earned. I challenge you to write a post today about a business referral partner whom you trust.
Laura,
Who comes to mind when you think of that one-in-five? I challenge you to write a post today about the person who comes to mind--that business referral partner whom you trust.
Bobby,
Thanks so much for the encouragement! I appreciate you too, and I challenge you to write a post today about a business referral partner whom you trust.
Richard,
He's coached me not to sell on emotion. Friday was a panic; I'm glad I took my financial adviser's advice, especially so because the market ran up more than 1,000 points yesterday. What business partner comes to mind when you think "referral"? I challenge you to write a post today about that person.
Susie,
Don't we all! Referrals are the life's blood of successful businesses like yours. I challenge you to write a post today about a business referral partner whom you trust.
Rich,
Amen! Will you take up a challenge? I challenge you to write a post today about a business referral partner whom you trust.
Lenn,
Thanks for being the first to comment. You inspired my challenge to write a post today about a business referral partner whom you trust. You did that! Today, you're my favorite blogger.
Mike in Tucson
Mike - referral business is the best - the people have a realtionship with someone who also has a relationship with you so they tend to trust you because they trust their friend and stay loyal once initial contact has been made.
Judy,
I couldn't agree more. I challenge you to write a post today about a business referral partner whom you trust.
Mike in Tucson
Mike -
Thanks so much for the inspiration - we cannot take for granted those who have worked with us as Professional Partners in our business, especially in these tricky times.
Cross-linking will serve you both as well.
Thanks for not taking this important element of our business for granted!
DEAN & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
Great post Mike.
It's all about about referrals and forming great partnerships. Congrats to both of you.
Referrals bring me most of my business these days. Not ads or cold calls. They're worth gold! Don't forget to reciprocate.
my financial planner has a blog that I've participated in..... it just keeps us connected. :)
Great post Mike, we have to trust our friends
Anne
Mike,
Good idea for a post and what a way to encourage your financial planner, in what has to be a very stressful time for him.
Mike,
I met you and know your honestly.
Mike, this is excellent... This is a great challenge!
Mike- People love referrals... they want to work with someone who has had a good experience. I'm glad to have been the sender & receiver via AR... I hope to have a Tucson client to send your way.
I have written of several trusted advisers and businesses that we frequent and think they do a great job. We need to do it more. Thanks for the reminder.
Great post Mike, I have been coming up a little dry on ideas, now I have some new ideas to blog about. Thanks!!!!
Mike - I love your joke, even though the present financial situation isn't much of a laughing matter. But, who wanted to retire anyway :-)
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Mike.. We should all remember the ones who support us and we should return the favor as well.
Mike, I think it is great that you and your financial advisor have such a good relationship. Hmm... maybe I should see if my financial planner remembers my name? ;) I think referrals are the way of the world. It is the thing that has kept me going through this difficult market.
Jonesy,
Great featured post. How true.
Mike ... good post about support for friends and business partners. I will shout out on Thursday for friend Brian Chew, well qualified Californialawyer who specializes in estate planning and trusts. Harrison
Great post! We all should take a moment and thank those business partners who make us successful. No one ever succeeds alone and I know without some of my business partners my job would be made much more difficult. You have inspired me to write a post also!
Mike, excellent challenge for us all. Like our friend Margaret Rome says... "pay it forward"! I'll work on the challenge when I get back from showing houses.
Great post. In these times when it is getting harder and harder to find business, I depend on a BNI Networking Group in where we have one person from different profession referring business to each other. It is a great way to pass referrals around. Just off the top of my head I can suggest using Susan Baum at Tropical Finance Credit Union for loans and just plain old fashioned personal service. I agree the best way to help each other is through referrals.
Happy Wednesday!! Lori Isaacson
That is great! He must be good to get such a positive testimonial from you. I wish you both much success.
Mike - I called, but the line was disconnected! (Just Kidding!)
Thanks for the reminder to positively promote those other professionals that are providing quality products and services.
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Mike in Tucson
I couldn't agree more, Referrals are what keeps us afloat.
Winter & Emerson,
The point of the post is that you and I should be promoting the people who give us referrals. I challenge you to write a post about someone who has sent you a referral recently.
Mike in Tucson