Finding Financial Experts the Super Rich Way: A Wealth Advisor's Perspective
As a preeminent wealth advisor, I understand the importance of finding highly qualified financial experts to manage the many financial aspects of your life, from investing to taxes, estate planning, and wealth protection. Navigating the vast landscape of financial professionals can be challenging, especially when you are looking for the best of the best. Fortunately, you can take cues from the Super Rich (with a net worth of $500 million or more) to improve your chances of finding top-tier professionals.
The Super Rich predominantly finds their financial experts through three main avenues: referrals from other professionals, peers, and professionals with an outstanding industry reputation. Let's delve into these methods and explore how you can utilize them to secure the services of elite financial professionals.
- Referrals from other professionals
The Super Rich often relies on referrals from professionals they are working with or have worked with. There are two primary scenarios in which these referrals occur:
a. Client-initiated: The Super Rich may request referrals from their existing professionals to find other experts in their network. This approach identifies top talent and holds the referring professional accountable for the recommendation.
b. Professional-initiated: High-caliber professionals may proactively introduce clients to other experts in their network, demonstrating their commitment to addressing the client's various needs. Many elite professionals are now building teams of specialists, further enhancing their ability to provide comprehensive guidance.
- Referrals from peers
Another standard method for the Super Rich to find financial experts is through introductions by trusted business associates or peers. This approach can be efficient if you belong to specialized or exclusive groups, where relationships and trust among members foster a willingness to share valuable professional connections.
For the Super Rich, organizations and events like the World Economic Forum, Milken Institute Global Conference, and Bilderberg Meetings offer opportunities to build meaningful relationships. Mastermind groups and other organizations that promote a supportive community can provide similar benefits for those not yet at the Super Rich level.
- Industry prominence
Some financial professionals have achieved prominence within their industry, attracting the Super Rich and other high-net-worth clients. These "brand name" professionals typically exhibit extreme competence, a client-centered approach, and a willingness to share their expertise with others, including clients, prospects, and competitors. Although they may not be well-known in the mass market, their reputation within their industry makes them prime candidates for referrals from other professionals and clients.
To find exceptional financial experts, it's helpful to "run in the right circles" by working with at least one professional of extremely high quality or knowing people who do. If you're already working with such a professional, don't hesitate to ask for recommendations or seek a second opinion from another advisor. By following the strategies the Super Rich uses, you can significantly increase your chances of finding financial professionals who can add significant value to your life.
Disclosure: We define elite wealth managers as financial advisors with at least five years of experience who offer one or more of the following services along with investment management: tax mitigation, business planning, wealth transfer, asset protection, and charitable giving. Typically, elite wealth managers deliver these services with one or more specialists in a given area.
