Know the key differences that could save you thousands and
increase your reach of qualified prospects!
As an instructor with AFEA, a common statement you will hear from students in your classroom is "I would never attend a dinner seminar." A free meal most often incorporates the feeling that they would "owe" the advisor something in return, ultimately leading them to feel sales pressure. Despite this, food remains as one of the strongest incentives for prospects to justify the time they take out of their busy lives to attend a seminar. However, it also remains as one of the highest marketing cost-per-head available in the financial industry, while averaging one of the lowest conversion rates for appointments and client transitions.
What if you were given an opportunity to give back to your community by providing much needed education and financial clarity while also getting in front of more qualified prospective clients? If you were also given the opportunity to be viewed as an expert and create long-lasting relationships in a rewarding career - all while saving thousands of dollars with each campaign - it would be silly to turn that down, right? Now that I have your attention, here are 5 significant reasons you should consider switching to AFEA’s 501(c)(3) non-profit, education-only, platform.
Be viewed as an educator, not a sales rep – Providing education in your community is an excellent way to set yourself apart from the competition. As an organization created by financial advisors, AFEA knows how difficult it can be to stand out and create solid brand recognition. Representing AFEA will not only position you to be viewed as an educator rather than a sales rep, you will also become part of a trusted alliance of professionals with one of the fastest growing non-profit financial wellness programs in the country! AFEA has over 200 instructors, and growing, across 39 contingent US states!
Relationship building – Education has a natural way of elevating interest without creating the natural sales-block that occurs from a dinner seminar. Within the realm of financial education, you will also reach several points-of-contact before even sitting down with a student for an appointment. By hosting an educational workshop via a trusted non-profit organization, you will be viewed differently from the beginning, setting the stage for the relationship-building process. Meeting with a student that attended a workshop, in comparison to an attendee from a dinner seminar, will be a drastic difference. In many cases, students meeting with an instructor after a workshop, come prepared with their portfolios and information - rather than showing up empty-handed and skeptical. There is the notion that “an educated student makes the best client,” and AFEA creates the best opportunity for this to take place, successfully.
Marketing costs – There are a long list of perks that come with non-profit affiliation, one of which includes discounts on marketing expenses. AFEA receives a 20% discount on the postage for non-profit mail, which will save you thousands in comparison to the combination of marketing and food costs accumulated from dinner seminars. On average, each of AFEA’s mail pieces are 12 cents less, in comparison to a for-profit mail rate. By combining the savings on the mail with the savings of not providing a high-class meal, the average savings add up to thousands of dollars per campaign that you run with AFEA. When you slash your cost-per-head by reduce the marketing expenses and increasing your class sizes and appointment ratios, you will quite literally take your practice to the next level.
Conversion rates – By creating a no-pressure zone, in an educational setting, instructors can provide an ease for students who are making the decision to have a one appointment. AFEA instructors, on average, set appointments with between 60-80% of the students that attend their workshops. Many instructors also find that some students who are not immediately interested in scheduling an appointment at the time of the workshop, do end up reaching out at a later date, due to the nature of the presentation they received. With the average attendee at an AFEA workshop ranging between $450,000 to $1,100,000 in Income Producing Assets, it does not require a mathematician to grasp the potential in those numbers.
A rewarding profession – Aside from monetary rewards, there is a great deal of pride and integrity that comes with providing education to those in need, which is arguably even more rewarding, in-itself. Being an educator means you help enrich lives, not just in the classroom, but outside of it as well. By helping students implement the strategies you taught in the classroom, on a more personal basis, you will assist them in taking responsibility for their retirement while helping them to find the confidence that comes along with having a plan. Educating is one of the most rewarding professions, in that it gives you the opportunity to make an impact. Financial professionals committed to the profession do so simply because they want to be difference makers, the monetary rewards come more naturally to those who are passionate.
Thank you for taking the time to read our blog on how providing education can change your practice forever! Can you see yourself as an educator? Now would be the perfect time to schedule a call with a Chapter Development Specialist to learn more!