With over 20,000 financial advisers and planners on LinkedIn, you typically end up in one of two camps:
- That’s a lot of competition, I might as well not bother.
- I love a challenge. How can I make LinkedIn work for me?
For anyone firmly in the second camp, you’re in good company.
Meet Gareth Millard, Paraplanner at Fensham Howes, and Jamie Proctor, Private Wealth Adviser for Skybound Wealth Management. Two members of our profession showing up, adding value, and benefiting from the power of LinkedIn.
I asked them six questions to help you fast-track your own success on the world’s largest professional network. Here’s what they said.
1. What’s one LinkedIn tip you wish you’d known sooner?
Gareth
“Just be yourself. It sounds a bit cliche, but if people don’t like what you post, they’ll move on, so it doesn’t really matter.
“Not everything has to be perfectly polished, just post what you want to post because you enjoy it.”
Jamie
“That you don’t need to sound corporate to be taken seriously. I used to overthink every post, worrying about the wording. Now I know the best posts are the ones that sound like me talking normally and from the heart.”
2. How do you come up with ideas for your LinkedIn content?
Gareth
“I don’t really plan it. Things pop into my head; I write them down. Just everyday life, really. I’m also a bit of a deep thinker.
“I don’t necessarily take seemingly mundane things at face value. There’s a story behind everything.”
Jamie
“I jot things down as I go through the day; a client meeting, something in the news, even a memory that connects to finance or business.
“Those little notes add up and often turn into posts that resonate most.”
3. Why should financial advisers/planners take LinkedIn seriously?
Gareth
“It opens up your world. There are countless people out there who either you can help, or can help you.
“It also opens up opportunities and builds trust. People buy from people ultimately, and if they’ve followed you on LinkedIn for a while before getting in touch, there’s a level of trust there already. They’re getting in touch because they respect what you say and do.”
Jamie
“Because it’s where your clients, future clients, and peers are. It’s not just about selling, it’s about showing people how you think, building trust, and making finance less intimidating. If you’re not visible there, you’re missing opportunities every day.”
4. If you could only post about one topic for a year, what would it be and why?
Gareth
“Copywriting and behavioural psychology. I’m not an expert in either, but how we communicate and how people make decisions fascinates me.”
Jamie
“My personal journey. People connect with stories far more than they connect with technical jargon. Sharing my own path, the wins, the mistakes, the lessons always spark better conversations.”
5. What types of posts have performed best for you, and why do you think they worked?
Gareth
“I got back into posting on LinkedIn a few months ago after a long break, and my first post had me thinking I’d cracked the code! Looking back, I don’t know if I’d post it again, it was a bit deep, and it actually had people worrying about me! It seemed to resonate, though, because it was about life and loss.
“The other one was an article I wrote with some tips about becoming a Certified Financial Planner. I got a lot of people contacting me after that, asking for advice and telling me how useful it was.”
Jamie
“The real ones. Posts about my own experiences, or about client scenarios (shared carefully, of course). People want something they can relate to. When you drop the textbook answers and show the human side, engagement goes through the roof.”
6. Whose LinkedIn profiles do you learn the most from?
Gareth
“Tough question. I enjoy Warren Shute’s posts. His videos usually have some interesting takeaways. Likewise, Paul Taylor has a great take on things. On the paraplanning side, Peter Spence is doing good things. A nice mix of personal, professional and light-hearted stuff.
“I couldn’t possibly list them all, but those are a few that spring to mind.”
Jamie
“Nobody in particular, but I enjoy reading posts from people in the financial profession who cover areas I’m not as strong in. It’s a great way to keep learning without leaving the platform.”
Time to turn inspiration into action
Earlier in the year, I posed the same questions to Rob Atherton and Jay Dhaliwal. And there are some clear themes between their answers and the ones we’ve read from Gareth and Jamie today:
- Authenticity beats a perfectly polished post
- Consistency and visibility are what build trust
- Everyday life is your best source of content ideas
- Sharing your personal journey captures attention
- Engagement comes from adding value and being relatable
- And, first and foremost, LinkedIn is about building relationships.
I can’t argue with that.
But, as with most things, it’s easier said than done.
An exclusive offer for this month only
If you’re struggling to find the time, skill, or inclination to show up on LinkedIn, our social media team have years of experience doing just that for the financial advisers and planners we work with. And it all starts with having an effective, client-enticing profile.
So, this month, we’re running an exclusive offer where we’ll rebuild your LinkedIn profile for just £295 + VAT – a saving of £200 compared to the usual price. All you need to do is fill in this short form.
We’ll breathe fresh life into your profile, ensuring that it is:
- Targeted specifically to attract your ideal client
- Impressive to prospects who find you on LinkedIn
- Designed to help you stand out from peers and competitors.
And there are only five rebuilds at this price left.
Here are a few words from a financial planner whose profile we rebuilt last year: “I made the smart move to employ the services of Yardstick to improve my LinkedIn profile. I knew it needed improving, but was unsure how best to do this. The team were very knowledgeable and patient. They did a fantastic job on improving, polishing and maximising a viewer’s first impression of my profile. I am very glad I engaged with such an experienced and helpful company such as Yardstick. Many thanks.”
Simply fill in this short form and we’ll get cracking.
