Financial Advisor Marketing Playbook

In this episode of Financial Advisor Marketing Playbook, Mark Mersman reveals how storytelling can transform your marketing and client relationships. Learn the three foundational stories every advisor needs: your origin story to build trust, your client transformation story to demonstrate results and empathy, and your philosophy story to define your beliefs and differentiate your brand. Discover practical tips for crafting these narratives and integrating them into your website, meetings, and marketing strategy. The Financial Advisor Marketing Playbook is a podcast/video series for high-performing financial planning professionals that are committed to improving their craft, helping their clients, and growing their business. Hosted by Mark Mersman, Chief Marketing Officer at USA Financial, this series contains a wide variety of content – from quick win ideas to long-form interviews, each episode provides actionable marketing ideas and insights that can be implemented easily into your practice. From digital marketing to traditional direct-response marketing, each episode delivers straight-forward and engaging content that any financial professional can use to improve their bottom line and grow their practice. Consider subscribing for continued insights from USA Financial: https://www.youtube.com/@USA-Financial For more of the Financial Advisor Marketing Playbook: https://www.usafinancial.com/insights/financial-advisor-marketing-playbook Contact us: Phone (888) 444-0125 https://www.usafinancial.com/ https://www.facebook.com/usafinancial/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/usafinancial Powered by USA Financial #usafinancial #advisoradvancement #futurezeros

In this episode of The Financial Advisor Marketing Playbook, Mark Mersman explores the fast-emerging concept of Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)—how advisors can adapt their websites and content strategies for the AI-driven search era. As traditional SEO gives way to AI search tools like ChatGPT and Google's AI Overviews, Mark explains what this shift means for financial advisors and how to stay visible in a world where consumers ask questions directly to AI instead of clicking through search results. He shares practical, actionable steps—like writing with user intent in mind, expanding website depth and breadth, structuring Q&A sections, and earning external credibility—to help advisors ensure their content is surfaced in AI-powered search results. If you want your firm to show up when prospects ask financial questions to AI, this episode is a must-watch. #EarnedMedia #LeadGeneration #FinancialAdvisorMarketing The Financial Advisor Marketing Playbook is a podcast/video series for high-performing financial planning professionals that are committed to improving their craft, helping their clients, and growing their business. Hosted by Mark Mersman, Chief Marketing Officer at USA Financial, this series contains a wide variety of content – from quick win ideas to long-form interviews, each episode provides actionable marketing ideas and insights that can be implemented easily into your practice. From digital marketing to traditional direct-response marketing, each episode delivers straight-forward and engaging content that any financial professional can use to improve their bottom line and grow their practice. Consider subscribing for continued insights from USA Financial: https://www.youtube.com/@USA-Financial For more of the Financial Advisor Marketing Playbook: https://www.usafinancial.com/insights/financial-advisor-marketing-playbook Contact us: Phone (888) 444-0125 https://www.usafinancial.com/ https://www.facebook.com/usafinancial/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/usafinancial Powered by USA Financial #usafinancial #advisoradvancement #futurezeros

In this episode of Financial Advisor Marketing Playbook, Mark sits down with Michelle Lawless, VP at Media Minefield, to unpack how PR powers growth for advisory firms—especially in a world where AI search favors credible, third-party sources. Michelle explains the difference between advertising and earned media, why local TV news and thought-leadership placements boost trust, and how to pair traditional media with strategic LinkedIn to win in no-click search. We also discuss ROI (Return On Investment), and Media Minefield's process—from messaging sessions and story development to market exclusivity and national opportunities. If you want to elevate credibility, increase inbound, and become the go-to expert in your market, this conversation is your playbook. Subscribe for more advisor-focused marketing tactics! #EarnedMedia #LeadGeneration #FinancialAdvisorMarketing The Financial Advisor Marketing Playbook is a podcast/video series for high-performing financial planning professionals that are committed to improving their craft, helping their clients, and growing their business. Hosted by Mark Mersman, Chief Marketing Officer at USA Financial, this series contains a wide variety of content – from quick win ideas to long-form interviews, each episode provides actionable marketing ideas and insights that can be implemented easily into your practice. From digital marketing to traditional direct-response marketing, each episode delivers straight-forward and engaging content that any financial professional can use to improve their bottom line and grow their practice. Consider subscribing for continued insights from USA Financial: https://www.youtube.com/@USA-Financial For more of the Financial Advisor Marketing Playbook: https://www.usafinancial.com/insights/financial-advisor-marketing-playbook Contact us: Phone (888) 444-0125 https://www.usafinancial.com/ https://www.facebook.com/usafinancial/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/usafinancial Powered by USA Financial #usafinancial #advisoradvancement #futurezeros

AI is reshaping every industry, and financial advice isn't immune. Are you prepared? In this episode of The Financial Advisor Marketing Playbook, Mark Mersman unpacks a recent Microsoft study ranking personal financial advisors among the occupations most at risk of AI disruption—and explains why some advisors should be worried. More importantly, he outlines five practical strategies to stay relevant and thrive in the age of AI: doubling down on relationships, positioning yourself as a trusted guide, embracing holistic planning, staying tech-savvy, and deepening your niche expertise. Discover how to combine human connection with technology to build an unshakable practice in an AI-driven world. Whether you're a solo advisor, part of an RIA, or work at a larger firm, this episode gives you the roadmap to not just survive the AI revolution—but profit from it. #legacyplanning #familywealthpodcast #intergenerationalwealth The Financial Advisor Marketing Playbook is a podcast/video series for high-performing financial planning professionals that are committed to improving their craft, helping their clients, and growing their business. Hosted by Mark Mersman, Chief Marketing Officer at USA Financial, this series contains a wide variety of content – from quick win ideas to long-form interviews, each episode provides actionable marketing ideas and insights that can be implemented easily into your practice. From digital marketing to traditional direct-response marketing, each episode delivers straight-forward and engaging content that any financial professional can use to improve their bottom line and grow their practice. Consider subscribing for continued insights from USA Financial: https://www.youtube.com/@USA-Financial For more of the Financial Advisor Marketing Playbook: https://www.usafinancial.com/insights/financial-advisor-marketing-playbook Contact us: Phone (888) 444-0125 https://www.usafinancial.com/ https://www.facebook.com/usafinancial/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/usafinancial Powered by USA Financial #usafinancial #advisoradvancement #futurezeros

In this episode of the Financial Advisor's Marketing Playbook, Mark Mersman breaks down the latest seminar marketing trends based on real-world data collected over the past several years at USA Financial. He explores the age-old question every advisor faces: Should you serve a meal at your seminar or not? Mark compares response rates from meal and non-meal events dating back to 2018, reveals how pandemic-era shifts and election cycles have influenced performance, and highlights which topics are driving the strongest turnout in 2025. If you're a financial advisor planning your next seminar, this data-driven analysis will help you make smarter decisions and maximize your results heading into fall and winter. #legacyplanning #familywealthpodcast #intergenerationalwealth The Financial Advisor Marketing Playbook is a podcast/video series for high-performing financial planning professionals that are committed to improving their craft, helping their clients, and growing their business. Hosted by Mark Mersman, Chief Marketing Officer at USA Financial, this series contains a wide variety of content – from quick win ideas to long-form interviews, each episode provides actionable marketing ideas and insights that can be implemented easily into your practice. From digital marketing to traditional direct-response marketing, each episode delivers straight-forward and engaging content that any financial professional can use to improve their bottom line and grow their practice. Consider subscribing for continued insights from USA Financial: https://www.youtube.com/@USA-Financial For more of the Financial Advisor Marketing Playbook: https://www.usafinancial.com/insights/financial-advisor-marketing-playbook Contact us: Phone (888) 444-0125 https://www.usafinancial.com/ https://www.facebook.com/usafinancial/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/usafinancial Powered by USA Financial #usafinancial #advisoradvancement #futurezeros