Podcasting for Financial Professionals

Want to future-proof your business and brand?  Mike Swenson, a crisis management expert unpacks practical ways financial professionals can prepare for the unexpected in this week’s episode. We covered how to build trust, why clear communication is key in a crisis, and how niching down your podcast can attract the right clients. If you're ready to elevate your authority and protect your business, you’ll want to hear this.  Behind the Scenes: Branding, Podcast Production, and Crisis Messaging for Financial Advisors  Ever wondered how you can proactively protect your business reputation AND strengthen client trust? We went deep into practical crisis planning, standing out in a saturated market, and how podcasting can nurture communities and authority.  Takeaways for Financial Professionals & Podcasters:  Build simple, repeatable crisis response frameworks—don’t let your plan gather dust.  Keep your messaging genuine and ready: “The real mistake is responding too slowly, or saying nothing.”  Use industry headlines as an opportunity for transparent conversations with your audience.  Don’t underestimate the power of a niche podcast and authentic, behind-the-scenes content.  Lean on your team’s strengths—especially your next-gen employees—to stay agile as marketing channels evolve.  Growing Your Financial Practice: Podcasting Strategies and Crisis Communication Best Practices  (00:03:33) A Simplicity Strategy to Handle Impending Crisis  (00:09:10) Protecting Trust and Accountability in Business  (00:13:02) Reputation Impact in Competitive Markets  (00:14:30) Opportunistic Marketing Through Competitor Crises  (00:22:40) Podcasting for Niche Audience Growth  (00:28:35) Leveraging LinkedIn for Marketing  (00:34:40) Growing Community Through In-Person Events  (00:37:06) Creating a Concept the Public is Excited to Get Behind  (00:46:34) Why You’ll Attract Unexpected Listeners Outside Your Niche  Crisis Trak for Financial Firms: Essential Planning Advice from PR Veteran Mike Swenson  Crisis, especially in finance, isn’t always caused by you. A partner’s scandal or a client’s negative publicity by association can affect your reputation. Mike Swenson provided some real-world examples, underscoring that the damage often comes not from the event, but from mishandling the response.  "If something happens to a financial advising company or someone in our space, that also happens to us because now customers are reading or hearing about that, seeing it on social media platforms. And so naturally, as a customer, I'm going to go, well, I know that's company A over here and I'm with company B, but it plants a slight seed of doubt. Could that happen to my advisor?" - Mike Swenson  If your communication is slow or tone-deaf, you'll lose trust, which hits your bottom line more than the crisis itself. That's why proactive outreach, especially when competitors stumble, can be a powerful brand-building moment. No one is immune, but everyone can choose how they respond.  Follow Mike Swenson:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeswenson1/  Company: https://crisistrak.com/  Podcast: https://www.kcmarketinglegends.com/  This podcast is edited and managed by the team at PodcastAbundance.com and we’d love to produce your podcast too! To discuss working together, book a Discovery call with me. www.talktovirginia.com   You’ll find equipment & software recommendations and downloadable templates at www.PodcastAbundance.com. The Conference Toolkit will help you use your existing content to stay top of mind, add value, and build long-term relationships post-event. Download it for FREE at https://podcastabundance.com/conference-toolkit/  Watch everything on YouTube @PodcastingForFinancialPros  Follow Virginia Elder on social media:  LinkedIn  Instagram   Facebook  To become a guest or find other episodes of Podcasting for Financial Professionals (formerly known as Reaching Abundance), visit www.podcastingforfinancialprofessionals.com       

What if your podcast wasn’t meant to bring clients into your advisory firm at all?  This episode explores a different, highly intentional approach—using podcasting as a standalone business asset that builds credibility, supports compliance, and creates diversified income outside your firm.  Meet Shari Rash, host of Everyone’s Talkin’ Money, and listen to us unpack a very different podcast strategy. Her podcast is not designed to attract advisory clients. Instead, it operates as an Outside Business Activity (OBA)—a separate brand that generates income through sponsorships, book sales, and speaking engagements.  Shari launched her show during the early days of the pandemic after purchasing a client list and needing a scalable way to stay connected. What started as private client communication evolved into a public platform—one that allowed her to establish credibility as a money expert without crossing compliance lines tied to her advisory firm.  “I’m not trying to give financial advice. I’m trying to cut through the junk and help people understand why they’re stuck.” — Shari Rash  This episode is especially valuable if you’ve ever wondered whether podcasting has to be about lead generation—or if there’s another, equally strategic path available.  Diversifying Income as a Financial Advisor: Creating an OBA, Navigating Compliance, & Attracting Sponsors  (00:05:50) Taking Your Financial Advisory Practice Online  (00:09:38) Your Show’s Natural Evolution from Attractor to Nurturer  (00:11:28) Reevaluating Your Podcast’s Purpose  (00:15:29) Engineering Trust-Building Content  (00:20:41) Finding Forward-Thinking Mentors in Financial Services  (00:25:56) Structuring Content to Guide, Not Advise  (00:30:44) Solo versus Guest Interview Frequency  (00:32:22) The Early Struggles of Recording Solo Episodes  (00:37:10) Maintaining Efficiency with Podcasting through Repurposing Content  A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Podcasting as an Outside Business Activity  A Podcast Can Be a Business Asset—Not Just MarketingShari’s podcast began as a way to communicate with clients but evolved into a separate income stream. If you’re creative and strategic, your show can serve purposes beyond lead generation. Clear Separation Reduces Compliance FrictionBy keeping her podcast and advisory firm completely separate—no cross-selling, no financial product promotion—Shari protects trust and avoids regulatory headaches. Structuring a Podcast as an OBAShari’s approach includes: A separate LLC for the podcast  No advisory services promoted on the show  Content focused on behavior, mindset, and real-life money conversations  Monetization Without Client ConfusionInstead of advisory leads, Shari monetizes through aligned lifestyle sponsors, book sales, and speaking—opening doors many advisors never consider. The Reality of High-Output PodcastingShari produces three episodes per week, largely solo. It’s not for everyone—but her transparency around efficiency, batching, and audience feedback is eye-opening. A Smart Way To Use Podcasting in a Regulated Industry  Podcasting doesn’t have to fit into one box. If you’re intentional about structure, messaging, and compliance, your show can become a creative outlet, a credibility engine, and a legitimate revenue stream—without ever acting as a client funnel.  If you’ve felt boxed in by the “your podcast must generate leads” narrative, this episode will expand what you believe is possible.  Follow Shari Rash:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shari-rash/  Company: https://www.gwawealth.com/  Podcast: https://www.everyonestalkinmoneypodcast.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everyonestalkinmoney/  This podcast is edited and managed by the team at PodcastAbundance.com and we’d love to produce your podcast too! To discuss working together, book a Podcast Clarity Call™ call with me. www.talktovirginia.com   Ready to Restart or Rethink Your Show?  If you want to craft engaging intros, outros

Tired of seeing the same listener numbers in your host account? Wondering how to get NEW listeners to tune in?   Most podcast hosts think people discover shows through search, but only 19% do. The truth is, your titles and content need to tap straight into what your audience is worried about—not jargon or textbook answers, but real-life problems and curiosity, especially when it comes to financial content.   "Financial professionals can't rely on algorithmic discovery the way that entertainment podcasters do. Think about it. Most people are not typing in something like ‘Fiduciary Advisor near me’ or ‘how to optimize my tax strategy’ into Spotify. They're searching for what hurts." - Virginia Elder    Get Noticed & Attract New Clients Using Discovery Strategies That Work  Focus on catchy, emotional titles, use the language your listeners use, and share your message in short, attention-grabbing videos. And remember, visibility is about being found by the right people, not getting lost chasing vanity metrics. If you want to be discovered, it all starts with strategy.  After working with hundreds of finance professionals, I can tell you: if you’re counting on algorithms to do the heavy lifting, you’re missing out on your best prospects.    The Podcast SEO Blueprint Every Financial Advisor Needs  Speak How They Search (Not How You Think): People aren’t typing “Fiduciary Advisor Near Me” into Spotify—they’re searching for solutions to real, everyday problems, like “how to handle pop-up expenses” or “how to manage financial stress.” Make sure your episode titles and hooks mirror these pain points and everyday language. Get Specific, Get Noticed: Broad topics blend into the background. Instead, get hyper-relevant! Look at Joe Curry’s podcast: When he pivoted from general retirement topics to “Retirement for Canadians Only” and zeroed in on issues like brain health or prepaying for a funeral, his engagement skyrocketed. Master Emotionally-Compelling Titles: A great title works like a movie trailer. Try “How to retire without fear when your financial plan falls apart,” or “Why most families never reach financial freedom.” Give listeners the instant “that’s me!” moment. Optimize for Search—Podcast SEO Matters: Use phrases your listeners would type, not just industry jargon. Instead of “Understanding Indexed Universal Life Insurance,” consider “Is life insurance a smart investment or a trap?” This is the language people use in YouTube or Google—and your show will start popping up exactly where you want it. Don’t Sleep on Video: Text is out, video is in. Just a quick clip repurposed from your episode (no Hollywood production needed!) increases reach and authority more than ever.   Podcast Discovery for Financial Pros: How to Get Found When Algorithms Don’t Work  Rather than crossing your fingers for your content to be found – EVEN IF you and I know it’s great – and relying on hope, the algorithm, and asking folks to share it, it’s time to take matters into your own hands. By structuring your content based on thoughts (especially the fearful ones) your ideal client already has and titling your episodes using language THEY use, you’re teaching the algorithm to work for you.   Here’s 5 simple steps to execute this beautifully:  Start with your listener’s thought pattern, not your service offering.  Create emotionally compelling, curiosity-driven titles.  Use podcast SEO in your descriptions/show notes—write the way listeners speak.  Add video, even short-form, for expanded reach and connection.  Repeat consistently—it’s a long game, but it works.    Discovery is a long game, but it’s about being found by the right people—the ones already primed for your message and ready for your help.    Shows & Financial Professionals mentioned in this episode:  Your Retirement Planning Simplified by Joe Curry Social Impact Level Up by Wendie Veloz Loan with Jen by Jennifer Hernandez   Ready to attract more listeners?  Download

AI is everywhere and if you’re not currently exploring how to integrate it in your business, you’re panicking about where to start. This episode helps explain how AI can amplify your voice while keeping your client data safe, and how you can turn your podcast content into real business results.   Leveraging AI for Storytelling and Compliance in Financial Podcasting  Mike Montague of Avenue 9, host of the Human-First AI Marketing podcast, joined me to dig into the power of storytelling, share behind-the-scenes tools for engaging new leads, and streamline your content creation with AI. If you're ready to build trust faster, boost your authority, and use smart AI tools to help you reach your goals more easily (Write your book? Launch a podcast?) while remaining in compliance, you won't want to miss all of his AI tips!  Here’s a BIG one:  “Don't put any actual numbers, financial information, or client details into any AI system [without first anonymizing it]. Whether it says it's private and secure or not, they all seem to be leaking and training models with them and they are not secure in the way that we would talk about banking secure." - Mike Montague  Turning Listener Trust into Leads: Smart AI and Podcast Marketing for Advisors  (00:08:05) Crafting Personalized Buyer Narratives  (00:10:49) Personalized Financial Planning with AI  (00:14:40) Refining AI for Personalized Prompts  (00:26:13) Marketing Strategy and Format Decisions  (00:31:35) Create Content Your Own Way  (00:37:15) Building a Book Through Curation  (00:41:04) Using AI Like Iron Man Rather Than Terminator  (00:43:55) Interviewing Strategic Guests for Business Growth  (00:48:50) Using Quizzes as a Lead Magnet  (00:49:44) Start Conversations from Your Posts Likes    How Financial Advisors Can Amplify Their Podcast Reach with Smart AI Tools  Respect Client Privacy with AI: Never put real client data into AI tools. Instead, use anonymized scenarios and lean into “You might be…” storytelling to create relatable, compliant case studies that build trust—without making compliance nervous.  Efficiency Through Custom AI Set-Up: Set up custom instructions or even a custom GPT to capture your voice, expertise, and style. Upload your website, LinkedIn profile, or outlines once—and let AI produce content in your voice, saving massive time on podcast summaries, LinkedIn posts, and more.  Podcast Content = Lead Generator: Use your episodes and clips on social media, then take an extra step—respond directly to every comment and message on LinkedIn. Or drive listeners to an engaging quiz or toolkit (like our Conference Toolkit for lead follow-up!) to nurture relationships beyond the mic.  Curious how to get started? Pay for the right tools, build your “human-first” strategy, and let your podcast amplify your authority—while AI (and a solid production team 😉) takes care of the heavy lifting.    Follow Mike Montague:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedmontague/  Company: https://avenue9.com/  Podcast: https://podcast.avenue9.com/2435068/        This podcast is edited and managed by the team at PodcastAbundance.com and we’d love to produce your podcast too! To discuss working together, book a Discovery call with me. www.talktovirginia.com     You’ll find equipment & software recommendations and downloadable templates at www.PodcastAbundance.com. The Conference Toolkit will help you use your existing content to stay top of mind, add value, and build long-term relationships post-event. Download it for FREE at https://podcastabundance.com/conference-toolkit/      Watch everything on YouTube @PodcastingForFinancialPros    Follow Virginia Elder on social media:  LinkedIn   Instagram   Facebook    To become a guest or find other episodes of Podcasting for Financial Professionals (formerly known as Reaching Abundance), visit www.podcastingforfinancialprofessionals.com   

Podcasting for Financial Professionals isn’t just another show about microphones and editing software. This show is your strategic podcasting resource, made specifically for financial advisors, planners, and professionals who want to use podcasting as a powerful business tool.   Following this podcast means you’ll hear weekly episodes unpacking strategic video and audio podcast moves that work, sometimes through interviews with other financial professionals or successful business owners – all through the lens of how hosting their own podcast helped their business grow. Some episodes will be directly from me as your podcast strategist.    This video podcast sets the stage for you to leverage podcasting as a powerful marketing tool in your business. I’m here, practicing what I preach and “in the arena” alongside you, offering guidance, support, and actionable insights to make your podcasting journey effective, manageable, and a little fun.    What to Expect from the Podcasting for Financial Professionals Show  As you tune in to learn about podcasting and improve your approach to online marketing, you’ll find strategic, no-fluff, actionable advice you can implement right away in each episode.  Plus, you’ll hear from financial professionals who have successfully integrated podcasting into their business. - giving you the opportunity to learn about mistakes they made, what’s working well, and what they’d do if they were starting a podcast from scratch today.  Through it all, you'll gain insight about podcast SEO, content repurposing, messaging and branding guidance, and time-saving systems for your podcast audio and video production, plus tips on guesting and growth. Use your time most wisely by using the free downloads, equipment recommendations, and step-by-step guides at podcastabundance.com/resources.    The Podcast Abundance Approach: Values and Support  My team at Podcast Abundance is built on five core values:  Simplicity: We streamline the process so you can focus on your expertise.  Responsibility: We handle the technical and production details for you.  Trustworthiness: We ensure your content and reputation are in safe hands.  Lifelong Learning: We stay ahead of trends and best practices.  Over-Communication: We keep you informed and supported at every step.   Podcasting is more than a marketing tactic—it’s a business asset that works for you around the clock. For financial professionals, it’s a way to build trust, authority, and a steady stream of leads, all while sharing your expertise in a format that resonates.     Studies show that most podcasters feel like they don’t have a solid strategy, which is bad news from a business perspective – especially since you expect to build your business through podcasting as a marketing arm. Rather than fall into that trap, consider partnering with a specialized strategist (oh, me! 👋 ) and reliable production team (yep, go that too! ✅). This allows you to focus on your business’s growth through rich content, not editing and publishing.    Follow this podcast on your favorite audio platform: https://pod.link/1478414077 Subscribe to this show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodcastingForFinancialPros  Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/virginiaelder/  Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podcastabundance/  Explore free stuff, tips, and my services at https://podcastabundance.com