How To Build A Thriving Career As A Virtual Financial Advisor

How to Build a Thriving Career as a Virtual Financial Advisor

Remember Covid-19? Yeah, who can forget that global crisis that shook the world? Everything changed in a few days; schools went to online classes, offices went virtual. The actual customer shift happened at that time; people started liking the virtual setup where everything was available at the convenience of their fingertips. 

Fast forward to 2025, virtual is no longer an option but the need of the hour in the financial industry. You might think, 'Yeah, okay, no big deal.' Right? Well, becoming a successful virtual financial advisor requires more than having a laptop and an internet connection. Indeed, it requires an approach that incorporates investment in technology, meaningful client engagement, and a strategic plan for managing clients.

Today, we will discuss the key steps to help you build a thriving career as a virtual financial advisor.

1. Get to Know the Basics of Financial Consultancy

Knowledge is the key to success in our industry. I remember when I started my career in the 2000s—no mobile, no easy access to the internet. I was sitting in a meeting and I went there with the goal to sell products, and all of a sudden this gentleman asked me, 'Hey Eszylfie, can you tell me how your product's asset allocation strategy adjusts according to market volatility and projected inflation rates over the next decade?' I was like, well, hmm, I had no answer for him, but somehow I managed the situation and then went back to the office, researched thoroughly, and shared every detail with the prospect. It was at that moment I realized, knowledge is the pillar that separates ordinary advisors from truly successful ones. 

In today’s virtual space, where you're interacting with clients on webinars and might not get a chance to address all their questions after the session, the best way to be successful is to have a deep understanding of budgeting, saving, investing, planning for retirement, and optimizing taxes. While you can learn most of these things online, I’d suggest going further and obtaining relevant certifications, understanding the market, and staying updated on the laws.

• Gain Relevant Certifications: Credentials are exemplary and include CFP or CFA, increasing credibility while providing technical knowledge to succeed.

• Stay Updated: The financial market and laws are never constant. You should keep updating your financial knowledge through available courses, industry webinars, or even financial news stations.

2. Build a Digital-First Mindset

In the last AMA, one of the advisors asked me what differentiates a struggling advisor from a successful one, and I said one word you need to remember right now to be successful: "Mindset." Yes, you heard me right. You need to have the mindset that you will succeed as a virtual advisor and ensure that you master the game by learning technology, various software, and how to engage on social media. Let's learn more about what you'll need in detail.

• Client Relationship Management (CRM) Software: You will need to ensure that you are organized, track everything, and take care of client data, and this is where CRM software will help you.

• Video Conferencing Platforms: Get tech-savvy and dig into tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet—these platforms are your new virtual office. Why does this matter? Picture this: You're in the middle of a client meeting, and you need to share your screen to explain a complex concept. Now, if you fumble with the controls or can't figure out how to minimize background noise, what impression does that leave? You might think, 'Hey, I know how to share my screen,' but do you know how to record the session or ensure that background noise isn’t disrupting your discussion? Or how about using AI to take notes so you can stay fully engaged with your client? It's all about mastering these tools to show your clients that you're not just keeping up—you're leading the way and making each virtual meeting as smooth and professional as a face-to-face session.

• Planning Software:  You will need to be very smart and start using technology to connect with your prospects and build customized plans for your clients. You have to ensure that you have access to the right software like Zoom, slack and CRM to track the progress of your campaigns. 

Build a strong online presence. 

Just for a moment, think that you need a product or service. What will you do? Like all of us, you will search on the internet, and that's how the buyer's journey starts for most customers. As a virtual advisor, it is very important for you to ensure that you are visible on the internet. People buy or consider what they see. If you are not found on the internet, that means you don't exist in the eyes of the prospect. Here’s how you can get started:

• Build a Professional Website: Your website should showcase your services, qualifications, and clients' feedback. Add a blog section to share tips and become more recognizable as a professional in the field.

• Leverage Social Media: Some platforms, including LinkedIn, X(Formerly Twitter), and Instagram, are perfect for sharing financial tips or interacting with potential clients or peers.

• Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Finding the right keywords for your website and content topics will help you rank high in search engine listings so potential clients will find you easily.

3. Perfect Communications Skills

I remember speaking to a very knowledgeable financial advisor who told me that he was struggling to convert leads into actual customers. I suggested we do a mock sales call. The call started well, but as the conversation delved into more details, I noticed he was fumbling, speaking very fast, and often struggling to convey what he wanted to say. It was like he had pieces of scattered information he was trying to put together, and it negatively impacted the message that was being communicated. There you go, the problem was his communication skills, and that was what was preventing him from becoming a top advisor. I straightforwardly said to him, "Hey Mike, at the Taylor Method, we have strong training that helps build conviction and is designed for advisors who want to be the best in the market." During the training, he gained a deeper understanding of how to communicate in a way that sounds not only confident, but also professional. My purpose in telling you this is not to say, 'Hey, buy my training if you want to know how to communicate,' but to tell you that communication is the pillar of success in our industry. Strong communication requires knowledge, confidence, and conviction.

Here are a few tips for you. 

• Active Listening: Understand your clients and what they want, what they hope to achieve, and what they fear. Practice asking questions to ensure you know what your clients wish for or expect from you.

• Clear Explanations: Make financial concepts realistic and understandable by analyzing them into more basic elements. Do not use technical terms that most clients might not understand to avoid confusion.

• Consistent Follow-Ups: Provide clients with regular follow-ups to discuss the developments of their financial status.

4. Focus on Niche Markets

Think about it—when you speak directly to a specific group, your advice feels more personal and relevant. Instead of trying to be everything to everyone, you can zero in on what a particular audience truly needs. This approach doesn’t just make your services better; it makes you the person they think of first when they need help.

Examples of Niches

Think about it—would a Millennial juggling student loans and trying to save for their first home trust someone who’s vague about their struggles? Or how about an aging retiree worried about funding long-term care? Maybe even an entrepreneur looking to create a succession plan for their business. Each of these groups has specific challenges, and by focusing on one, you can craft services and advice that speak directly to their goals.

Why Specialization Matters

Specialization makes it easier to attract and keep clients. People naturally prefer working with someone who understands their unique challenges inside out. When you’re a specialist, you’re not just another advisor—they see you as their advisor, the one who truly gets what they need.

5. Embrace Life Long Learning for Personal Development

If you ask me, "Hey Eszylfie, what’s the difference between our industry and others?" I’ll tell you this. The financial market is always moving. If you’re not keeping up, you’re falling behind. I will definitely say staying relevant and competitive means making learning a daily habit. It’s not something you do when you have time—it’s what keeps you in the game. With that note, here are a few of the things you can do.

• Attend Virtual Conferences: These events effectively make business connections and learn the trends that are likely to emerge.

• Join Professional Communities: organizations like the Financial Planning Association (FPA) are ideal for accessing available financial resources and networking upon membership.

• Seek Feedback: The difference between a successful advisor and a struggling advisor is that the successful advisors always focus on taking feedback and using that feedback to improve and become better every day. 

6. Prioritize Work-Life Balance

As you establish a consultancy business and gain recognition as a virtual financial advisor, you should not lag far behind in personal health. Working online is convenient, but you should have discipline to separate work and personal life.

• Set Clear Schedules: Set your working hours and inform your clients to prevent burnout.

• Create a Dedicated Workspace: Working in a particular area is good since it will help mark working and personal areas. 

• Take Time Off: There is always a need to disengage from work by taking breaks or taking a vacation to refill the energy.

I hope you enjoyed learning the key steps you will need to take to ensure that you are able to hit the mark and become a successful virtual advisor. If you need more tips and suggestions, I would recommend joining our monthly newsletter, where I share insights about our industry, how things are moving, and what steps an advisor will need to take to succeed.

If you want to ensure you have the success blueprint, secret strategies, and top skills to excel, take a look at what others have achieved:

• “13x improvement in my life insurance production in less than 2 months.”
  Johnathan Burgess
  Founder, Big Money Management

• “6x increase in overall production in less than 6 months… made Top of the Table for the first time in my 9-year career!”
  Andrew Mortenson
  Founder, Mortenson Go Financial Consultants

• “...quadrupled my average case size and tripled year 1 production in 3 months!”
  Anthony

I recommend joining one of these two programs. At Taylor Method, our vision is to ensure everyone who participates in our training can scale their advisory business to the next level. If you have any questions or need more information, feel free to call us at (800) 708-8212 or email us at TheCloser@taylormethod.com.