Some advisers and licensees may be making permanent changes to the way they operate their business in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to industry consultant, Chris Unwin.
Unwin has told Riskinfo that while many advisers are already well-versed in utilising video and other remote technology options to communicate with their clients, the fact of social distancing and self isolation around the country means that many more advisers will now be forced to take this path – and that many will never return to ‘the old way of doing things.’
…many will never return to ‘the old way of doing things’
Unwin says an entire new group of advisers, having been forced in some respects to embrace remote media to communicate with their clients, may now appreciate at first-hand the value of video conferencing and other methods of remote contact and the potential efficiencies and cost reductions this method may deliver for their business, while still maintaining solid client engagement and relationships.
He adds that licensee firms may also be looking towards permanently changing the way they operate, with many – again having been forced down the path of social distancing – appreciating that they may not need as much office space to operate an efficient dealer group business service for advisers and their clients.
Unwin has also made his own adjustments in the methods he uses to share his soft skills expertise and other consulting services with advisers, by ramping up his new online workshop services to complement the face-to-face workshops he has delivered over the last ten years.
Unwin’s catch-cry message to advisers during the Coronavirus crisis is for them to ‘self-educate while you self-isolate’.
Chris I appreciate the financial approach you are taking on this but social face to face contact with clients is a must to achieve a long term relationship or they will just go off with the next fast talking adviser that tracks them down online
Social contact and trust is imperative to any long term relationship and Skype whist effective during this unprecedented period is not the answer later
You have been around long enough to know that people will work with you when they trust you and online does not create this long term need.
Not the first time I have been wrong and will happily accept this if it occurs but I personally doubt it. I like a good chat face to face. It builds a good repour between you and your clients
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