It looks like Schwab is not wasting time in opening franchises with independent contractors. In fact, the San Francisco based broker is making five-year deals with dozens of financial advisors, and hopes to have between 5 and 10 opened by year’s end.

According to RIABiz, Schwab has received interest from more than 100 advisors and plans to have serious negotiations at the end of this month. Franchise owners will pay Schwab startup fees ranging from $25,000 to $50,000.

The gain will be access to Schwab’s technology support and services as well as revenue sharing and corporate support. Interestingly enough, they’re steering clear of Schwab employees and are hoping to nab seasoned financial leaders from wirehouses, independent RIAs and advisors affiliated with IBDs.

Nobody can know for sure whether Schwab’s franchise plans will work; it’s a risk given the regulatory uncertainty at this time. The one thing you can bet on…the industry will be watching with interest.

Financial Advisor Recruiters - Recruitment Firm for Financial Advisor Jobs

OK, so you might ask…what does a financial recruiter DO in December?

It’s that time when everyone is busy with the holidays, it’s hard to get together with clients and most advisors are focusing on closing out the year and making their numbers for the year in the fourth quarter…so who’s even thinking about recruiting new advisors or moving to a new firm?

Yeah, it’s tempting to pull back and wait until we ring in the new year before thinking about “making it happen” all over again. But, hold on…this is an opportune time to actually make some things happen.

I tend to be a “social” person; I enjoy meeting with people for coffee, lunch, dinner, or a sporting event. I like nice places and especially this time of year with the holiday decorations out in full force. It’s also a perfect time to meet, mingle and engage the company of friends, colleagues, and yes, potential prospects.

People make time in December for social events, so use this to your advantage. This is the time of year to start “filling your pipeline” for the new year! Be subtle and strategic; you’ll enjoy yourself, and come January, you’re off and running again!

Cheers!

Financial Advisor Recruiters - Recruitment Firm for Financial Advisor Jobs

Scanning the Sunday, April 4 editorial section of the New York Times, I came across Maureen Dowd’s piece, “The First Shrink,” where the focus is on our President’s interpersonal relationships with the “global club” this past week…

In essence, he employed smart psychology, and like a “good shrink” he listened, he didn’t bully, and he didn’t show self-righteousness or indignation if someone dared to differ with his opinions or ideas.

I can’t help but think that being a good shrink is rule number one when faced with finding a solution to a difficult problem…whether you’re looking for a new firm, or trying to figure out what to tell your clients who are so full of anger and indignation.

So listen, and be resourceful… (per the dictionary, resourceful is “the ability to act effectively or imaginatively in especially difficult situations”).

And yes, these times and events DO qualify as “difficult situations” for us all…so this week, my focus is on being a good shrink, staying focused, and being resourceful…seems to fit the bill for a good financial services recruiter, don’t you think?

Financial Advisor Recruiters - Recruitment Firm for Financial Advisor Jobs

I don’t remember all of the lyrics to this ever so popular ‘80’s song, but I do remember its significance in my young life at the time.

It was the big CIF football playoff game my senior year and all I wanted was that “One Moment in Time” on the field, when my team could be the very best we could be, and you know what? “It” happened and we walked away with the title.

Why reflect on this now, all these years later? Well, as you may (or may not) have noticed, my blogs have been a little scarce the past week. Being a Phoenix Cardinal fanatic, never missing a game and believing in them for the past four years, I had to make the journey to Tampa this past weekend…and that’s when these lyrics popped back into my head. (And no, I didn’t take a corporate jet or attend a lavish corporate hoopla – it was just me, my wife and all my Cardinal paraphernalia)

Well, yes, the outcome was a heartbreaker, but in reflection, the pride I felt for “my” team, their spirit, teamwork, and conviction gave me another feeling of “one moment in time.”

So, how does all this tie in with our economy, corporate finance and financial recruiting? Well, this week, and for the weeks to come, I am focused on recreating another “one moment in time” not only within our financial recruiting industry but throughout our economy and country.

I think it is time we all step forward to help create that one moment in time when we, as Americans, become the very best we can be! (And by the way, GO CARDINALS…your time is yet to be!)

Financial Advisor Recruiters - Recruitment Firm for Financial Advisor Jobs

Bill Willis, President and CEO of Willis Consulting, recently participated in the 10th Annual Recruiters Roundtable:

Admit it.

You’re glad 2008, the year from hell, is over. But will 2009 be any better?

There’s endless uncertainty as we enter the New Year. The major firms in the retail brokerage arena are still adjusting to the wrenching changes in ownership structure caused by massive writedowns and losses stemming from the foreclosure crisis and tightening of credit.

Learn what the future holds for financial advisors.

Financial Advisor Recruiters - Recruitment Firm for Financial Advisor Jobs