You manage a large range of clients, each with their own unique goals and financial situations. Still, the transparency and trust you earn often depend on communication with your business base. This can be made difficult by schedules, communication methods, and a thousand other variables. So how do you bridge the communication gap between yourself and your clients?

If you’re trying to get ahead as a financial advisor, you need to understand the tools available for you to be available to your clients. This is especially true when it comes to communicating and building trust. Effective, clear communication is one of the primary things that makes a real difference in terms of your client relationships.

Using the right tools streamlines your practice so you can serve your clients more effectively. In this guide, we’ll explore 7 tools that will help you optimize client communications as a financial advisor.

1. Google Hangouts

Your clients are busy people. It’s not always possible to schedule an in-person meeting. Similarly, a phone call isn’t always enough to get your point across. Google Hangouts is a free video chat option that’s built into Google’s suite of platforms, and it’s perfect for fitting meetings at times that work for everyone. 

Since Google is so widely used, most of your clients are likely already familiar with that platform and have an account. Using Google Hangouts video chatting software lets you hold meetings with clients where they already are — online. With Google Hangouts, you can share messages, documents, even your screen to walk clients through their progress. 

2. Basecamp

Project management might not be glamorous, but it’s a necessary part of successfully running your own practice. With Basecamp, you can manage your client communications and projects all in one place. You can even organize and respond to client emails through Basecamp, keeping track of messages as they come in.

Having all of your deadlines, projects, and goals in a single, collaborative space is a huge asset for financial practices. Stop wading through chat threads, Word documents, and email threads to find what you’re looking for. Make sure everything is in one place.  

3. Dropbox

When it comes to financial information, you need to prioritize security. Sending emails with sensitive documents and information is not a secure way to communicate with clients. 

Dropbox is a secure, online tool for storing online documents. A free account is likely all you need to store your documents, and you can easily share these with clients through their secure cloud. From there, you and your clients can comment on documents, save them remotely, and access them from the mobile app. Because Dropbox encrypts files with the latest technology, you can make sure all of your sensitive data is only accessible to your clients. 

4. Google Calendar

Another Google platform that’s perfect for financial advisors is Google Calendar. Scheduling appointments and meetings with your clients can quickly become a full-time job in itself. If you’re tired of playing phone and email tag, it’s time to join the next wave of scheduling platforms.

Google Calendar makes it easy to add your client’s appointments and calls to your professional calendar. You can even invite clients to add appointments to their own calendar, ensuring nobody misses an important meeting. Set reminders, add meeting topics, and collaborate on scheduling all within one simple platform. You can also download the mobile app to sync Google Calendar and alerts with your smartphone. 

5. Video

Video might be simple, but it’s a powerful tool. Including videos on your website, in your onboarding progress, and even in your marketing can have a huge impact on how you communicate with clients.

When you use video to tell your story and educate, your users have more trust in you. You can align your video content with your customer’s journey, using this as a way to show your expertise. If you’re anxious about recording, you don’t need any prior video experience to use this medium for client communications. All you need is a smartphone, a tripod, and something to say.

6. LinkedIn

You know your clients already spend a lot of time online, so why not appear on the platforms they’re already using? For most professionals, that means being active on LinkedIn.

LinkedIn is an effective communication tool for financial advisors who want a place to share their content. As the world’s largest digital professional network, checking in regularly on LinkedIn will keep you connected not only with other experts in your field but also with your clients. Sharing valuable insights and information will help you attract new leads while strengthening the professional relationships you already have.

7. Mailchimp

Finally, email is still one of the most powerful ways to stay in touch with prospects and existing clients. Creating a strong email foundation in the form of an email list will not only help you convert more leads, but it will also strengthen your current client relationships.

A simple email management system that’s ideal for financial advisors is Mailchimp. With features like customizable templates, personalized messages, and automated email funnels, this is an all-in-one email solution.

Update and educate your clients about your process, financial news, and other important trends with Mailchimp. You can even automate emails to improve your client engagement or simplify the onboarding process. Using an email manager will simplify your life as a financial advisor.

Confidently communicate with clients

With so many tools on the market today, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with where to begin. This comprehensive list above is all you need to optimize your client communications as a financial advisor. Knowing where to prioritize your time will go a long way towards building real trust with clients.

If you want to build a strong, future-proof financial practice, you can’t do it alone. You need the right tech tools to make your life (and your clients’ lives) easier.