Right now, during the COVID-19 crisis, it’s hard to get anything done. The distractions are everywhere and it can feel impossible to focus, especially for those of us who are juggling work with homeschooling kids or don’t have access to childcare assistance due to social-distancing rules. Stress and anxiety are high.
So how can female financial advisors and firm owners stay productive during this difficult time? Here are some tips:
1. Consider implementing a portfolio management solution.
By leveraging technology, this will get rid of expensive errors and free up time. Equita Financial Network provides portfolio management resources, which we discuss on our Community and Resources page.
2. Invest in customer relationship management (CRM) software.
CRM software (which Equita also offers) lets you closely track client and account metrics. As AdvisorHub notes, “When it’s time to reach out to the client, the CRM alerts you and frames the interaction with contextual information that makes those conversations more productive.”
3. Hire strategically and/or outsource work.
Consider bringing on a junior partner or outsourcing work. As an Equita Member Firm, you can get access to a wealth of resources at an affordable price. For instance, Equita provides all ongoing compliance oversight for Member Firms. Learn more about our compliance coverage here.
4. Join a supportive community that helps you stay accountable.
Whether it’s joining a professional group like Equita or meeting virtually over Zoom with a group of friends, having a community to rely on will help you stay motivated, organized, and accountable with your professional and personal projects.
5. Continue to collaborate with team members with collaboration software and messaging and video conferencing tools.
An Asana survey found that 77 percent of U.S. workers miss interacting with colleagues. While connecting online isn’t the same as connecting in-person, make sure to keep chatting virtually with your team via Asana, Slack, Zoom, etc. This will boost morale and productivity.
6. Schedule blocks of time to work on certain tasks.
“Time blocking” is an organizational strategy dating back at least to Benjamin Franklin, according to The New Yorker. “In this approach, you assign your work to specific blocks of time in which you’ll execute it. This stands in contrast to the standard strategy, which is to drive your day off lists, appointments, and incoming messages,” The New Yorker writes. Time blocking can add structure to your workdays.
7. Borrow the idea of “office hours” from academia, or try out scheduling software like Calendly or Acuity.
Overwhelmed with too many emails from clients or colleagues? Set “office hours” — regular times when you’ll be available for unscheduled calls or video conferences. The software company Basecamp has been using this strategy for years with great success.
8. Implement shared calendars.
This allows clients to see the work you’re doing for them, such as portfolio reviews, rebalancing, and performance reports. This transparency will reduce the number of calls and emails and give clients peace of mind.
9. Don’t just focus on getting things done — also build in time for professional growth.
Boredom is one of the leading causes of burnout. It can be hard to find meaning in your work if you’re doing the same repetitive tasks every day. Get out of your comfort zone and learn a new topic or skill. Learn from your peers in the Equita Financial Network, take a course online, read a new book, or listen to a new podcast.
At Equita, we’re used to remote work. We have Equita Member Firms based throughout the country, such as in California, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and Missouri. But still, no matter how many years of experience any of us have had working from home, being productive during this COVID-19 crisis has been challenging.
This crisis has further emphasized to us the importance of community. No matter what challenge each day brings, we know that we always have a group of smart, talented, and understanding women financial planners we can go to for support.
But the Equita Financial Network doesn’t only offer camaraderie — we also offer technology infrastructure for financial planners, compliance coverage, portfolio management solutions, growth and marketing strategy meetings, and more that takes some of the work off of your plate. We help woman financial planners thrive through both the resources and community we provide. Want to learn more about Equita Financial Network? Reach out to our team today.
