Why can a financial planners career stall, stagnate, become mundane, fall short of expectations, and, ultimately, lack the rewards they want?
In my experience it is rarely, if ever, a lack of technical skills.
So, on this list of career boosting books for financial planners you will find a refreshing selection of non-technical, engaging, and inspiring books.
I have chosen these books for financial planners because they are not by academics. Instead, they are written by people who have boosted their own careers, overcome challenges, and have something powerful to share.
1. So good they can’t ignore you by Cal Newport
‘Follow your passion’ is often given as helpful career advice. Cal Newport turns this on its head. Through rigorous research, science, and real-life examples he offers alternative strategies to creating career satisfaction and happiness.
2. Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield
Steven Pressfield explores the questions, “What does turning pro really mean?” “What do professional do that the rest of us don’t?”
This book is about transcending the conditioned self and the resistance that is inherent within it. It is about being present; something that most of us have relinquished.
3. The life-first advisor by Barry LaValley and David Hainz
This is a book for financial planners, but not from a technical perspective. Barry and David show you how to improve your clients lives and future-proof your career by putting the clients life first.
4. Living Service by Melissa Ford
Melissa Ford went from being a struggling coach to a thriving professional. This is book about how she navigated that journey. If you want to stop struggling and start thriving, this book shows you how.
5. How to get clients by Steve Chandler
Steve Chandler is one of the most readable and prolific writers I have ever encountered. I have given out scores of his books to my clients .
If you want to master client acquisition, then Steve is the go to guy. Many people hate selling because they associate it with manipulation and rejection. Steve shows you there is another way by focusing on service and genuinely helping people.
6. The advice trap by Michael Bungay Stanier
Most Financial Advisers think their primary value is in giving advice. The author call this ‘The advice trap’. He says, “We keep giving advice even though it doesn’t work that well.”
This book offers an fresh approach that will help you enhance and build better client relationships.
7. The results equation by Kellan Fluckiger
I hired Kellan as my coach (a serious investment) because he is brilliant at getting things done.
One of his many books is ‘The results equation’. He approaches getting any project done from both an inner, mindset perspective and an outer strategic perspective. I have just completed two major projects that would still be just ‘nice ideas’ if it wasn’t for this approach.
8. Time Warrior by Steve Chandler
Another classic from Steve Chandler. Having attended several of Steve’s programmes and seen his output, he is a master at using his time wisely and enjoying his life.
He teaches the opposite of what almost everyone is doing. Instead of going faster he teaches you to slow down. It seems counter-intuitive, but it works.
9. Just a thought by Amy Johnson
It is negative thinking habits, like self-doubt, self-criticism, procrastination, and imposter syndrome that blight many people’s careers. And most of the contemporary approaches to overcoming these things are superficial and make little difference.
Amy Johnson presents truly cutting-edge material that is fast becoming the future of our understanding of the mind.
10. Creating the impossible by Michael Neill
In 2009 I attended a programme with Michael in London. It is no exaggeration to say it changed the course of my life. I was finding that most ‘experts’ were sharing the same or similar ideas that were just being recycled. And they were not very helpful.
Michael isn’t one of the very top coaches in the world for no reason. He shares what works and it’s not theory; it’s what gets real results.
So, there are 10 books for financial planners. Please avoid over-thinking it and just get yourself one now and start reading it.
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