How to Network for Success
Relationships can be the key to the next opportunity
The business of wealth management is all about the relationships you can build. Whether you’re just starting out and helping to serve clients or an aspiring advisor hoping to eventually work even closer with clients, relationships are key.
If you're just beginning in the industry, the most important networking you can do now is with professionals who are in places where you aspire to be. Not only will you learn from them you’ll start building your networking muscle. The same skills that apply to connecting with professionals now will later apply when you’re building your business and finding clients.
Below, I’ll share the strategies I’ve personally used to network successfully in wealth management and ones you can use to start building real connections today.
Purpose: Know Your Why
The first step in networking is identifying what you hope to accomplish and where you want to go. If you don’t know this yet, start simpler: What do I want to learn about?
Once you answer that, you can narrow your focus to specific people or roles.
If you want to become an advisor who serves business owners, look for advisors who specialize in that. If you want to move into leadership, focus on market executives.
The more specific your goal, the easier it becomes to:
Find the right people
Craft tailored messages
Get better response rates
Pro Tip:
Having a niche focus also helps later when you begin networking with potential clients.
Preparation: Do Your Homework
Once you identify someone to connect with:
Send a LinkedIn connection request.
If you have LinkedIn Premium, you can message them directly without waiting for them to accept.
Research before messaging.
Look at their LinkedIn profile especially the “About” section, experience, and any posts they’ve shared.
Check their firm website for a bio and any media mentions.
See if they’ve been ranked by Forbes, Barron’s, or featured in industry publications.
Why?
A generic message blends in. A thoughtful, tailored message stands out.
Crafting Your Message
Here’s the basic structure I use:
Hi [Name],
My name is [Your Name], and I’m currently [your role/school]. I came across your profile and was impressed by [specific detail about their role, firm, or niche].
I’m hoping to learn more about [their specialty] and how you navigated your career path.
Would you be open to a brief 15–20-minute chat? I’d truly appreciate your time.
Best,
[Your Name]
Key tip:
Always make it about learning from their experience, not about asking for a job or opportunity. Even with personalized messages, not everyone will respond. That’s normal. Consistency is key.
Tracking Your Outreach
Once you’re messaging multiple people, it’s easy to lose track.
I recommend creating an Excel spreadsheet to track:
Who you messaged
Date sent
Follow-up dates
Who responded
Meeting notes
This keeps you organized and ensures no relationship slips through the cracks.
Scheduling the Meeting
If someone agrees to meet:
Respond quickly (ideally within 24 hours).
Offer three time slots to make scheduling easy.
Once confirmed, send a calendar invite with the agreed time and method (Zoom, phone, etc.).
Pro Tip:
Some LinkedIn profiles list email addresses in the “Contact Info” section use this when sending calendar invites.
Running the Meeting
Before the meeting:
Draft an agenda or list of 3–5 questions.
Email it to them ahead of time if appropriate it shows professionalism.
During the meeting:
Arrive early (especially for Zoom/Teams calls).
Be in a quiet, professional setting.
Let them do most of the talking your job is to listen and learn.
Following Up
After the meeting:
Send a thank you message or email.
If you discussed any action items (like sharing an article or following up), do it promptly.
Relationships are built in the follow up.
That’s what separates casual networking from real relationship building.
Final Thoughts
Most young professionals underestimate how powerful genuine networking can be. The conversations you start today might lead to mentors, job opportunities, partnerships or even future clients.
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