Old Models Causing Firms to Lose Business

Old models, imprecise targeting and ineffective communication are causing many firms to lose business, according to a report from kasina titled“The Five Advisor Segments: A New Approach to the Intermediary Market.” The report highlights these inefficiencies and provides a segmentation model based on advisers’ actual behaviors and preferences. It also includes analysis using the new model that identifies five new adviser segments: Order Takers, Technophiles, Support Hogs, Self Sufficients and Rainmakers.  

Traditional segmentation categorizes intermediaries based on channel, size, industry ranking or current value. Those models ignore adviser behaviors and preferences, which often causes sales and marketing programs to be poorly targeted and ineffective, according to the report. kasina’s new model breaks out groups of advisers based on their demographics, behaviors, communication preferences, investment decision processes and support needs.  

“The reality is that within each of the traditional distribution categories, there are advisers with increasingly diverse traits and preferences,” said Steven Miyao, CEO and founder of kasina. “Taking a ‘one size fits all’ approach is no longer a winning strategy. Firms need to gain a new perspective on these customer groups, and be more responsive to their specific requirements.”

The study provides an actionable framework for developing segment-specific strategies for enhancing the effectiveness of adviser sales and marketing programs. The report also contains best practices, benchmarks and recommendations on how firms can best map their distribution resources to adviser segments, communicate via the most effective mediums, and tailor service and support levels based on value potential.

The study used data on 1,533 intermediaries who completed the kasina FA Vision Benchmarking Survey in late 2011. kasina also teamed up with statisticians to perform analysis.

The report is available for purchase here.