Themed and Best Seminar & Public Appearance Ideas

Seven Holiday Themed Events

By: Kimberly A. Branch, CFP®, CLTC
President 4WARD Financial Marketing

www.4WARDfinancialmarketing.com

With the holidays around the corner, there is no better time than now to reconnect with clients, and entertain prospects. Remember they are your biggest investment, so it is important that they feel valued. Client appreciation and client referral events are the perfect way to achieve this. These events are great marketing tools, because they allow you to demonstrate your firm's culture and brand.

Market yourself as their financial advisor of choice, and jumpstart your 2010 with these fun and festive holiday ideas:

• Pumpkin Carving Contest - Invite your clients, prospects, and their children to join your firm for a pumpkin carving contest. Remember to provide paint, so the smaller children can participate as well. Enjoy the day at the pumpkin patch, on hay rides, and taking photos of each person or family with their decorated pumpkin. To show your appreciation, send them a handwritten note and enclose their photo.

• Build a Gingerbread House - Call your local university. Many have catering schools and will rent out their catering kitchen for a nominal cost. Set up workstations with supplies and decorations laid out, team up clients and prospects, and allow them to create their own, one-of-a-kind gingerbread house! When their family and friends visit them during the holidays, they'll be asking, "Where did you get that?" This is a great marketing tool, and will keep you in the front of their minds this holiday season.

• Come Meet Santa - Turn your sitting room into a winter wonderland! Host an open house and invite your clients with younger children to come meet Santa. Decorate the area with oversized, wrapped gift boxes, and photograph each child telling Santa their wish list. After the event, send the parents a thank you note for attending, along with the photo of their child. Include a special letter to their child from Santa that says:

Dear Tommy,

Thank you for coming to visit me and telling me what you want for Christmas this year. The elves are busy working and we can't wait to ride with Rudolph and the other reindeer to deliver your gifts.

Be a good boy,
Santa

Guess what? That parent will not magnet but glue Santa's letter to their refrigerator for everyone to see. You will be remembered as their trusted financial advisor during this holiday season.

• Charity Brunch - Helping the less fortunate is at the forefront of everyone's mind during the holidays. Turn an ordinary brunch into a fun and memorable event by asking each client and prospect to bring an unwrapped toy as their entry fee. Invite your local Toys for Tots ambassador to attend and accept the gifts on behalf of the children.

• Holiday Makeover and Fashion Show - Dazzle your female clients and prospects with manicures and mimosas! Make reservations at a salon for a private party, and coordinate for a nearby boutique to showcase the latest fall fashions while your guests are being pampered. They will enjoy being spruced up for their upcoming holiday parties and get-togethers.

• Dancing with the Stars - The most popular television show today is Dancing with the Stars. Show your clients and prospects how to ring in the new year with a new dance move. Rent out a dance studio with an instructor, and have your guests learn spins and simple techniques so they can feel more confident ringing in the New Year. Toast them away with a nice glass of champagne.

• Festive Fitness Party - The second New Year's resolution, after finding a better job, is to lose weight and get in shape. Most people "pack-on" ten pounds over the holidays. Help them avoid this by having a Festive Fitness Party. Show your clients, prospects and special guests how to stay healthy during the holiday season. Rent out a local gym, and hire a personal trainer or nutritionist to provide guests with tips on healthy living during the holidays. Your inexpensive cocktails can be flavored energy waters, power bars and light healthy snacks. Follow up with a thank you gift - the latest craze workout DVD.

Remember, with the holidays around the corner, there is no better time than now to reconnect with clients, and entertain prospects. They are your biggest investment, so it is important that they feel valued. Let us help you with the process. Call Natalie Harris at 713.375.2592 or visit us at www.4wardfinancialmarketing.com.

Contact us today at 888-224-3324 or to make us your personal marketing team.