Steps I’m Taking to Make 2014 the Year of the Client

Do you feel like you have an efficient method for tracking the progress of each recommendation you make for every client? Well, here’s what I plan to do. 

From now on all recommendations will be listed on a Gantt Chart (Click Here for More). The Gantt Chart is a great way to illustrate a series of tasks which may or may not run concurrently. In addition to the Gantt Chart, each recommendation will be tracked by opening a “Ticket” in my contact management software. To clarify, a ticket is simply a task or a to-do. Here’s an example.

I use ACT! as my contact management tool. First, I’ll create a task for each recommendation and select “Ticket-FP” from the dropdown list. Then, at the end of “FP” I will type the specific task, such as, “Have wills reviewed.” There is also a “Details” tab in the task window which will allow me to type any notes I may have and date them. Finally, I will set a reminder for when to begin, keep notes in the Details tab along the way, with dates, and when the task is complete, I will check complete which will close the ticket.

Actually, I plan to use a “ticket system” for every task within my practice. All tasks will be categorized as PM (for portfolio management), FP (for financial planning) or Service. Each “ticket” will include an alarm and will be delegated to myself or my assistant, depending on the specific issue. The bottom line is to open a ticket whenever we need to act and close it when it’s been completed. Then, nothing will fall ever through the cracks.

Let’s make 2014 the “Year of the Client!” Excellent service is what clients want. Let’s give it to them! 

Thanks for reading and have a great week!