Make time for networking

If you want to grow your practice, you need to get your lead generation efforts in shape. That means making time for networking. “Once a week, set aside time with an appropriate contact who can help introduce you to the people you are targeting,” said Mike Greene, senior vice president of Advisor Business Development Group and Financial Planning for Ameriprise Financial. First things first: Put it on the calendar. (For now, carve out an hour of time tomorrow -- we'll fill in the details then.) “If you don’t calendar the time, you won’t do this,” Greene said. Once you make the time each week, you must figure out how to connect with the community you want to target, says Greene. We’ll have some tips for that coming soon.