The Toronto-based Canadian Securities Institute (CSI) is celebrating the excellence in Canada’s financial services through a creative campaign, Faces Behind the Letters, encouraging advisors to share their stories of success, leadership and growth.

“We wanted to spark a unique dialogue among Canada’s financial services professionals, highlighting their professional advice given their experience. From this experience, we can better gauge the type of learning we need to provide,” says Marie Muldowney, managing director of financial services training and certification at Moody’s Analytics and head of the CSI.

“By gaining a deeper understanding of the challenges and realities advisors are facing, CSI can support them, and the industry, with relevant training, resources and insights,” Muldowney said.

Advisors offer their perspective on what they’ve learned from both positive and negative professional experiences through a social survey — ‘The good, the bad and the ugly in financial advice’ — delving into the human side of financial advice.

CSI is sharing these insights, lessons learned, and pain points through #AdviceforAdvisors social conversations. Here some of the lessons learned:

  • Care about your clients.
  • Listen carefully to what clients say and, as importantly, what they don’t say.
  • Challenge your clients to take calculated risks and reach their financial goals.
  • Manage client expectations.
  • Don’t take on clients whose expectations you can’t manage or meet.
  • Don’t push for sales or seek short-term rewards – build relationships.
  • Help clients overcome fears, navigate market downturns and celebrate successes.
  • Educate your clients about the value of professional financial advice.
  • Do what you love.

The campaign also features financial services professionals with FCSI, PFP, CIM and CIWM designations sharing their stories and ‘advice for advisors’ in a series of digital interviews on Youtube.

Advisors can join the conversation via Twitter at @CSIGlobalEd, on Facebook at Canadian Securities Institute and on LinkedIn at Credentials for Financial Professionals.