SPEAKER_01 0:00

You can't look at it that way. Sure. Yeah. Uh otherwise it will be dreadful. You know, you gotta look at like, yeah, I'm gonna meet some new people today. I may I may make a best friend today in all this.

SPEAKER_00 0:16

All right, everybody. Welcome to another episode of Connections That Matter, where we highlight Northern Colorado's best networkers, people who are really making a difference, and find out how they're making connections that help them grow their business. Today I have Ben Voss on the show. Ben, welcome. Good to see you. It's a pleasure. Thank you. Awesome. Well, uh, if you haven't seen you at a networking event, um uh tell us a little bit more about what you do.

SPEAKER_01 0:40

So I'm in the uh financial services industry. I'm with uh Raymond James. Um a lot of people kind of question like where Raymond James is, and I just say uh if you're familiar with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they play in Raymond James Stadium, so uh St. Petersburg, Florida. Um, I've been in the industry for about 15 years. Um I'm an independent now, so I run my own show, but I do retirement planning, estate planning, business planning for individuals and businesses. Well, unplugged that. What does uh being an independent mean? So um it just means like uh, you know, I take care of everything on my own. Uh, you know, Raymond James, they back me up with like compliance, you know, watch my back and stuff for that, make sure I'm doing everything the right way. Um, but you know, as it comes to like if I'm gonna hire somebody like a secretary, I've got to do it on my own. I've got to pay them out of my own pocket, get my own health insurance, you know, stuff that you're you're the boss, you make it up. That's it. You know, it's you know, I decide whenever I need to go into the office, whenever I need to go network, and so on and so forth. So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:43

Well, I'm excited to talk to you because I talk to a lot of entrepreneurs, and sometimes they have a transaction-based business or they're in construction, there's a plumbing job, and they do that. But when they work with you, it's a relationship that goes on and on. Uh managing someone's financial situation evolves from when they're having kids to when they're retiring. So how do you how do you maintain the relationships um throughout the years?

SPEAKER_01 2:09

Yeah. Um, you know, it's in the beginning stages, it's all about um a lot of contact because you're trying to get a lot of information, setting up accounts, getting paperwork done. Then, you know, you're doing constant reviews with them, making sure this is appropriate, um, finding out their goals, what their vision is, with what they're trying to achieve with everything. Um, and just basically from there, it's just monitoring and it's just um keeping up that that contact. You know, most I think most advisors lose their clients because of lack of contact because they get into that point where they came out with a fiduciary rule, with which everybody uses that term now, um, a few years back. And it just means like you have to at least contact the and do a review with the client once uh per year. But I I try to touch base, you know, at least once a quarter, if not more, you know, with my clients. So and there's some who, you know, want to talk every week. And there's like, you know, they read a headline and they just I'm just like no no no no no. Just just calm down, just calm down. This is just uh a little flare up and uh it'll it'll it'll go back down. So just you know, hang in there and we'll talk in next week or whatever.

SPEAKER_00 3:27

Is is that is that a lot of the job just calming people down or is it planning for the future?

SPEAKER_01 3:34

You know, the and that's another perk with like being, you know, an independent. You can choose who you really want to work with as clients and and you know, you're not you're not just taking anybody that's coming to you. You can be selective with who you want. And uh, you know, I try to pick, you know, help help people that you know I know that aren't just gonna be a complete head case. So sure. Yeah. Uh, you know, that understand that markets go up and down and that, you know, their accounts, each time they get it, it could be down this year or this month, or and could be up next month. And um, you just have to be up front with, you know, how much risk people want to take, where they're at in life, uh, you know, age, and um if it's achievable or not. Sure. So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 4:22

Let's talk about networking a little bit. Um when you uh when you're out networking, you know, I'm curious how you are using your networking efforts to grow. Um also notice that there's a lot of financial advisors that network. So when you're out there, you're generally maybe not the only one in the room, but Donna doesn't. How do you how do you stand out? And then uh how do you make sure that uh your networking efforts are you know giving you what you need from it?

SPEAKER_01 4:46

Uh yeah, with my networking efforts, you know, I before COVID blew a lot of these networking things up, you know, I was involved in like, you know, some other networking groups and chamber stuff. And um, you know, how I'd uh just kind of pulled myself differently was I just wasn't I didn't want to be pushy, you know, with people. I don't you know, I I met with a gentleman in in Estes Park a while back who was looking to sell his business and and after we got done, he was just like, you know, I've met with three other financial advisors before you before the I met with you, and I just want to be honest with you. Thank you for not trying to sell me a product today. And I was just like, well, it's that's not what you're trying to do. You're trying to sell your business here. I'm just trying to give you advice and you know, hopefully if it does sell and you know, our Raymond James can help you with it, then you'll contact me again and we'll throw some money at the market, you know. I I just look at it as more of like being a consultant more than you know, a salesperson. But you know, our our job is a lot of sales up front.

SPEAKER_00 5:49

Sure.

SPEAKER_01 5:49

But then it's it's it it switches to that consulting and monitoring later on. But yeah, I mean I I guess, you know, with my networking, it's it's going out and just being friendly and nice and shaking hands and having conversations and and just not just talking about business the whole time, you know.

SPEAKER_00 6:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 6:10

Really understanding people and where they're at in life. And you know, I've been through hardships over the past decade with divorce and stuff like that. And so I want to be respectful with people with where they're at in life and and s really identify like how can I help this person? Yeah. You know, I'm not here just to throw a life insurance policy at you. Like, you know, how can we make your life better and your kids' lives better and so on and so forth.

SPEAKER_00 6:37

Well, I think that that's so great. And you talk about the season of life that they're in. I mean, you probably have uh people coming to you and they're growing their families, getting divorced, getting married and different things. Um so being able to refer out and being able to generate referrals or be able to help somebody by making a connection, I would imagine would be really valuable to your business. Yeah. Is there anybody specifically that has been that resource for you or you've been able to refer that uh has been um, you know, invaluable to you?

SPEAKER_01 7:10

Yeah. I, you know, whenever I first moved up here, I'm a big fly fisherman, so I like fly fishing, hunting, music, stuff like that. And so I got involved with a um a fly casters group, uh fly fishing group up in um Fort Collins. And I remember walking in the room and a guy just like we made contact, you know, eye contact, and he walks over and says like, I'm Coi. I'm just like, I'm Ben, I'm from Texas. I'm from Texas. And he's now a client of mine, and uh Coi Wiley owns his own real real estate company up in uh Fort Collins. And and man, he's been a you know huge with just spreading the word about you know how much you know good I've done for him. And and at the time he he went through he was going through a divorce. Yeah and he referred me his attorney and now I have a relationship with that attorney who's sent me some referrals and and then desk chair, desk chair's been huge, you know. We're you and I are arm's length away from each other and just going sitting at Sando's and having a beer, and uh another another friend of mine who's now a client is uh um DJ Brian Howe. Okay, and uh, you know, he does the How Ventful eventful DJ services. And um, I mean the other day I was sitting down there and there was I met a few other new people that I hadn't met, and Brian was just going, You have bambi so much money. I mean, you know, he's fast talker, loudest guy in the place. And but I mean he truly means it, you know, and he's talking to you, he truly means it. And those other people were just kind of looking at me and just like, what do you do again? And you know, it's like eh. So I mean, you know, just people like that. And it's just, and he he was unhappy with his last advisor because they were making him switch from something, and they were just like, Why? I it's doing good, and yeah, I don't want to. He was just like, Ben, can I keep this? Like, heck yeah, move it to me. Yeah, and he was just like, All right.

SPEAKER_00 9:10

So well, I think a lot of people haven't really caught on to co-working space and just the the networking opportunities that are there, um, you know, because you knew business a lot of different places, or I know a lot of entrepreneurs who hold themselves in the office or sleep at the office because they're working hard. But in a co-working space, you're around other entrepreneurs. Um, there's a social aspect to it. So for anybody who has never been to Dust Chair or any other the co-working spaces in Northern Colorado, what do you love about it and how has it helped you with your business?

SPEAKER_01 9:38

With a co-working space?

SPEAKER_00 9:39

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:40

I mean, building relationships. I mean, it's how you and I have met. Yep. And, you know, I I was struggling there, you know, after COVID of just getting back into networking. And I just and desk chair kind of became my network space where I was meeting people and it got me out of from working at home, you know, when everybody was locked in their homes. And and um I made friendships there, and now I have several clients there. And um, you know, just like with your presence in there now, and you it's it's helped me get out and realize, hey, I've been sitting on my butt at home way too long. And and uh I've I've wasted time whenever I could be out servicing people, helping people, and and um doing what I'm supposed to be doing, you know. Sure.

SPEAKER_00 10:32

So well, I I hear that a lot, like when people are networking, they're like, when was the best time to start networking? Well, it was when I started my business. When's the second best time to start networking? Well, it's today.

SPEAKER_01 10:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:42

Um you know, and when this when this episode comes out, it's gonna be the end of the year. I know people are starting to think towards 2026, what are their goals and and to get out of there? So as somebody who's recently kind of got back into it, getting more of a structure around it, any encouragement or advice for somebody who is maybe looking to network more coming into 2026?

SPEAKER_01 11:02

Uh yeah, it's you know, embrace being uncomfortable. Okay. You know, I I just uh the the best thing is like find a friend who's doing it and say, do y'all, you know, ask them if they invite guests and be a guest at, you know, like the Longhorn Steakhouse thing that we do. And um or just introduce them to some other people that are, you know, uh socialites that are out there just all the time. Um just by an email inter introduction or face to face or just tell them to come out and have a beer or you know, get some lunch, come up to Sando's and get a sandwich and you know. Um I I'd just say just it's it's not really fearful, it's just about you just gotta get up off your butt or do it. You know what I mean? It's that's that's just it. And and and don't look at it as something like, uh, you know, uh this is I'm gonna dread this and people are gonna be throwing cards at me. And it's like you can't look at it that way. Sure. Yeah, uh otherwise it will be dreadful. You know, you gotta look at like, yeah, I'm gonna meet some new people today. I may I may make a best friend today out of all this, you know.

SPEAKER_00 12:15

Yeah, that optimistic approach. And I also love that you're like find a wingman, essentially, is what you said. You're like find a friend who can introduce me, and it takes the you know, the edge off of you. It's not as scary when you're going in and networking in packs, so to say.

SPEAKER_01 12:30

Yeah, yeah. And you know, I I or some of my friends, I'm just like, well, there's sometimes there's some cute girls out there. You might meet a cute girl, you know. Sure, might get a marriage out of it. Who knows?

SPEAKER_00 12:42

Yeah, right on. And you know, it's all connections that matter. You find your future spouse. That's uh that's a way to do it. Yeah. Well, cool, Ben. Uh, this this is awesome. I mean, as a financial advisor, um, I imagine you talk about your clients' goals and what do they want to achieve. But what are what are some of your goals? What are you looking to achieve?

SPEAKER_01 13:02

Um, you know, I I want to get to a point where I have an actual standalone office, you know. Um not I I love the coworking space. And it's it's gonna be hard for me to detach from that because of the people there. And um just, I mean, it just kind of it's just a happy place. And I I don't, you know, I I want to have an independent office. I want to have like a secretary, you know, someone to help me out do all the paperwork and stuff like that, so I can truly go out and network more.

SPEAKER_00 13:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 13:34

And not, you know, waste half my time of coming back and all right, I've got to doc you know, get all this documentation, email it out, make sure it gets, you know, signed and you know, where I can just be freer a little bit, you know. Um that's so that's one of the goals. Um you know, I'm at about a service of probably about a hundred households. So I want to I wanna double that for sure in the next year or two, if I could, you know, if possible. Which sounds like a lot, but you know, you gotta set set some kind of goals in writing and some numbers and stuff like that. And uh so yeah, I mean, even if it's 50, I'd be happy with that, you know. Uh but um other than that, um that's about it.

SPEAKER_00 14:25

Okay. Well, you you brought up the story of the gentleman up in Estes Park, but and how you really were able to make a connection and he felt drawn to you from your approach. You know, I imagine that making sure your financial advisor is a good fit uh for you is it's key. Like somebody might just sign up because that's who their parents had, and maybe they didn't choose them. But um, if somebody's reevaluating their financial advisor or looking to get one for the first time, what questions would you suggest they ask to make sure that they're aligned with the financial advisor?

SPEAKER_01 14:57

Um I, you know, I would just make sure that the advisor is listening more than talking. Okay. You know. That's good. Um, which every advisor, whenever they first get in, they're just throwing up on people, you know. They're just well and talking this jargon that nobody understands, like 12 B1 fees and da-da-da. It's just like if they're just talking where you can understand and putting things as basic as possible, um, that's a green light for sure. You know, that's you just kind of have to I wouldn't say dumb it down because there's so much information you can research before you go meet with an advisor now on online. Um, but somebody that's just uh listens and is really digging deep on your reason for being there, you know, like your your goals and what your vision is. And um it's not there just slinging product at you and just, you know, oh, here's a great, you know, annuity or whatever, you know. Um so you know, any any advisor that's along those lines, I think it's you're gonna be okay with.

SPEAKER_00 16:05

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 16:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:05

Well, let's get into like why people when they're ready to choose a financial advisor. You know, I always love to like dial in. What are those key situations, especially when you're creating referral partners? It's good to see who's else are dealing with them. But what are you seeing, uh, Ben, as far as uh things people are going to that's triggering them to reach out to you to um potentially hire you as a financial advisor?

SPEAKER_01 16:28

Yeah, it's I mean, as you get older and kids, life gets busy and you don't have time to do it. And so um and some some people they just they don't understand that you can roll over, you know, 401ks and have have it in your own possession and control it on your own. And uh, you know, like we we we've talked about, it's it's people in transition. It's it's there's and there's a lot of changes going on with as kids get older and they're in more sports and and then you know, parents with jobs and it's they just get to the point where that's they get overwhelmed and they stress out, and then it stresses their marriage out and everything else. And so it's just like that's where I come into play, and let me take that stress off of you and take the worry of the market off of you, and and um, you know, that's what I get paid to do. Sure. So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:21

Do you have people that are like have imposter syndrome, like, oh, I don't know if I'm financially ready to have a financial advisor yet? Uh any budgets too big or too small for you?

SPEAKER_01 17:32

Uh no. Um, you know, I I know some advisors get to a point where they're they won't accept people under like there's one back in my hometown who won't even take anybody who doesn't have at least $700,000. Wow. And I'm I'm like, if you have $300, call me. I I mean, because I've I've been there, you know, after going through divorce and stuff like that, you kind of start back at zero if not less. Yeah. So and so I I you know, I have um a client that I signed up um actually here in Westminster and found me online and she went through a divorce and uh has two kids and and was just like I have fifty dollars like per month that I can do. I was just like perfect, you gotta start someplace, you know, start someplace, start again, and sooner the better. And so uh hope that answered your question. Yeah, that's great. Okay, good.

SPEAKER_00 18:27

Um, and then in the connections that matter, uh, there's a lot of entrepreneurs that are watching this. Um is there anybody that you're trying to network? Any specific industries or professions that you would love to have more introductions to?

SPEAKER_01 18:39

Um you know, uh CPAs are always big referrals for us, referral sources, estate planning attorneys, um of course business owners, um HR reps, you know, directors of HR, you know, for 401k plans and simple IRE plans. Um but but then I I mean it's it's can be just anybody. Sure. You know, I've whenever I started off in this business, I was going door to door, knocking on doors. I knocked on doors for three years and um still have a few of those clients that still service and they still send me some referrals and um and it's yeah.

SPEAKER_00 19:23

Sounds awesome. Yeah, you know, and especially somebody who knows entrepreneurs, uh, you know, there's safety in a W-2 job. You're getting uh, you know, stuff that you throw into a 401k. But if you're out on your own, um you probably need some more management of there. What do you love about working with entrepreneurs or business owners that, you know, they're the owners of the business, they're not just getting a paycheck from the business.

SPEAKER_01 19:46

I the thing is that I always learn something from them. I always feel like the dumbest person in the room. I really do. Cause I'll, you know, I met with um a guy who owns a brewery and um I do their simple IRA plan. And um he starts talking all this business stuff and you know, bank loans and all this other stuff, and and sometimes I'm just like, Whoa, I don't know anything. You know, it's like, geez, I've got to start all over again and go back to the books and research and and learn more. But uh that I think that's you know, whenever you work with business owners and entrepreneurs, you just learn something each time you talk to them. Uh whether it's how they network and how they develop business or how they're streamlining their business better, which is, you know, what another one of my goals is is just you know, I I I got to a point where I just I'm at a point where it's just less is more, you know. And I I think every business owner wants to get to that point where it's just so streamlined and dialed in that they're you know, they're just it's worries free and hands off and they don't have to worry about it. And because they got the people and the resources that um where they want it. And uh yeah.

SPEAKER_00 21:02

Very cool. Well, Ben, thanks so much for coming on the show and sharing your wisdom. Yeah. Um, if somebody just was watching this conversation was like, wow, I wish my financial advisor would talk to me like that, or I really got a good vibe, uh, maybe want to schedule a consultation or do a one-to-one with you and um like a CPA or an estate planning attorney. What's the best way for them to get a hold of you?

SPEAKER_01 21:22

Um, yeah, they can reach me by phone uh nine seven zero four two zero nine zero five one or emails benbn.voss vis and victor os at raymondjames.com. And then I'm also online. It's I think my website is raymondjames.com backslash ben voss. So cool.

SPEAKER_00 21:43

Yeah, so reach me and we'll put we'll put all that in the uh in the show notes. Um but Ben, thanks so much for coming on the show and uh we'll see you around desk chair and see you around northern Colorado. Yeah, man. Appreciate it. Hey all, thanks for watching. I love networking and building relationships. With other northern Colorado business leaders. So if you want to come meet some of these podcast guests, meet me or meet some other amazing entrepreneurs in Northern Colorado, I would love to have you attend one of our next events. Uh, go in the podcast description. There's a way so that you can see our upcoming schedule. And maybe you could be a future podcast guest as well. Thanks.