|
|
What’s it like to work with Impact Communications?
In April 2024, some of the nation’s top RIAs gathered in Kansas City for a day of peer-to-peer sharing facilitated by Impact CEO and Founder, Marie Swift.
We asked them on camera what they would say about working with Impact Communications – and here’s what they said:
“Impact Communications is one of the top firms in PR and marketing, and branding in our industry,” said Bill Keen, Founder & CEO, Keen Wealth Advisors. “I've had the privilege of working with them since the early days of establishing my independent wealth management firm in 2014. The work that they've done to help us think through our message, from website creation to public relations and different periodicals and speaking events like this that we just held today, is just one example of the work that Impact is doing in our industry to bring thought leadership together and help us be thought leaders ourselves and get our word out in our community and to the public in general.”
“Impact Communications has been a fantastic partner for Bogart Wealth – and I do genuinely appreciate the trumpet that they are for everything that we're already doing as well,“ said James Bogart, CFP®, CHFC®, CEO & Founder, Bogart Wealth. “It's definitely had a profound impact on the firm’s brand enhancement. For me, when I engaged with Impact, it was not with the intent of necessarily bringing on a lot of new customers. It was really to enhance the brand, to bring on new personnel. And from that vein, we have seen tremendous growth in the brand and been able to continue to sustain some pretty critical key new hires. But on the flip side, we've also brought on a lot of new customers as well. So it's been a nice synergy between the two entities. “
“We have worked with Impact Communications for about a year now,” said Robert Steinberg, JD, CPA, CFP®, Founder & CEO, Blue Chip Partners. “They've been extraordinarily helpful to us – from building our brand and getting some press exposure, to expanding our website and making sure we get our press notices out to clients and on social media. They have helped a lot with social media. So, Impact has done a really nice job of building our presence. People continually comment to us – especially those who are on LinkedIn that we’ve got something out there on a daily basis. They can tell that it's original content and original news. People have really been complimentary of how we use social media and also on the growth of our firm. I think Impact has had a lot to do with it.”
“Impact has been great,” added Dan Seder, CMT, CFA, CFP®, Managing Partner, Blue Chip Partners. “We’ve really elevated our overall brand awareness, starting with a strategic planning day, then revamping the website. The press and media opportunities that they present and provide have given us a different look at how to be thought leaders and to be recognized for being a thought leader. There have been various awards that they helped us not only prep and apply for, but then amplify the message once we've won. So the general awareness around Blue Chip and the PR that we've received has been fantastic. We've been really excited about our relationship with Impact and appreciate all that they do to help us out.”
We asked them on camera what they would say about working with Impact Communications – and here’s what they said:
“Impact Communications is one of the top firms in PR and marketing, and branding in our industry,” said Bill Keen, Founder & CEO, Keen Wealth Advisors. “I've had the privilege of working with them since the early days of establishing my independent wealth management firm in 2014. The work that they've done to help us think through our message, from website creation to public relations and different periodicals and speaking events like this that we just held today, is just one example of the work that Impact is doing in our industry to bring thought leadership together and help us be thought leaders ourselves and get our word out in our community and to the public in general.”
“Impact Communications has been a fantastic partner for Bogart Wealth – and I do genuinely appreciate the trumpet that they are for everything that we're already doing as well,“ said James Bogart, CFP®, CHFC®, CEO & Founder, Bogart Wealth. “It's definitely had a profound impact on the firm’s brand enhancement. For me, when I engaged with Impact, it was not with the intent of necessarily bringing on a lot of new customers. It was really to enhance the brand, to bring on new personnel. And from that vein, we have seen tremendous growth in the brand and been able to continue to sustain some pretty critical key new hires. But on the flip side, we've also brought on a lot of new customers as well. So it's been a nice synergy between the two entities. “
“We have worked with Impact Communications for about a year now,” said Robert Steinberg, JD, CPA, CFP®, Founder & CEO, Blue Chip Partners. “They've been extraordinarily helpful to us – from building our brand and getting some press exposure, to expanding our website and making sure we get our press notices out to clients and on social media. They have helped a lot with social media. So, Impact has done a really nice job of building our presence. People continually comment to us – especially those who are on LinkedIn that we’ve got something out there on a daily basis. They can tell that it's original content and original news. People have really been complimentary of how we use social media and also on the growth of our firm. I think Impact has had a lot to do with it.”
“Impact has been great,” added Dan Seder, CMT, CFA, CFP®, Managing Partner, Blue Chip Partners. “We’ve really elevated our overall brand awareness, starting with a strategic planning day, then revamping the website. The press and media opportunities that they present and provide have given us a different look at how to be thought leaders and to be recognized for being a thought leader. There have been various awards that they helped us not only prep and apply for, but then amplify the message once we've won. So the general awareness around Blue Chip and the PR that we've received has been fantastic. We've been really excited about our relationship with Impact and appreciate all that they do to help us out.”
MORE COMMENTS FROM MORE AMAZING CLIENTS
But beyond working with independent financial advisors like the ones noted above, Impact Communications also works with allied organizations such as IBDs, Super OSJs, custodians, insurance companies, investment managers and TAMPs, industry networks, fintech consultants, and wealthtech innovators. We are heartened by their unsolicited comments below:
Keep scrolling … and scrolling … and scrolling … until you find one that calls out to you. It’s a long list of kudos. What amazing clients – we love you one and all
But beyond working with independent financial advisors like the ones noted above, Impact Communications also works with allied organizations such as IBDs, Super OSJs, custodians, insurance companies, investment managers and TAMPs, industry networks, fintech consultants, and wealthtech innovators. We are heartened by their unsolicited comments below:
Keep scrolling … and scrolling … and scrolling … until you find one that calls out to you. It’s a long list of kudos. What amazing clients – we love you one and all
“We've had a fantastic experience partnering with the team at Impact Communications. From the beginning, they’ve demonstrated a deep knowledge of our industry and leveraged their network to get us real, meaningful exposure. Their commitment to excellence shows in every interaction, and they’ve become a true extension of our team. We’ve especially appreciated their strategic thinking, clear communication, and ability to deliver on what they promise. The results have spoken for themselves—getting us published and helping elevate our brand. Grateful for the partnership and excited for what’s ahead.”
- Jason Hester, Managing Partner of Balefire
- Jason Hester, Managing Partner of Balefire
"Marie Swift and her team at Impact Communications have been phenomenal to work with! They did an outstanding job helping us position our financial planning firm as a leading presence in our area. From day one, they brought energy, strategy, and deep expertise to the table. Their thoughtful marketing plan — paired with consistent check-ins and hands-on support — helped us elevate our visibility on LinkedIn, strengthen our web presence, and improve how we communicate directly with our clients. The videos they helped us produce really added something wonderful and authentic to our normal marketing mix. We’re incredibly grateful for their partnership -- especially as we took on extra marketing and communications in service of celebrating the firm's 30th anniversary this year --and highly recommend them to any business looking to grow their brand with purpose and impact."
- Jared Keller, President & Senior Financial Advisor of Financial Independence Planning, LLC
- Jared Keller, President & Senior Financial Advisor of Financial Independence Planning, LLC
"If you are looking for a good PR firm to get your FinServe or FinTech firm noticed, Impact Communications is excellent. They work primarily with advisors and a handful of wealth tech / financial service institutions, helping them get recognized. They have an excellent understanding of the advisory market and are very talented. In financial planning circles, Impact founder Marie Swift is highly respected for her public relations and communications skills. A number of folks in the industry who I know and respect have made use of Impact’s services, and all have been very satisfied.”
- Joel P. Bruckenstein, CFP®, President, Technology Tools for Today
- Joel P. Bruckenstein, CFP®, President, Technology Tools for Today
“I am happy to recommend Impact Communications to anyone looking for a true partner, not just another vendor. Impact uniquely combines decades of wealth management industry experience (and the longstanding relationships that come with it) with PR expertise that is second to none. Working with them has significantly enhanced Advyzon’s profile and supercharged our growth."
- John Mackowiak, Chief Revenue Officer of Advyzon
- John Mackowiak, Chief Revenue Officer of Advyzon
“Impact Communications has been the perfect strategic partner to amplify everything related to our brand and public presence. They are responsive with innovative and customized solutions for all of the needs of my firm.”
- James Bogart, President & CEO of Bogart Wealth
- James Bogart, President & CEO of Bogart Wealth
"Our IWA team continues to strengthen and thrive. Our team members have been quoted in several financial publications this year. These prestigious periodicals include The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Fortune, US News & World Report, and Authority Magazine, among others. Now in our fourth year of working with world-class marketing and public relations firm, Impact Communications, we have established a fertile landscape for our firm in the area of thought leadership and media activity."
- Charlie Lutz, President, Intercontinenta l Wealth Advisors
- Charlie Lutz, President, Intercontinenta l Wealth Advisors
"I want to thank you for all you have done for our firm and for each one of us individually. Occasionally, over the course of our careers, we have the privilege of interacting with professionals who make the accomplishment of our work considerably more meaningful. Each of you belongs in that category. I hope we can remain in contact with one another, and I hope that over the coming years there will be opportunities for us to help you as you have helped us."
- Charlie Lutz, Partner, Wealth Advisor, Corient
- Charlie Lutz, Partner, Wealth Advisor, Corient
"Katie and I are both so thrilled to have you as collaborative partners. We feel that you hear us, which is awesome. Thank you for believing in our mission and our vision. We are excited for the future of Equita Financial Network!"
- Bridget Venus Grimes, CFP®, Equita Financial Network
- Bridget Venus Grimes, CFP®, Equita Financial Network
"I just wanted to take a moment to say how much I've enjoyed the NAPFA Playbook series hosted by Marie Swift and supported by Jonny Swift of Impact Communications. The current series on the power of niching has been enlightening. I've loved the conversations and learned a ton from other RIAs who've built their focused practices! The previous program on improving the client experience and attracting ideal clients was precisely what I needed then! The tips and tricks were well worth the time investment. Better yet, the sense of community was palpable despite being virtual. My take is that the organization is full of thoughtful, fiduciary experts who sometimes struggle to get the word out. The world needs to know about these great advisors! Kudos to NAPFA and Impact Communications for addressing this marketing opportunity head-on! Frankly, the Playbook series have been the highlight of my NAPFA membership to date. I can't wait for the next ones!"
- Kevin Estes, Founder and Financial Advisor, Scaled Finance, LLC
- Kevin Estes, Founder and Financial Advisor, Scaled Finance, LLC
"Thanks for inviting me to attend the webinar on using ChatGPT and other AI tools to create client-centered content. I am in the 7% of respondents in the webinar poll who said I was not using AI because of skepticism. I realized I have the foodie-coffee-wine-content snobbery in common with you, Marie, and that this was at the root of my resistance. Helping me see that was a big gift—thank you for the webinar invitation, for gifting me a ticket, and for its value. You cracked open a door of possibility: that I can continue to look and sound like myself while making content creation more efficient. Thank you!"
Miriam Whiteley, CFP®, RLP®, CeFT®, LifeCraft Financial Planning, LLC
Miriam Whiteley, CFP®, RLP®, CeFT®, LifeCraft Financial Planning, LLC
Dear Marie, This message may seem weird, out of the ordinary and out of the blue. I am sending it anyway since the impulse to appreciate you returns to my mind regularly. Your presence in our profession is highly known and highly regarded. While I know you from afar, I have never had the pleasure of connecting directly with you. My loss.
Last fall through the end of the year, I watched several of the recorded NAPFA masterclass series you facilitated for the community. Each session your presence was powerful, generous, skillful, attentive, and full of mastery – the very invitation you were giving to the audience. I appreciated you in the series immensely. After watching the programs, I wanted to reach out to say thank you. Thank you for years of generative attention and resources for our profession and my colleagues who engage this work. Thank you for being a valuable leader and genuine steward.
For all the times the opportunity to express gratitude is missed, I am taking a baby step forward to close the gap. May this new year be filled with the pursuits, passions and people who bring you most alive and generate joy.
Most appreciatively,
Gayle Knight Colman, CFP®, Colman | Knight
Last fall through the end of the year, I watched several of the recorded NAPFA masterclass series you facilitated for the community. Each session your presence was powerful, generous, skillful, attentive, and full of mastery – the very invitation you were giving to the audience. I appreciated you in the series immensely. After watching the programs, I wanted to reach out to say thank you. Thank you for years of generative attention and resources for our profession and my colleagues who engage this work. Thank you for being a valuable leader and genuine steward.
For all the times the opportunity to express gratitude is missed, I am taking a baby step forward to close the gap. May this new year be filled with the pursuits, passions and people who bring you most alive and generate joy.
Most appreciatively,
Gayle Knight Colman, CFP®, Colman | Knight
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recorded without prompting from Impact Communications, while this client was attending the WealthManagement.com Wealthies Awards in Manhattan, August 2022:
|
|
“I just wanted to sincerely thank you for all the wonderful service, not just in PR but actually some of your judgement, your copy, some of your ideas. They’ve made a substantial difference to both my business and to me personally. Thank you!"
~ James Lange, CPA, JD, President, Lange Financial Group, LLC |
“Marie provided invaluable advice and great networking opportunities in connection with my book, The Number: A Different Way To Think About The Rest of Your Life, published in 2006. With her help, the book was widely read and discussed throughout the financial planning community, where she is widely respected and admired, and deservedly so.”
~ Lee Eisenberg, Best Selling Author
~ Lee Eisenberg, Best Selling Author
"Phil and I are so excited, bouncing off the ceiling. We are getting confirmation that our value proposition makes sense. Since the Planting Seeds article on Morningstar Advisor hit, over 10 people from various broker dealers across the country have contacted us for more information -- and that was within the first four hours -- before noon the first day the article ran. Phil and I want you to know how grateful we are that we have the opportunity to work with Impact Communications. Your work is exceptional!"
~ Rick L. Kent, CFP®, ChFC, CFEdT, Founder, The Merit Retirement Advantage
~ Rick L. Kent, CFP®, ChFC, CFEdT, Founder, The Merit Retirement Advantage
“Working with Impact Communications has forever changed the way I communicate with my clients. Two Web site makeovers, two brochures and a dozen marketing initiatives topped off with their high level coaching has convinced me that these people really know what they’re doing!”
~ Randy Hallier, CFP®, Retirement Plus, Inc. /Financial Worshops, LLC
~ Randy Hallier, CFP®, Retirement Plus, Inc. /Financial Worshops, LLC
“I just wanted to say thanks for the well done work on our Web site. It looks so professional and has such a wealth of information on it. I'm very pleased with how it turned out, and I'm very hopeful about growing the business. You guys are good!”
~ Dan Danford, President, Family Investment Center, Inc.
~ Dan Danford, President, Family Investment Center, Inc.
“Over the years I have had literally dozens of opportunities to work with ‘consultants.’ Most experiences have been less than satisfactory. Marie is truly a different story. My experience with her is so far above the rest that there is no way to compare it. If I had only found her 20 years ago I can’t imagine where she could have helped me go!”
~ Brent Hicks, CFP®, founder, FocusPoint Solutions
~ Brent Hicks, CFP®, founder, FocusPoint Solutions
"Garrett's Guide to Financial Planning: How to Capture the Middle Market and Increase your Profits, would not be possible without the professional contributions and unwavering dedication of my marketing communications consultant, Marie Swift. Since 1998, Marie's continued partnership, support and creative alliance has amazed and inspired me. She is my collaborator, coach, advisor and friend. Marie, I am grateful for your contributions over the years and look forward to many more."
~ Sheryl Garrett, CFP®, Founder, The Garrett Planning Network, Inc.
~ Sheryl Garrett, CFP®, Founder, The Garrett Planning Network, Inc.
"In just one year working with Impact Communications, we secured a monthly column with my byline in three high-end magazines, achieved press coverage in a top-tier national publication, and established a solid relationship with our local newspaper’s business editor. The whole team is responsive and affable. Their creativity, talent and direction make Impact Communications my marketing dream team.”
~ Brian Puckett, JD, CPA/PFS, Align Wealth Management
~ Brian Puckett, JD, CPA/PFS, Align Wealth Management
"I cannot thank you and your team enough for the outstanding service you gave me. Working with Teresa was especially wonderful. She eased my concerns and addressed every issue and request I sent her way. I am very grateful for her making the entire process an enjoyable one. She is a truly consummate professional."
~ Diane MacPhee, CFP®, Business Coach
~ Diane MacPhee, CFP®, Business Coach
"When it comes to providing top-quality media relations for financial professionals, Marie Swift is in one word - AWESOME! I am so impressed with her high level of professionalism, her outstanding communication and her drive to make all her clients very successful. If you want to achieve a big breakthrough in promoting your business, the first call I would make is to Marie Swift."
~ Derrick Kinney, CEO, Good Money Framework
~ Derrick Kinney, CEO, Good Money Framework
"Marie Swift was our publicist in 2004 and 2005. In addition to being the most respected PR person in the industry, she is one of the most respected and influential figures in the world of financial planning. I so appreciate her work for the Kinder Institute of Life Planning, especially as we bridge the continents and our life planning methodologies changes lives around the world."
~ George Kinder, CFP®, Industry Thought-Leader
~ George Kinder, CFP®, Industry Thought-Leader
"Marie Swift was our publicist in 2004 and 2005. In addition to being the most respected PR person in the industry, she is one of the most respected and influential figures in the world of financial planning. I so appreciate her work for the Kinder Institute of Life Planning, especially as we bridge the continents and our life planning methodologies changes lives around the world."
~ George Kinder, CFP®, Industry Thought-Leader
~ George Kinder, CFP®, Industry Thought-Leader
