FROM THE BLOG

“I like you.”* And just like that, I had a new mentor – one who would be my champion and an inspiration. Whether formally or informally, mentors have played a pivotal role for me – not just in my career, but in my life. I’m relationship-minded by nature, so I will admit that I always have a mentor, if not mentors (plural).

Oftentimes, people wait to find a mentor. Wait for a program. Wait to be assigned. Wait for the perfect leader or the perfect advisor. Mentoring happens at all levels, and it happens spontaneously, regardless of an official program. Of course, there is mentoring from leaders or advisors with industry tenure, but if you’re not open to peer-to-peer mentoring, you’re only getting half the benefit.

In my years in the industry, many advisors building their businesses want to model the top-performing advisors. And, yes, of course, that is a good strategy. However, I have seen an equal impact with advisors in peer groups – or cohorts, if you will. Advisors who face the same challenges and have similar successes – or failures. And, as mentoring is always a two-way street, very established and successful advisors can gain new perspectives by working with “next-gen” advisors – making their practices more accessible and relatable to the investors in their wealth-accumulating years.

No matter where you are in your career, how established or accomplished, each of us can benefit from a mentor. At a minimum, a mentor can serve as a sounding board, become a trusted guide, and oftentimes, a friend.

I’ll close with something I’ve said many times. If you have a mentor, thank them. If you don’t, find one!

Cheers,

Kim Utz
Director of Advisor Services

*True story – that really happened!

Posted by Prospera Financial