An American social media expert says financial advisers should capitalise on the growing trend towards live video to generate new client leads.

Jeff Lunn is the founder of Next Stage Web, a USA web consultancy focused on helping clients in the financial services industry, said Facebook, in particular offered a great opportunity for the advice sector.

Having worked with advisers in the US, he said in his experience, Facebook is “by far the best social media platform for financial advisors to boost awareness of their business and attract new clients”.

With increasing amounts of video going onto the social media platform, he said research had showed that live video is preferred over pre-recorded.

He told Financial Planning Today magazine: The latest numbers show that people spend three times longer watching live video compared to pre-recorded video on their platform. This trend offers a huge opportunity for financial advisors.

“Although traditionally laggards in social media, financial advisors already have the skill set necessary to make compelling live presentations. Live educational events (seminars) have always been the best way for financial advisers to generate leads and convert those leads into clients.

“Now advisors can capitalise on this trend by re-purposing their most effective seminars into compelling live videos and webinars hosted on social media platforms. I have done this with my own clients and the results have been very encouraging so far.”

Mr Lunn spoke to Financial Planning Today magazine for a double page feature on social media.

The article on social media for Financial Planners, packed with practical tips from experts, is now available to all website users through the third issue of Financial Planning Today.

Our new 40-page magazine, is now live online and can be read HERE.

Turn to page 31 and 32 for insights on how to improve usage of social media to find new clients, including input from American Financial Planner Michael Kitces, pictured below, who has 33,000 Twitter followers.

The new publication features exclusive content including contributions from leading figures in the worlds of Financial Planning and Paraplanning plus features and insights produced by experienced financial journalists in London.

Financial Planning Today's third issue highlights include:

• A Special Report on the great Cashflow Modelling debate, which has got the industry talking

• Columns from high profile Financial Planner Julie Lord, PFS chief executive Keith Richards, CISI head of Financial Planning Campbell Edgar and Paraplanner John Redmond

• Analysis of the 2017 investment prospects post the shock Trump US Presidential victory

• New Investment and DFM section with 180+ DFM providers listed plus DFM updates

• Plus, The Client Hunter, Planner Casebook, Inside My Business with Colin Lawson, Financial Planning and Paraplanning news and much more

Feedback on the new magazine has been excellent with well over 2,200 people reading the first two issues and the number rising steadily. There have been many positive comments about the quality of the magazine and the unique content.

Financial Planning Today Publisher and Editor Kevin O’Donnell said: “We're delighted to make available issue 3 to all website users and we hope the content will be invaluable.

“There is lots of insight, news and comment plus many business tips and ideas to help Financial Planners do an even better job and build on their professionalism.

"We have designed Financial Planning Today magazine to be an essential publication for all professional Financial Planners, Paraplanners and Wealth Managers and we'll be announcing some exciting developments for 2017 soon."

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