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Connective Services Issue 12
Celebrating one year: Real networking strategies + recruiting the next gen
Kevin Sailor
July 16, 2025
 Kevin Sailor | Believe it or not, this month marks one year of the Connective Services newsletter. Our team truly enjoys putting this content together for you. Thank you, genuinely, for making room for us in your inbox - and letting us share what we’ve learned through collective decades of connecting firms with top-tier candidates. In this issue, Jacob shares some common misconceptions about networking and how to do it strategically. We’re also introducing a new team member (welcome, Daniel!). - Kevin P.S. Help us celebrate one year by inviting one colleague to subscribe to the newsletter. Just forward this email to them - they can subscribe here. |
In this issue:
💥 Recruiting Myths Busted: Networking is more than collecting business cards
💡 Associate Spotlight: Daniel Jimenez
📄 Resources from the Blog: The ultimate guide to fiduciary recruiting
💥 Recruiting Myths Busted
 | Myths busted: Networking is more than collecting business cardsBy Jacob Aubel |
Networking is often misunderstood as simply collecting contacts. Let’s bust that myth and explore how meaningful networking can impact career advancement and recruitment.
Myth #1: Networking only happens at networking events
💡 Reality: Networking isn't confined to formal events; it's an ongoing process. It's about reaching out to your network, including prior colleagues, hiring managers, and even folks from school, to build authentic relationships over time.
👉🏼 Put it in practice: Consistently engage with your network. Participate in industry-specific events and connect with local colleges and industry groups. These avenues are gold mines for discovering who needs your talent and can provide amazing referrals and information.
Myth #2: Networking is all about what you can get
💡 Reality: Effective networking is about reciprocity. It's not just about taking; it's about contributing value to your connections.
👉🏼 Put it in practice: Be proactive in sharing insights and helping others. Bring your own information to the table, and you'll be regarded as a valuable connection, strengthening your professional ties.
Myth #3: Networking yields immediate results
💡 Reality: The impact of networking reveals itself over time. It's about maintaining a steady stream of meaningful interactions for long-term success.
👉🏼 Put it in practice: Focus on nurturing your relationships beyond the initial meeting with regular check-ins and strategic follow-ups. Engage with both direct and industry-adjacent contacts to keep your network robust and active.
You can transform your networking efforts into a powerful tool for career advancement and recruitment success. Consistent, meaningful interactions are the secret sauce to long-term professional growth.
Networking efforts falling flat? I can help you think through your approach and make a plan for success. Reach out anytime!
🎈 Just for Fun
Red Flag or Green Flag?
You're interviewing candidates for a portfolio manager position. One candidate mentions they recently turned down a role at a larger firm because the compensation structure heavily favored short-term performance metrics over long-term client outcomes. They explain they prefer environments where investment decisions can be made with a 3-5 year horizon rather than quarterly pressures. When discussing your firm's approach, they seem genuinely pleased to learn about your client retention rates and long-term performance focus.
What's your take?
Our answer ➡️ Green flag. This candidate is prioritizing philosophy alignment over immediate financial gain — a rare quality that suggests they'll make decisions in your clients' best interests rather than chasing quick wins. Their focus on long-term thinking indicates they understand wealth management fundamentals and will likely build lasting client relationships rather than create portfolio churn.
💡 Associate Spotlight
Daniel Jimenez is an executive recruiter for Financial Recruiters International and Alexander Raymond with experience in talent acquisition across multiple industries. His professional background includes roles as a senior recruiter at Top Talent Solutions and Lot Squared Development, where he recruited for construction, technology, and sales for the U.S. market. Daniel previously served as a talent advisor for Mondelēz International, leading recruitment efforts for merchandisers across North America, and worked as a freelancer recruiting personal and executive assistants for high-profile clients. Daniel holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Wyoming and is based in San Jose, Costa Rica. |
📄 Resources From the Blog
The Ultimate Guide to Fiduciary Recruitment: What Companies Need to Know
From Financial Recruiters International
Recruiting fiduciary professionals isn’t easy. It requires understanding both the legal complexities and evolving skill requirements that define these critical financial roles. Here's what companies need to know:
Understand fiduciary responsibilities thoroughly. Assess candidates not only for technical skills but also for their moral compass and understanding of ethical obligations. Fiduciaries must act in clients' best interests while adhering to federal and state laws including the Uniform Fiduciaries Act.
Focus on essential board director duties. Look for candidates who understand the duty of care (managing affairs with prudent attention) and duty of loyalty (prioritizing organizational interests above personal gain). Regular evaluations and ongoing training ensure compliance with corporate governance standards.
Prioritize modern financial advisor skills. Seek professionals with tech literacy, effective communication abilities, coaching skills, and knowledge of financial psychology techniques. These skills reflect the evolving nature of client relationships and industry expectations.
Target specific trust industry positions. Recruitment spans diverse roles including trust managers, compliance officers, relationship managers, and fiduciary directors. Cross-sectoral expertise and qualifications like STEP certification are increasingly valuable.
Embrace global recruitment strategies. Access talent pools across major financial hubs while understanding regional requirements and qualifications specific to each market.
Successful fiduciary recruitment is a balancing act between these five approaches and more. For the full breakdown, check out our guide: The Ultimate Guide to Fiduciary Recruitment >
Ready to work with a recruiting partner who specializes in fiduciary roles? Just reply to this email.
📌 Featured Career Opportunities
We’re currently recruiting for a wide variety of roles in fiduciary services, including:
Sr. Portfolio Manager
Trust Officer
President, Sr. Wealth Officer
Tax Manager, Trust & Estate
…many, many more
The full list of career opportunities, including locations and next steps, is exclusively available to Connective Services subscribers.
📰 Industry News
Finance back in favor with career-seeking grads, but AI shakes up expectations
Finance has reclaimed the top spot as the most promising career field for new graduates, jumping to 37% from 24% in 2023, though two-thirds worry AI could make landing jobs more difficult despite claiming confidence in their tech skills. See the survey results on InvestmentNews.com. >
The role of internships in filling the advisor pipeline
RIAs are building dedicated internship programs to address the forecasted shortage of 100,000 financial advisors by 2034, with firms like Halbert Hargrove and Modera Wealth successfully converting interns into full-time employees. Read the article from WealthManagement.com. >
📣 How Are We Doing?
Is the info in this newsletter helpful? What would you like to see more or less of? Please take a minute to give your feedback.
🔗 Connect With Your Recruiter
 Greg McDowell |  Denise Decker |
 Christie Burgess | Jacob Aubel |
 Daniel Jimenez |  Adrian Hernandez |
👋🏼 About Connective Services
Connective Services is a newsletter brought to you by Financial Recruiters International and Alexander Raymond. Both firms are full-cycle recruiting companies connecting fiduciary services organizations with highly skilled candidates. Financial Recruiters International serves the financial sector while Alexander Raymond specializes in insurance and contract staffing.
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