Haduken

Financial advisors

by: Ross

Ok. For the past month I’ve been getting calls about twice a week from a number not in my phone book, and every time I send it straight to voicemail. I don’t answer my phone if I don’t recognize the number; I figure if it is important they’ll leave a message. Well this guy never leaves a voicemail. The other day I am in the office alone celebrating my first answered phone call. I have this irrational fear of phone conversations with people I don’t know, it is weird I know. Then here comes good old no message guy. I figure I’ll answer it because I was on a phone answering roll.

The conversation was as follows:

Me: Ross Catrow
Guy: Hi this is Guy from Random Financial Planning Group
Me: Oh that’s cool, I already have a financial planner. (lie)
Guy: Hey, everyone needs a plan B.
Me: Well I’m just not interested. (not a lie)
Guy: Lets meet for lunch sometime this week just to get introduced.
Me: Uhh…I’m busy this week. (lie)
Guy: Ok well I’ll pencil you in for next Tuesday how’s that?
Me: Well my schedule changes rapidly, so why don’t you just call me. (lie)
Guy: Ok I’ll call you Tuesday.

And then today I got another call from a different financial planner from THE SAME GROUP. What is with these people? Pestering me to death and calling me everysecondofmylife is not a good way to get my business. These people are the meatspace equivalent of spam. I can’t even imagine how that is a successful marketing strategy, I know we would lose clients left and right if we acted like that in my business.

Ultimately these people all got my name and number from friends (wtf friends? seriously). So perhaps they assume they aren’t cold calling and are in fact using some permission marketing up in here. Well getting my number from a friend isn’t the same as me opting-in to your little spiel.

Note to people with my number, please please please don’t give it out to random norms. Thanks.

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  1. Let me just say that I haven’t given your number out to them, because I hate those calls just as much. Also let me say that if you get a call from someone at nlcf and they say I gave them your number it is a lie, they already had it and I just said I knew you.

    Also I feel like people give out other people’s numbers to get the monkey off of their own back.

    Last, usually words like “If you don’t stop calling me I will be contacting the Better Business Bureau and the Attorney General’s office” do the trick.

    — nic | @

  2. wow. that really sucks. i haven’t gotten telemarketer 1 since i got rid of my landline and switched to cell phone only.

    give out a fake real #. i like 732-2121.

    — RVAkid | @

  3. When I interviewed to be a financial planner, the last step in the interview process was to give them the names and numbers of 10 people you would call first to ask if they wanted you to be their financial planner, assuming you got the job.

    So, do you know anyone that recently interviewed?

    — RMSzero | @

  4. my guy hasn’t ever asked for names/numbers, not that i would give it out. that’s probably bc i have 0 money and he probably doesn’t want more poor people to deal with.

    — Wolf | @

  5. i wonder if they just *say* they got your number from a friend to make it sound legit.

    sometimes i just say i don’t have any money. i would love to hire them, sounds like a great deal, but i have no money. do you still want to work for me? for free?

    also i hear if you say “please remove me from your list” then they have to do it or they crumble into dust or something.

    that’s creepy about asking you out for lunch.

    — midas | @

  6. There are a handful of ‘financial planners’ that get names and numbers from people throwing business cards in the “Get a free lunch” fishbowl at local restaurants.

    When he calls back just tell him you think insurance products and loaded mutual funds are of the devil. Or just tell him you’re sorry but Ross has passed on…that always does the trick…cause if you’re gonna lie you should at least get him off your back.

    ps
    I don’t even know you’re number so it wasn’t me.

    — CFP Man | @

  7. I mean when I say “I already have a financial planner” I always think in my head, well I know CFP Man, and he is one of those guys. It helps me sleep at night.

    — MaxPower | @

  8. Mine wasn’t a lie, you really should call the BBB and AG’s office if they pester you after you’ve asked them to stop.

    — nic | @

  9. a couple years ago, someone won free lunch from famous dave’s for the whole office from one of those fish bowl things. we went and had to listen to this stupid presentation, but we did get free lunch. when the passed the sign-in sheet around, i wrote the wrong name/# on it! oh!!! i got him!!

    — Wolf | @

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