Don’t Ignore Organic Growth in Favor of Inorganic Growth with John Wernz, Great Hill Partners

Is your firm too focused on acquisitions while neglecting the power of organic growth? Kelly Waltrich welcomes John Wernz, a "reformed CMO" who now works with private equity firm Great Hill Partners as an Entrepreneur in Residence. Together, they explore a common pitfall in the financial advisory industry: prioritizing acquisitions and inorganic growth at the expense of developing strong organic growth capabilities. John shares insights from his experience working with firms looking to grow organically and sitting on several industry boards, offering a valuable perspective on balancing growth strategies.Kelly and John discuss:0:32 John's current role at Great Hill Partners 1:56 The problem of firms skipping foundational marketing and jumping straight to advanced strategies4:09 Indicators that show a firm is ready for organic growth investment 5:02 The most common successful marketing channels for advisory firms 6:13 Realistic marketing budgets for firms 8:16 The often-overlooked "soft costs" of implementing marketing strategies 9:20 The importance of having firm leadership involved in marketing efforts 10:03 Why both John and Kelly appreciate working with empowered marketing roles 13:21 John’s "Don't Do That": Getting caught up in inorganic growth at the expense of organic growth 15:26 Why some firms rush to acquisitions before establishing their core marketing 16:38 How to determine if your firm is ready for M&A19:22 The need to have a defined marketing playbook before pursuing acquisitions 20:18 Why an acquisition integration plan must include organic growth targets 22:06 The benefits of applying recruitment marketing principles to M&A 26:25 John's Final adviceConnect with Kelly Waltrich: LinkedIn: Kelly WaltrichLinkedIn: Intention.lyX: Intention.lyInstagram: Intention.lyConnect with John Wernz: LinkedIn: John WernzLinkedIn: Great Hill Partners Website: Great Hill Partners About Our Guest: With over 25 years of experience in leading and transforming marketing and growth strategies for various businesses, John is currently an Executive in Residence at Great Hill Partners, a private equity firm that invests in high-growth companies in the financial services, technology, consumer, and healthcare sectors. 📩 Stay Informed – Join Our Newsletter!Stay ahead of industry trends and get exclusive updates straight to your inbox: Sign Up Now https://intention.ly/💬 Let’s Talk!Have questions or ready to start your next marketing campaign? Contact us: https://intention.ly/contact-us/