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Josh Weaver
Vice President - ETFs & SMAs at First Trust
Professional Background
Josh Weaver serves as the Vice President and Wholesaler at First Trust, where he plays an instrumental role in representing a variety of investment products including ETFs, SMAs, and Mutual Funds throughout Idaho and Oregon. His commitment to helping financial advisors succeed is at the heart of his professional mission. With a focus on innovation and client service, he provides advisors access to a suite of high-quality, cost-effective investment tools that are designed to meet the evolving needs of their clients.
At First Trust, Josh is known for his ability to integrate expert research and actionable insights into the investment strategies of his partners, thereby enhancing their practice management capabilities. His resources include specialized training, rigorous portfolio analytics, and comprehensive market commentary, all aimed at cultivating long-lasting relationships and empowering financial advisors to grow their businesses effectively.
In his role, Josh collaborates with a select group of financial advisors who adopt a model-driven approach to asset management. He supports these advisors in their ongoing battle against portfolio risk, offering sophisticated solutions that not only meet investment goals but also help to safeguard their clients' financial futures from unforeseen economic challenges.
Moreover, Josh leads various events designed to inform both investors and Centers of Influence about market trends and best practices. He believes that continuous education and the exchange of knowledge are crucial components to fostering a robust financial advisory practice. His commitment to growth can be seen in his enthusiastic approach to social media coaching, where he assists advisors in enhancing their online presence and engagement.
Education and Achievements
Josh Weaver is a proud alumnus of Wheaton College, where he studied History and laid the groundwork for his analytical approach to investment strategies. His education equips him with a unique perspective, enabling him to analyze complex data through a historical lens, which is critical in the ever-changing financial landscape.
Before venturing into the finance sector, Josh honed his expertise and skills in various roles. He began his professional journey at Google as an Assistant Project Manager, where he learned about effective team dynamics and project execution in a high-paced tech environment. This role enhanced his organizational skills and provided him with firsthand experience in managing projects that catapulted his career trajectory.
His transition into the financial services sector saw him taking on roles such as Internal Consultant for ETFs, SMAs, and Mutual Funds at First Trust Advisors. In this capacity, he focused on ensuring that financial advisors had access to the necessary tools and insights to navigate complex investment environments successfully. Josh further broadened his skill set as a Medical Sales Consultant at Bledsoe Brace Systems and Viscent LLC, where he developed strong interpersonal skills and an understanding of client needs in a service-driven industry. Additionally, he worked as an Internet Marketing Consultant specializing in SEO, allowing him to deepen his knowledge of online marketing strategies critical to building a brand in today's digital-first world.
Achievements
Throughout his career, Josh has made significant contributions to the financial advisory space. As Vice President at First Trust, he has been pivotal in driving innovative solutions that empower financial advisors to deliver exceptional service to their clients. His rigorous model portfolio evaluations have been invaluable for advisors seeking to achieve risk-adjusted returns, positioning their practices for continued growth.
The education and training programs Josh has developed, in collaboration with the Practice Management and Social Media teams at First Trust, have provided financial advisors with tools to enhance their social media presence, engage clients effectively, and establish themselves as thought leaders in the financial planning industry.
Moreover, his commitment to continuous improvement is reflected in his efforts to host ongoing educational events. These events not only cultivate lasting relationships but also arm financial advisors with the knowledge they need to navigate market fluctuations and economic changes. As a resourceful partner, Josh tirelessly pursues ways to support financial advisors in reducing their clients' tax burdens while generating alpha and striving for increased returns.
Conclusion
In summary, Josh Weaver is a dedicated leader in the financial services industry with a wealth of experience and a passion for empowering financial advisors. His educational background, combined with a diverse range of professional experiences, positions him as a critical resource for advisors in Idaho and Oregon. Josh remains committed to fostering meaningful relationships and helping financial professionals achieve unparalleled success through innovative solutions and expert guidance.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
Clay offers several powerful features including:
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Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
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