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Hey everyone, Richard Wilson here, founder of the Family Office Club. I’m excited you're going to be joining us for our live in-person event. There are a few housekeeping items that you should know about.
1. Networking App: Whova
First, we use a virtual networking app called Whova. Please register for that. You can connect with people through the app, set up meetings, see profiles of people on stage, and message others. When you message people, make sure to be clear about what you do. Have your one-liner dialed in to describe what you do and what you're looking for. Don’t just reach out asking if people want to meet without giving them context about what you do.
2. Understanding Investor Profiles
Second, the people who do best at our event realize that the wealthiest investors in family offices typically don’t wear name tags saying, “Hey, I’m Richard, CIO of my family office,” or “I’m a private investor.” They’re often in industries like construction, dry cleaning, stem cells, healthcare, or they could be doctors, business owners, or founders. They’ve done well because they have strong cash flow, sold their business, gone public, or had an exit of some type. Many investors are humble, low-key, and a bit under the radar.
The people who make the least connections are usually those who go around asking, “Are you an investor? Do you have money to invest?” This can put people on the defensive and make them say, “Oh no, that’s not me, I think they’re over there,” and send you on your way. So when you're networking, keep that in mind.
3. Building Relationships & Adding Value
People want to do business with those who have expertise, passion, compelling stories, high conviction, and are just nice people they can relate to. The most successful people in our investor club—and I believe in most investor clubs—are genuine, authentic, and professional. They are politely persistent, not high-pressure, and focus on building relationships and following up. Most importantly, they add value first.
4. Don’t Miss the Content
One thing that’s not obvious, but happens every time at our events, is that the people who try to network the hardest often stay outside the room, shaking hands, asking everyone who they are and what they’re doing. They think they’re putting maximum effort into connecting, but it’s a blanket approach, and they miss everything happening on stage.
If you have more than one person from your team attending, definitely have someone in the room at all times. If you’re the only person attending, stay in the room for 75-80% of the whole event. Only step out for panels on niche topics that aren’t relevant to what you're focused on. There will be networking opportunities in the morning, during lunchtime, in the evening, and at cocktail hours. You could even organize your own private networking dinner.
5. Pay Attention to Speakers
Keep in mind that every investor on stage is asked, “What do you invest in? What structures do you prefer? What strategies are you focused on? What are you working on right now? What’s a recent deal you completed?” They’ll make comments like, “My business partner or board member invests in this,” or “We’re looking for opportunities structured this way,” or “We’re focused on niche opportunities like this, this, or that.”
You’ll miss all of these valuable insights if you’re outside the room networking and trying to maximize relationships. Instead, focus on listening to what’s being shared on stage, then follow up with those who shared their thoughts, showing that you listened and can offer exactly what they asked for.
We hope you have a great time! If there’s anything we can improve upon, let us know. We’re always striving to make each event faster-paced and more impactful.
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