Financial Industry’s Premier Training & Networking Event Moves to South Carolina for 2014

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Jan. 20, 2014 - PRLog -- For three years Advisors’ Academy hosted “SGOS,” its ambitious five-day training and teambuilding workshop for high-earning financial advisors, at the same location in Key Largo, Florida.  With the company putting a major emphasis on growth, new resources and new membership in the past year, founder David Scranton decided the time was right to move SGOS to a new location. The Academy’s “Study Group on Steroids” 2014 will take place in early May in historic Charleston, South Carolina – a city considered ideal for an event that is equal parts learning, networking and fun.

Known for its rich history, distinctive architecture and five-star restaurants, the seaside city of Charleston is a hugely popular destination for both business functions and family vacations.  The city has received numerous national accolades in recent years, including designations as “America’s Most Friendly City” by Travel & Leisure, and “the most polite and hospitable city in America” by Southern Living magazine.

“We looked at a lot of different options but in terms of location, amenities and overall atmosphere, Charleston emerged as the perfect spot,” Scranton said.  “Veteran attendees will enjoy the same warm, seaside vibe and activities we had in Florida but in a whole new setting. Newcomers will benefit by the energy and excitement of our new location while discovering what makes this event so special year after year.”

The “Study Group on Steroids” (the name is a playful nod to Scranton’s days as a competitive bodybuilder) was launched in 2011 as a means of building on the success of a two-day Study Group format Scranton had hosted for years for his top advisors.  The idea was to hold the event in a venue that could accommodate dozens of advisors rather than a handful, and to expand it to five full days.  The goal was to provide time enough not only for many hours of invaluable sales and marketing training, but for equally valuable networking, teambuilding, fun and relaxation.

“We always have so much great content to share with our guys in terms of our sales process and marketing systems – and we’re constantly introducing new tools and concepts, so the training aspect of SGOS can be intensive,” Scranton said. “That’s why we knew it was important from the start to balance that with plenty of opportunities for fun, recreation and just connecting with fellow advisors. These are top guys so they always learn a lot from each other and form new friendships. After three successful years there’s a great family feeling to this event – and newcomers always feel instantly at home.”

While this year’s agenda is still being formulated, past SGOS themes have revolved around the company’s Bull’s-Eye Marketing systems, “left-brain” oriented sales and practice management strategies, and the use of non-verbal rapport-building techniques to dramatically increase closing ratios.   Though much of the training at SGOS is built around the theme, the agenda also invariably includes motivational presentations, the rollout of new tools and initiatives, and extensive time for audience interaction and participation.  While past events have included guest speakers such as bestselling business author Daniel Pink and neurolinguistic programming expert Will Horton, for the most part training is conducted by Academy coaches, member advisors and Scranton, himself.

“To be honest, a lot of times the classroom portion of SGOS is as entertaining and as much fun as the recreational part,” Scranton said. “We’ll see guys have revelations right there on the spot, and they’ll know it’s a breakthrough that’s going to change their business and their life.  That’s pretty exciting.”

Outside the classroom, SGOS attendees enjoy organized and free-time activities that range from golfing and tennis to snorkeling and deep-sea fishing.  (Appropriately, Scranton captains one of the fishing boats, himself).  Many advisors bring along their wives and children to take part in the fun.  Evening hours feature themed dinner events and, on the final night, an awards ceremony to honor the Academy’s top producers of the year.

“It’s really unlike any event in the industry that I know of in terms of the level of sheer enjoyment and professional development value that advisors take away from it,” Scranton said. “It gets better every year, and with our new location and all the growth taking place in the Academy, there’s a huge amount of excitement heading into it this year.”

About Advisors’ Academy

David J. Scranton (CLU, ChFC, CFP®, CFA, MSFS) founded Advisors’ Academy in 2007 with a vision to build an innovative Independent Field Marketing Organization (FMO/IMO) that would teach other highly successful, motivated advisors how to achieve even higher levels of success while always putting the interests of their clients first.

Through ongoing personal coaching and training in a variety of novel, market-proven systems, and turnkey tools that encompass every aspect of the business, hundreds of elite advisors across the country are now sharing in the realization of Scranton’s vision.

In addition to running Advisors’ Academy, David J. Scranton is one of America’s most respected and successful independent financial advisors in his own right, and author of the acclaimed book, Stop the Financial Insanity; How to Keep Wall Street’s Cancer from Spreading to Your Portfolio.