Anonymous asset & wealth managers are dead. Attention is the new currency
The Episode at a Glance
Summary
Simon Davies argues that the financial services industry has fundamentally shifted from a product-driven market to an attention-driven one. With over 1 million firms competing for clients globally, outdated strategies like roadshows and pitch decks no longer work. The new playbook centers on personal branding, consistent social media visibility, and positioning executives as thought leaders rather than relying on corporate brands. Small and mid-sized firms can now compete with giants by moving faster and building authentic audience presence on platforms like LinkedIn.
Guest
Simon Davies Managing Partner at Aucta Group. Simon works with emerging and mid-sized asset and wealth managers navigating the transition from traditional capital-raising playbooks to modern positioning strategies. He brings hands-on experience in helping financial services firms build visibility and personal brands in the attention economy.
In Simon's Words
"We've got to be in the attention economy. Right now, it's all about eyeballs and your positioning is going to be greatly enhanced by your visibility on social media platforms."
01:05 The Attention Economy Shift
"Done is better than perfect. Financial people have a tendency to be perfectionists, but when you're getting into the attention economy, get it out there."
02:00 Overcoming Perfectionism
"People are trying to play their corporate brand, not their personal brand. Frankly, nobody cares about the corporate brand these days. It's all about your personal brand."
02:46 Personal Brand vs. Corporate Brand
"A one-person firm in Brazil or Belgium can effectively look like a global media company because of the multiplier effect of being visible on LinkedIn, X, YouTube."
04:04 Small Firm Competitive Advantage
"There are over 1 million firms trying to find clients and raise assets under management today globally. If you are going to stand a chance of standing out, you need to be visible 365 24/7."
05:38 The Always Raising Mindset
"Unless you work for JP Morgan, the chances of your corporate brand getting you new business is very slim. People buy people."
07:36 Why Personal Brand Wins
"The valuation on financial services businesses in the future will be greatly dependent upon the size of the audience the business and the people in it have."
08:16 Audience Size as a Valuation Driver
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