Just recently licensed, I was searching for a book to help me get started, since I will be working as an independent financial adviser. Ordered this book because of the high reviews and I have to say this book did not let me down. It was better than I expected. This book breaks down exactly what you need to do, step by step, to grow a million dollar practice. My favorite chapters were the first (Overview) and the third (The numbers you need to succeed).

The Overview basically tells you what to expect, explaining that as a new adviser 70% of a 10 hour day should be spent on marketing. Also provides a break down for your weekly marketing goals, time commitment, and target markets.

The Numbers chapter breaks down how many appointments you must set weekly, how much assets you must get under management on a monthly basis, the minimum qualified prospects to keep, and a specific road map to growing your business to a million dollars.

The book also contains marking plans, scrips to help you get started and much more. This is a great book for any new adviser that is serious about growing their business to a million dollar practice!

This is a very good, practical guide, on how to become a million dollar producer. The book is straightforward and full of practical information that anyone can immediately put to use.

The author is a former regional manager at Merrill Lynch and refined his system over many years of working with top producers at the firm. New advisors and those looking for a significant jump in productivity would be well advised to adopt the book as their business plan.

I use the book and have worked with draft copies of the materials for two years and have seen a significant lift in my productivity, client satisfaction and my own professional satisfaction.

The book has info on how to structure your practice, what activities matter, managing investments, niche marketing, working with your assistant and much more.

This is a great companion to Nick Murray's classic book "The New Financial Advisor"

As I begin my own financial services practice I find this book to be very helpful in two areas.

1. The author gets at motivation first. We need to ask the WHY of what we are doing. We need to answer that question in our own lives if we are to be successful. Set goals and then work to achieve those goals. It begins with the reasons we are in this business.

2. Practical steps. The author takes the reader through very practical steps of time management, and even lays out some very basic marketing plans and ideas.

This is a marked up book that will be a constant reference for me.

David Mullen's main theme is a variation of Thomas Edison's oft-repeated words that "genius is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration." Although his book is repetitive and circular, he adds a little more information each time he loops back to an idea. Aspiring brokers will find the effort of following Mullen's train of thought worthwhile: He provides scripts and sample letters, and describes helpful techniques for handling rejection, communicating with prospects and closing sales. He includes information about how to work in teams and how to train sales associates. Mullen's advice is not groundbreaking, but it is specific and practical - although, strangely, he never mentions the importance of developing investment expertise. Thus, getAbstract recommends this book to those who already understand the field and want to use what they know to start selling.

Follow these principles and be your own coach! David Mullen combines strategic planning and how-to-do-it with clarity. Topics include market planning and realistic steps to building a million-dollar practice, as well as building blocks necessary to create a firm foundation. This is the #1 book I recommend in coaching FAs.

Dave Mullen Jr. has put together the essential steps to success in the EXTREMELY difficult process of building a financial services practice. I am one of his disciples and the concept of clearly defining your market action plans, understanding that it takes 100 clients that are constantly being upgraded and 100 prospects that are constantly in your pipeline is the key to success.

Reading the book is step one, consulting directly with Dave Mullen should be your next step. Bravo for a process that works if you are willing to commit!

Howard Hissrich, CFP(r)

I am just beginning my career as a financial advisor and I have found that this book has been very useful in providing the basic steps and fundamentals on building your client base. There are no short cuts in this financial services industry but better planning goes a long way to being successful. In general I feel that this book gives you excellent advise on how to go about getting a solid understanding on what you need to do to be successful as a financial advisor.

Dave Mullen's book is tremendously value added, and is a must read for financial service professionals serious about growing or improving their practice. Dave provides practical advice in granular detail about what it takes to achieve an extraordinary level of success in our highly competitive industry. He provides an excellent blueprint or roadmap for achieving one's goals. If an advisor follows the formula that Dave outlines in his book, success will absolutely be achieved. Dave's message and method can be helpful to those just starting in the business, as well as those with significant experience who are already considered successful by any measure. Most books of this type are simply motivational in nature and filled with platitudes that we have all heard before. Dave provides a specific formula for success. I wish that this invaluable resource had been available earlier in my career!

Most FAs want to grow their businesses and become million dollar producers or multi-million dollar producers. Dave Mullen has done an excellent job presenting a pragmatic plan on how to achieve those milestones. Mullen's ideas are practical and can be applied by any FA at any stage of the business. "The Million-Dollar Service Practice" is simply the best book I have read on the topic of "how to grow a business".

As a new financial planner working on an independent platform, I was seeking help to develop a marketing plan to get my business ramped up as quickly as possible. This book exceeded my expectations. Dave shares what your goals should be depending on what stage in the business you are, then proceeds to explain how to go about achieving them. I appreciate that he spends little time covering motivation, other than to recognize that to work as hard as one needs to build a million dollar practice, you've got to have your own deep motivation to do the marketing required. The most value is in the "how to" go to market which sets this book apart for most others.

My only regret is that the book was not published prior to my start date. If you are new to the financial services business or looking to make a career change, this is a must read book. If you are a seasoned pro, but not a million dollar producer and want to break through to the next level, this book will be of great assistance.

I have been in the business for over 20 years and have continued to refine and grow my practice by applying successful techniques and processes aleady designed by other successful Advisors. This book by Dave Mullen is in a class of its own. Through the countless books, seminars and weekend training retreats that I have utilized to improve my practice..."The Million Dollar Financial Services Practice: A Proven System for Becoming a Top Producer" cuts to the heart of the matter and addresses "Doing the Right things everyday...providing clearity of vision, process and discipline." It's the "Best" I've ever read!

This is the most comprehensive training system for ALL FA's ever written. Dave has taken his years of experience as Top Producer and World Class Leader and translated them into a step by step system that will transform those that are willing to learn. Once read this book will act as a ready reference for years into the future. This timeless work is essential reading for all new FA's as well as senior FA's desiring to grow.

Dave Mullen has spelled out a tactical blueprint for financial advisor success.

It does not matter whether you are at a wirehouse, a regional firm, a financial planner or an independent B/D-RIA; I believe the tactics described in this book will help any serious and motivated advisor increase their business.

I have many years of management experience and I found myself very impressed. I was highlighting and underlining important ideas that will help me grow my practice. This book has become a favorite reference book in my library. I recommend it to every level of FA in the business that wants to grow.

Robert Spicer
Executive Vice President
First Financial Equity Corporation

Former Area Manager and Executive Director, Morgan Stanley

This book fills the void left by "sink or swim" training traditionally used by our financial advisory firms.

Dave's inspiring nature shines through in this text to make us Financial Advisors feel like anything is possible! He gives us the tools to play to our own strengths and capitalize on our own interests and contacts to build a quality wealth management practice. From scripts to bigger picture planning, this book not only inspires us to make changes in our business, but also gives us the tactical tools to do so. I would recommend this book to every Financial Advisor, including those of you at the beginning or somewhere out in the middle of your careers.

Read this book!! I believe it will give you hope and a plan for bringing your vision for your practice into reality.