LORRAINE NOLAN, Founder and Owner of Maven Alliance, Operational Solutions for Financial Advisors, Ottawa, ON
LORRAINE NOLAN
“Enhancing structure and capacity for advisor success”
Lorraine Nolan, the visionary Founder of Maven Alliance based in Ottawa, has navigated a remarkable career spanning over three decades within the financial industry.
This journey culminated in the establishment of Maven Alliance, where Lorraine's passion for optimizing advisor businesses was realized. Her commitment lies in strategizing and refining advisor operations, emphasizing seamless transitions and growth within the financial advisory realm.
From Financial Assistant to Maven Alliance Founder
Lorraine's career spans over 35 years within the financial industry, starting with her role as an assistant for advisors. Reflecting on her early professional pursuits, she shares, “My roles encompassed various tasks such as handling accounts payables, bookkeeping, and diverse administrative responsibility for different advisor offices,” she says. “This experience allowed me to learn the ins and outs of the financial landscape, providing me with an intricate understanding and foundational knowledge into the workings that define the financial domain.”
The pivotal shift occurred when she and her husband acquired a portion of her parents’ asset portfolio, transitioning their business to an IIROC platform. This presented a stark departure from her previous practices. “We collaborated for several years, and an opportunity arose to purchase a book of business from a former advisor in a different city. This transition required intentional strategizing and integration of this new business into our existing operations and adapting to remote work long before the onset of the pandemic.”
Navigating these paths ultimately led Lorraine into her current role as the Founder of Maven Alliance. “I found a genuine fondness for working closely with advisors,” she begins, “not only within their business but also devising methods to elevate their businesses. This journey involved streamlining operations and processes to ensure a smooth transition for clients and our office alike.”
Elevating Advisor Efficiency and Business Strategies
At Maven Alliance, Lorraine’s focus lies in collaborating with advisors to optimize their business operations. “I assist advisors across multifaceted aspects of their operations, emphasizing an in-depth analysis to enhance overall operational efficiency. One key service involves thoroughly examining and refining every facet of their business structure.”
Lorraine also guides advisors through acquisitions, providing comprehensive support when purchasing or selling a book of business. This ensures a meticulous examination and coverage of all involved aspects.
“My role extends to managing transitions for advisors shifting from an MFDA book of business to an IIROC book of business,” she says. “The objective is to facilitate a seamless transition process and offer thorough coverage of all necessary elements inherent in these changes and acquisitions. These services not only simplify operations but also set us apart from competitors by focusing on a holistic approach to advisor business enhancement, ensuring a comprehensive and tailored approach to each advisor's needs.”
For Lorraine, creating efficiency is central to her process. “One of my primary tasks involves evaluating the daily processes within an advisor's office. This extends beyond just working with the advisor; I closely collaborate with the entire team, including assistants. Engaging with the full team allows me to explore their daily routines, examine office-wide processes, and seek avenues to enhance efficiency while minimizing costs and errors.”
Maven Alliance’s mission is rooted in leveraging Lorraine's vast expertise and insights to empower advisors in advancing their businesses. This commitment is underpinned by several core values that guide the company’s approach, including prioritizing cost reduction, enhancing operational efficiency, streamlining processes, and increasing overall capacity. “By focusing on these fundamental principles, my overarching goal is to provide comprehensive support to advisors, enabling them to navigate their operations more effectively and achieve sustained growth.”
“I find it rewarding to witness the positive transformations and advantages for advisors and their teams,” Lorraine says. “Working with them entails restoring their time, boosting their capacity, allowing them to handle additional business, and ultimately refining their business structure. What truly excites me is observing the tangible benefits within their businesses. Enhanced structure and a more process-driven approach are some of the notable outcomes I aim for during our collaborations.”
Clientele Synergy: Working with Like-Minded Advisors
When asked about her ideal clientele, Lorraine finds herself most aligned with advisors who exhibit a proactive approach to enhancing their businesses. “When advisors are enthusiastic and eager to implement positive changes within their operations, it not only facilitates genuine collaboration but also heightens the potential for making significant improvements,” she says.
That being said, once in a position to assist with streamlining these processes, Lorraine’s role revolves around providing an impartial and unbiased evaluation of their business structure and operations. “I focus solely on my independent perspective,” she says. “This unbiased approach enables me to offer objective opinions and feedback, pinpointing potential opportunities that can truly aid and benefit their business.”
Her virtual operations extend her reach across Canada, allowing Lorraine to engage with advisor teams nationwide. She also accommodates travel requests, going the extra mile by visiting different cities across the country. This flexibility in approach and willingness to collaborate regardless of geographical constraints underscores her commitment to providing valuable insights and support wherever needed.
The Process: Strategic Planning and Tailored Implementation
“To begin, I initially conduct a comprehensive assessment of the business needs. This involves examining every facet of their operations, identifying potential opportunities, and formulating actionable recommendations. I then engage in a structured three to four-step process: advisors engage with me for an initial consultation, I assess their needs, I identify opportunities for growth and optimization, and I deliver high-quality recommendations.”
“Following this, I collaborate with advisors to prioritize the recommendations, categorizing them based on urgency and importance. From here, I am able to develop a task-oriented strategy, outlining specific actions aligned with the prioritized needs.”
Working closely with the team members and advisors on a monthly basis, Lorraine is able to implement these tasks, ensuring the recommendations are seamlessly integrated into the business’s operational framework. This systematic and hands-on approach highlights her commitment to providing tailored solutions that resonate with the unique needs of each business. These client relationships last between 12 and 18 months.
In order to fulfill her client requests and reach the utmost standard in the business through ongoing professional development. “I continuously engage in resourceful research, consistently exploring the latest developments and relevancies within advisors' businesses. My focus extends to the realm of technology. Remaining up to date in the latest technological advancements is essential to my practice, as its ongoing evolution can make or break this business landscape!”
It’s also imperative for Lorraine to track compliance changes, ensuring businesses remain aligned with regulatory changes. This unwavering commitment allows her to provide cutting-edge insights and strategies, benefiting advisors and their businesses by offering relevant and forward-thinking guidance.
To expand her capabilities, Lorraine is planning to grow her team by hiring an additional member. “This new addition to the team would assist in collaborating with advisors and their teams while also undertaking research on the backend, thereby facilitating further support for clients and enhancing operational efficiencies within the business.”
This strategic expansion aligns with her commitment to delivering top-notch services and facilitating continued growth in her clientele. “It's my passion for collaborating with advisors, aiding in their business expansion, and enabling them to reclaim valuable time to focus on revenue-generating endeavours. Leveraging my experience, my aim is to support them in their growth journey.”
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Lorraine Nolan
Founder and Owner
Maven Alliance – Operational Solutions for Financial Advisors
Ottawa, Ontario
1.613. 663 .1539