Product and Sales Support Professionals

In addition to availing yourself of guidance and support from your local leadership, you can tap into our product and sales support professionals − highly qualified subject matter experts in a variety of areas germane to your practice. These specialists are dedicated to professional growth and have achieved advanced designations in their respective fields of expertise.

Through superior service and enthusiasm, they put those skills to work for you every day. Most importantly, they have been in your shoes and are able to understand your challenges and anticipate your needs, helping you develop an action plan that capitalizes on your strengths and works with your unique book of business.

Financial Advisors Answer Team (FAAST)

This dedicated call center offers inbound and outbound support by improving awareness and effective use of our financial planning process, tools and resources; providing value-added sales strategies; selling techniques and closing methods. Easily reached at 1-877-GO-FAAST or by email at gofaast@waddell.com, you'll have instant access to a sales specialist to help you increase sales and grow your practice. Additional online resources include FAAST Line FAQ's, FAAST Sales Ideas and the Power Prospecting Series.

Regional Directors, Sales Support

The Regional Directors of Sales Support deliver sales support across our wide range of investment products, offer portfolio development consultation, and act as presenter and consultant for client and prospecting events. In addition, they provide insight into the management, investment process, track record, differentiation and outlook for the Waddell & Reed Advisor Funds and Ivy Funds, while acting as your liaison to our Investment Management Division.

Regional Directors also provide assistance with insurance and annuity sales strategies as well as assisting with the risk management segment of the financial planning process. Additionally, this group acts as your liaison with our strategic insurance partners’ wholesaling teams who provide training and point-of-sale support and conduct client and prospecting events.

Our Regional Directors are also dedicated to helping you understand our array of financial planning products and how best to implement them. Your Regional Director can offer perspective regarding our focus on personalized financial planning, and how that is fully supported by out planning products and underpinned by technology designed to make you more effective and efficient. From FOCUSPlan models, to Monte Carlo simulations and hypothetical situation analysis, your Regional Director can be your overall planning resource. They also can assist you with key practice management steps, including marketing , case analysis, client consultations, referral networking and annual reviews.

Financial Planning

Our team of highly experienced financial planning professionals provides ongoing support and development for our suite of financial planning products and services. In addition, our Advanced Planning Case Consultants are on hand to assist you with complex financial planning analyses in conjunction with FOCUSPlan® Premier.

Retirement Plans

The Retirement Plans Sales Consultants (RPSCs) are dedicated to providing global support for your retirement plans marketing and sales efforts by: responding to advanced pre-sale questions; offering plan type recommendations; and by participating in the promotion of issues-focused marketing. Our RPSCs are the front line connection to, and authority for, our retirement plan platforms and the associated products, issues, and activities directly attributed to them. In addition, the RPSCs provide prospecting strategies, presentation and closing techniques and plan implementation consultation. Your retirement plan sales efforts are further supported by Retirement Plan Sales Specialists who answer questions on plan parameters, platforms, products, government legislation and sales resources.

Advisor Business Technology & Strategy

This multi-faceted business unit is focused on making you more productive by providing a distinct business toolset from initial planning through implementation. They deliver product strategy enhancements by teaming with our platform business partners; recommend and communicate necessary service model infrastructure; research opportunities for enhanced efficiency in our business processes, applications and tracking; advocate and execute strategic planning to most effectively achieve our mission; and deploy and support technology tools and resources.