We find that good visuals lie on what we refer to as the "Sweet Spot" of client understanding. While being able to effectively use them may require more time than sourcing and delivering generic canned content, far more time is spent by advisors developing and presenting lengthy PowerPoint presentations and whitepapers that often force the client's eyes to glaze over. Being able to use good visuals also allows advisors to effectively differentiate themselves from peers due to the gap that currently exists in the marketplace for this type of content, and if designed and used correctly, they can help the client reach a sufficient level of understanding around complex concepts without experiencing cognitive overload.
Here are some other examples that support the idea of incorporating visuals into your client interactions whenever possible!
"90% of the information transmitted to the brain is visual" (MIT Study)
"The human brain can process an image in just 13 milliseconds" (MIT Study)
"People who follow directions with illustrations do 323% better than those who follow text-only directions" (Effects of Text Illustration: A Review of Research ECTJ)
"Only 1/2 of an audience was convinced by a purely verbal presentation, that number jumped to over 2/3 when visuals were added" (Wharton School of Business Study)
"The use of data visualizations could shorten business meetings by 24%" (Wharton School of Business Study)
"Appealing to the visual, emotional part of clients' brains can help clients better understand concepts surrounding money and better engage with their advisors."
- Ted Klontz (Financial Psychology Expert)
"We are visual creatures. When you doodle an image that captures the essence of an idea, you not only remember it, but you also help other people understand and act on it - which is generally the point of meetings in the first place."
- Tom Wujec (Technology Pioneer)
Also, be sure to check out this article from Wealthtender about Financial Advisors Who Simplify Complex Topics with Visuals!