With the year-end holiday season fast approaching, time is running short should you want to host a memorable client event to show your appreciation. Here are three simple, easy-to-organize and high-impact ideas to use this holiday season.

1. Sponsor a holiday photo contest for your clients’ children. Reach out to your clients and encourage them to have their children take photos that represent what the holiday means to them. Create a page on your website to receive the digital submissions. Be sure to display all submissions for the enjoyment of your entire client base.
   To encourage participation, let them know that you will be selecting first, second and third place awards; the selection can be made by members of your office or by vote of your clients. Offer a prize to promote submissions, perhaps a gift card to a local retailer or a donation to a preferred local charity in their name (e.g., animal shelter or soup kitchen).
2. Hold a hot cocoa in-office get together. Pick a late afternoon/early evening to invite your clients to stop in and enjoy a hot cocoa and some seasonal snacks. Let them know they will have a holiday treat waiting for them to take home (e.g., apple pie or basket of chocolate/candies). Be sure the office is appropriately festive. Consider bringing in a special guest to further motivate attendance. Be creative with the guest selection, such as a local celebrity or a chef to provide holiday cooking tips.
3. Get philanthropic. This is a season for giving, after all. Sponsor a food collection drive to which your clients can contribute food via a drop-off at your office. Host a Toys for Tots collection. Set up a GoFundMe page to invite your clients to donate to help those less fortunate in your community, with funds used to pay for soaring electricity bills or to buy food store gift cards.

Whatever the purpose, it’s a chance to engage with your clients in making the season a little bit better for those in need. Remember to fund any effort before the invitation goes out so clients can see it up and running! Don’t forget to place this initiative on your website for greater exposure.

It’s a busy time for clients so any effort should reflect that understanding. Nevertheless, this time of the year offers financial professionals a wonderful way to engage with clients in a meaningful way. Let us know how it goes!

Please reference disclosures at: https://blog.americanportfolios.com/disclosures/