In this episode of The Purpose-Focused Advisor, Rob Brown welcomes Lauren Hong, Founder and CEO of Out & About Communications, a branding and marketing agency transforming how financial firms show up in the world. Lauren has spent over a decade helping RIAs ditch stale, cookie-cutter branding and embrace a more authentic, strategic approach. With a background in graphic design and a passion for storytelling, she’s on a mission to help advisors align their identities with their business goals. Whether you’re thinking about a website refresh or wondering how to measure client satisfaction beyond AUM, Lauren drops insight after insight to help you elevate your brand and build trust that lasts.
Key Takeaways:
- How branding in financial services has evolved—and why it’s time to ditch the navy and gray. 03:00
- The real reason your website matters more than you think (yes, people are looking). 08:25
- Why the Net Promoter Score (NPS) is a game-changer—and how to use it as a strategic advantage. 10:21
- Marketing that leads vs. lags—how growing firms can shift their strategy and culture. 21:00
- What it really looks like to build a marketing partnership that grows with your firm. 25:30
Lauren Hong: “At the end of the day, marketing is about taking care of people. It’s a human-to-human business.”
Rob Brown: “Marketing isn’t just a website or color scheme—it’s a reflection of who you are and where you’re going.”
About Lauren Hong: Lauren Hong founded Out & About Communications in 2013. She has grown the agency to a team of 25+ and a client base of dozens of firms across the country. Focused exclusively on financial services, Lauren has consulted with firms ranging in size from $250M to $20B in AUM to grow, scale, and leverage marketing as a strategic asset. Today, she spearheads the strategic direction and business development of Out & About while leaning into the industry to pay it forward.
Connect with Lauren Hong:
Website: https://www.outandaboutcommunications.com/
Email: lauren@outandaboutcomm.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/honglauren/
Podcast: On Purpose: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-purpose/id1704209930
Episode References:
Connect with Rob Brown:
Website: http://truestfan.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/truestfan/