If you’re the type that cozies up to a good business book, below we outline an essential Fall reading list – put together by Financial Advisors for Financial Advisors. Our recurring series the “Advisor Spotlight” asks Vanderbilt Advisors to share books that have helped shape or influence their practice over the years. Below are just a few of our favorites:

1. The Essential Gandhi by Mahatma Gandhi and Eknath Easwaran
   Recommended by Mehul Thakker of Empowered Investments. As a child of Indian Immigrants and an innovative Advisor focused on Impact Investing, Mehul’s thought process is shaped by Mahatma Gandhi, the great Indian peace activist. Impact Investing is a form of political engagement that is rounded out by other tools such as peaceful protest, shareholder proxy and exercising your right to vote. This book gives an indirect perspective into SDG Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. Read the interview here. Read the interview here.
2. What Got You Here Won't Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful by executive coach Marshall Goldsmith
   Recommended by Bob Goellner and Max Mintz of Common Interests Financial. This book is packed with practical advice to facilitate behavior changes for aspiring managers and senior executives. Read the interview here.
3. The Game of Numbers: Professional Prospecting for Financial Advisors by Nick Murray
   Jack Chite, President of Vanderbilt Insurance, suggested this book for Advisors who are interested in building their businesses in the financial services field. Nick has been a Financial Advisor for more than 50 years and his insights on client acquisition and business development shine in this book.
4. The Purpose of Capital by Jed Emerson
   “I think you should send this book to every Advisor whether they call themselves impact or not. Because one of the failures of our industry, in my opinion, is that we fail to critically examine the “why”. Why are we driving this emphasis on growth, growth, growth, more, more, more, without taking into consideration the well-being and the experience of the actual investor themselves? Do those investments really connect to their higher purpose?” – Stuart Valentine from Centered Wealth. Read and listen to the interview here.
5. The Go-Giver, Expanded Edition: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea by Bob Burg
   Kerim Tulun, a VFG Advisor with a big heart for community service, recommends this business parable because it reminds every Advisor that putting clients’ needs first and adding value to their lives through service and ways of giving are absolutely essential to building long-lasting and deep relationships with your clients. Read the interview here.

Some of these books are traditional picks for Financial Professionals. Some are more eclectic. Regardless, they help our Advisors find a purpose, improve business and management skills, and most of all, better serve the clients in their respective niches.

Moira Mai Do is the Digital Marketing Specialist at Vanderbilt Financial Group. She is interested in innovations in AI, Machine Learning, and Impact Entrepreneurship, especially in business/venture that propels climate actions. She holds a BA in Strategic Communications from Temple University.