Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share How Financial Services Firms Can Stand Out in the Sea of Sameness
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
How Financial Services Firms Can Stand Out in the Sea of Sameness
In this episode of CMOs Without Borders, hosts Joel Crampton and Mandy MacPhee dive into one of the biggest challenges facing financial services marketing today: the Sea of Sameness.
From fintechs to RIAs to credit unions, firms are sounding more and more alike, shouting the same claims about being “client-focused,” “digital-first,” or “fee-only.” But if everyone is saying the same thing, how do you actually stand out?
Joel and Mandy share personal stories, cross-border perspectives (U.S. and Canada), and practical frameworks to help financial brands find their white space — the unique position in the market that competitors can’t touch.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode- Why the end of summer is the perfect time to reflect, reset, and plan for 2026.
- The four lenses for uncovering white space:
- Voice of the Customer – listening beyond features to actual pain points.
- Competitive & Category Audits – mapping sameness to identify gaps.
- Cross-Industry Inspiration – borrowing proven ideas from outside financial services.
- Brand Truth – aligning to the authentic story only your firm can credibly own.
- How regional RIAs, fintech startups, and even nonprofits can flip the narrative to stand out.
- The three practical moves you can start tomorrow to escape the sea of sameness.
Blending in is the fastest way to lose in financial services. When your message sounds like everyone else’s, the default choice becomes the biggest or the cheapest provider. Differentiation isn’t a luxury — it’s survival.
Key Quote“What got you here isn’t going to get you there. Founders can only run on referrals and word of mouth for so long. At some point, you need a strategy that makes your marketing work harder than your competition’s.” – Joel Crampton
Resources & Shoutouts- Toronto Local Charity (TLC): Supporting underserved youth with mental health services and life skills.
- Example brands discussed: Wealthsimple, Chime, COHO, TD, RBC.
👉 If your firm’s marketing sounds just like your competitors, it’s time to find your white space. Reach out to Joel and Mandy to cut through the noise and build systems that align marketing with measurable growth.
View all episodes
By Joel CramptonIn this episode of CMOs Without Borders, hosts Joel Crampton and Mandy MacPhee dive into one of the biggest challenges facing financial services marketing today: the Sea of Sameness.
From fintechs to RIAs to credit unions, firms are sounding more and more alike, shouting the same claims about being “client-focused,” “digital-first,” or “fee-only.” But if everyone is saying the same thing, how do you actually stand out?
Joel and Mandy share personal stories, cross-border perspectives (U.S. and Canada), and practical frameworks to help financial brands find their white space — the unique position in the market that competitors can’t touch.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode- Why the end of summer is the perfect time to reflect, reset, and plan for 2026.
- The four lenses for uncovering white space:
- Voice of the Customer – listening beyond features to actual pain points.
- Competitive & Category Audits – mapping sameness to identify gaps.
- Cross-Industry Inspiration – borrowing proven ideas from outside financial services.
- Brand Truth – aligning to the authentic story only your firm can credibly own.
- How regional RIAs, fintech startups, and even nonprofits can flip the narrative to stand out.
- The three practical moves you can start tomorrow to escape the sea of sameness.
Blending in is the fastest way to lose in financial services. When your message sounds like everyone else’s, the default choice becomes the biggest or the cheapest provider. Differentiation isn’t a luxury — it’s survival.
Key Quote“What got you here isn’t going to get you there. Founders can only run on referrals and word of mouth for so long. At some point, you need a strategy that makes your marketing work harder than your competition’s.” – Joel Crampton
Resources & Shoutouts- Toronto Local Charity (TLC): Supporting underserved youth with mental health services and life skills.
- Example brands discussed: Wealthsimple, Chime, COHO, TD, RBC.
👉 If your firm’s marketing sounds just like your competitors, it’s time to find your white space. Reach out to Joel and Mandy to cut through the noise and build systems that align marketing with measurable growth.