As much as technology changes the way we do business each year, the one thing that has never changed is that genuine relationships are an important part of success. This truth became clear to Phillip Ramsey early in his career, leading him to develop a unique approach to client engagement in the financial industry.   

I met Ramsey during the Build A Better Agency Summit in 2023 and again in 2024. What immediately captured my attention at the events was the way he could get an entire group of people who were meeting each other for the first time to completely engage in some of the most memorable conversations. Maybe it stood out partially because, prior to the event, I led a Q&A session on how to start conversations during networking events. But his approach personifies what it’s like to start relationships from a human level and build up to something meaningful, lasting and valuable. And I had to know where this comes from. 

Ramsey is the CEO of a financial services firm called Uncommon Wealth Partners. And when you hear him describe what they do, you immediately know that these are people who are going to care about you and what matters to you. He told me, “I really believe that our clients are their best asset. People are uncommon, and this is an uncommon path that you've taken, that other business owners have taken, and they've had a passion of something, and then they stepped into it, and now they get to do that every day. So, my favorite thing is not trying to accumulate a lot of wealth for somebody. My favorite thing is when people wake up and love what they do every day, and they don't really think about retirement because they're just super excited about doing what they're doing today” 

And as you’ll see, getting to know people for who they are and what they’re passionate about is what drives everything that Ramsey does at Uncommon Wealth Partners. 

The Experience That Shaped A Leader

Ramsey’s entrance into the financial advisory industry began with an eye-opening experience. Shortly after getting married, he sat down with a financial advisor from one of the big brokers. This advisor was trained to leverage LinkedIn connections and after their conversation he boldly slid over a paper with 5 names listed. He thanked Ramsey for his time and asked for introductions to the 5 LinkedIn connections that the advisor had chosen in advance of their conversation. Ramsey’s reaction was immediate, “I took that piece of paper and crumpled it up. I was like, this has taken me a lifetime to create those relationships. You've sat down with me for 45 minutes. How dare you?” This experience completely underscored the value of genuine relationships, and it set him on a path to do better – to never ask for a referral in his business.

For Ramsey, relationships are priceless. He believes in a relational business model where the client's enthusiasm and excitement about their financial plans naturally lead to referrals. He advises, “How about you just be excited about your plan? Because I’m super excited about where you’re going and how you’re going to get there. When they ask you, ‘How in the heck are you that excited?’ you can say, ‘I have a guy who’s just as excited as I am.’” You can practically feel the energy in all of that.  That’s what makes his approach so magnetic, making the referral process organic and authentic.

Techniques for Opening Authentic Conversation

But what I really wanted to know was how he seems to effortlessly make himself the guy you want to know at events. Ramsey’s approach to opening conversations is wildly engaging and almost shocking in the way you find yourself opening up so easily to this person you just met. He told me that he thrives in environments where authenticity is valued over traditional networking. And no, it’s not something he plans ahead of time. He just goes with whatever feels right in the moment.  

Here are some of his tactics:

1. Ask Thought-Provoking Questions

Ramsey loves asking unique questions that prompt deeper thinking. He believes in the power of curiosity. “Every time I step in front of somebody, there’s something that I’m like, ‘Huh, that’s fascinating. I would want to know a little bit more about this.’”

One of his favorites is, “What would be your walk-up song before you go up on stage?” This question not only breaks the ice but also reveals a lot about the person’s personality and preferences.

2. Engage with Fun and Games

At events, Ramsey often randomly initiates light-hearted games to create a fun and relaxed atmosphere. For example, during a Goldman Sachs event, he proposed a simple game involving guessing numbers to decide who would “win a prize”.  The prize turned out to be that the “winner” had to stand up and give a toast. This playful approach brought a small group of people into a shared experience to support the nervous winner. It even created a lasting bond that found the participants quickly collaborating at the next event to keep the fun going – this time with Ramsey being the winner of giving a toast!

I even had the pleasure of watching him add a layer of playfulness to a networking event during the conference we attended. He created a competition out of the evening, handing out $2 bills for getting a hole-in-one in miniature golf.  Mind you, he was not at all involved in the event coordination.  He has simply learned to add elements of fun that enhance the experience and relationships created. The memorability will last from year to year, and I have a feeling it will be built upon as it continues. 

3. Be Authentic and Present

Ramsey’s authenticity shines through in his interactions. He advises having zero expectations when meeting new people. “I don’t have any expectations. That’s it. Like zero expectations. My strategy is to be - how can I further other people’s destinies or how can I get them there faster?”

Being fully present and genuinely interested in others is what I have observed in him every time we’ve connected. He engages with people not to sell something but to connect on a human level.

Key Notes For Application

If you’ve ever wondered how you could be more like the person at the center of the conversation, there are some things you can implement to help get you there.  

• Approach every interaction with the goal of understanding and valuing the person in front of you. 

• Ask open-ended questions that show genuine curiosity about their lives and aspirations.

• Don’t be afraid to introduce elements of fun into the meetings you attend. Whether you’re responsible for coordinating the event or not, there are still elements you can initiate to make the event memorable. Let your inner younger human shine and think of simple games, unique questions, or playful challenges, that will create relaxed and enjoyable interactions. These are the moments that turn into life-long relationships.  

• Be yourself in every interaction. Authenticity breeds trust.  People you’re first meeting are more likely to open up and engage when they feel they’re interacting with a real person, not someone who’s looking for their next sale or opportunity. 

• Don’t forget to follow up and stay in touch. If you’ve never experienced a follow-up from Ramsey, I suggest you reach out and get to know him. His “uncommon-ness” flows right through to his personalized handwritten follow-ups. Find your own unique way to leave a lasting impression with the people you meet. 

Building genuine relationships is a sure way to stand out in any industry.  Adding the power of curiosity and fun creates not only memorable interactions but a magnetic culture for your brand. People are drawn to those who make them feel seen and heard, and enjoying the engagement along the way is the icing on the cake. That’s the kind of experience that people want to tell others about because they want everyone to feel as good as they do.  

I hope you take a page from Ramsey’s book: be present, be curious, and most importantly, be yourself.

If you need some additional encouragement on how to cultivate genuine relationships with ease, join us at an upcoming Q&A . We created that community to share tactics and strategies for a more authentic, relationship-first approach in business.