September 2026 – Marketing MindFuel

How to Build Authority Through Consistent Content with Tom Hegna (Ep. 6)

By Marketing MindFuel | September 22, 2026

How do relationship-driven professionals build authority that clients and prospects recognize and trust over time? It starts with consistent visibility, a well-developed point of view, and a willingness to have real conversations.

In this episode, Bjorn Piltingsrud and Andrew Saksa welcome Tom Hegna, economist, best-selling author, retirement income professional, and retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel. Tom shares how decades of research, public speaking, media appearances, and content helped him build a recognized voice in financial services. He also explains how he uses AI to extend his body of work, why social media can create timely reasons to contact clients, and what professionals should understand about preparation, sacrifice, and third-party credibility.

Key takeaways:

Why consistent content and media exposure can build authority that compounds over time
How to use AI as an assistant while keeping your ideas, experience, and voice at the center
How social media can reveal client life events and create genuine reasons to reconnect
Why picking up the phone can lead to better conversations than relying only on texts or emails
How preparation and independent third-party references can strengthen client communication
And more!

Resources:

Connect with Essential Engine:

Connect with Bjorn Piltingsrud:

LinkedIn: Bjorn Piltingsrud

Connect with Andrew Saksa:

LinkedIn: Andrew Saksa

Connect with Tom Hegna:

About Our Guest:

Tom Hegna is an economist, best-selling author, retirement income professional, and retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel with 30 years of financial services experience. After working with MetLife and New York Life, he built a career helping financial professionals and consumers understand retirement income concepts through research, books, training, media appearances, and more than 5,000 presentations. His work includes the books Paychecks and Playchecks and Don’t Worry, Retire Happy, along with an AI playbook built from his writing, speaking, videos, and research.

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How to Build Stronger Client Relationships With Digital Communication (Ep. 5)

By Marketing MindFuel | September 8, 2026

Digital communication makes staying visible easier, but visibility alone doesn’t create a personal connection. How can relationship-driven professionals use technology without making clients feel like another name on a list?

In this episode, Marketing MindFuel hosts Bjorn Piltingsrud and Andrew Saksa explore how digital communication can support stronger client relationships. They explore the difference between familiarity and trust, personalization versus customization, communication preferences, memorable client touchpoints, and ways to stay present without making every interaction transactional.

They also share three practical relationship-building actions and Andrew’s AIO approach for handling objections.

Key points:

How digital communication can maintain familiarity while personal follow-up helps deepen client relationships
Why remembering personal details can turn routine client communication into a more meaningful interaction
How birthdays, milestones, and unexpected occasions can create memorable reasons to reconnect with clients
Why varying emails, texts, events, and personal outreach can help frequent communication feel more natural
How relationship audits, no-pitch outreach, and the AIO framework create practical habits for client contact
And more!

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Connect with Bjorn Piltingsrud: