The 5-Minute LinkedIn Post Formula (That Actually Works)

Most financial advisors spend 30+ minutes writing a single LinkedIn post.

They sit down. Stare at a blank screen. Wonder what to say. Start typing. Delete it. Try again. Edit endlessly. Question if it’s good enough.

Thirty minutes later, they have a mediocre post they’re not even proud of.

There’s a better way.

I write LinkedIn posts in 5 minutes. And they perform better than the ones I used to agonize over for 30.

Here’s exactly how I do it.

The Problem with “Just Start Writing”

Most advisors approach LinkedIn posts with zero structure.

They just start typing and hope something good comes out.

Bad idea.

That’s like starting a client meeting with no agenda. Sure, you might stumble into something useful. But more likely, you’ll waste everyone’s time.

Posts need structure. Not to make them robotic. But to make them effective.

Structure is what lets you create quality quickly.

And the structure I use is called the ALPHA Formula.

The ALPHA Generator

ALPHA stands for five elements every high-performing post needs:

Audience-first
Lean on data
Personal stories
Hooks that stop scrolling
Actionable takeaways

When your post has all five elements, it works. When it’s missing even one, it flops.

Let me break down each element.

A = Audience-First

Before you write a single word, ask: Who is this for?

Not “financial advisors” (too broad).

Specifically: “Advisors who struggle with compliance approval on LinkedIn posts.”

Or: “Pre-retirees worried about healthcare costs.”

The more specific your audience, the easier it is to write. Because you know exactly who you’re talking to.

Bad: Writing about “retirement planning tips”
Good: Writing about “the healthcare cost mistake pre-retirees make”

One is for everyone (and therefore no one). The other is for someone specific.

L = Lean on Data

Include at least one specific detail, statistic, or observation.

This is what separates “I think...” from “I know...”

Examples:

• “I reviewed 47 retirement plans last month. 43 underestimated healthcare costs.”

• “In 15 years as a CFP, I’ve seen this mistake destroy more retirement plans than any other.”

• “According to Fidelity, the average couple needs $315,000 for healthcare in retirement.”

Data (or specific experience) = credibility.

Generic claims = ignored.

P = Personal Stories

The best posts include a quick personal example.

Not a long story. Just 2-3 sentences showing you’ve actually done this / seen this / lived this.

Example: “I had a client last week who was ready to retire at 62. Until we calculated healthcare costs. Turns out they needed to work 2 more years just to cover the COBRA bridge to Medicare. They had no idea.”

Personal stories prove you’re not just theorizing. You’re speaking from real experience.

H = Hooks That Stop Scrolling

Your opening sentence is the most important part of your post.

If it doesn’t stop the scroll, nothing else matters.

Bad hooks:

• “I’ve been thinking about...”

• “Here are some tips...”

• “In today’s world...”

Good hooks:

• “I just lost a client to a competitor. Here’s what I learned.”

• “Most advisors are making this mistake right now and don’t even know it.”

• “I spent 3 hours this week fixing a problem that took 5 minutes to cause.”

Start with something that makes people think: “Wait, what? I need to read this.”

A = Actionable Takeaways

End with something people can DO.

Not “think about this.” Not “let me know your thoughts.”

Give them an action.

Examples:

• “Run your retirement projection today. Add $300K for healthcare. See what changes.”

• “Open your client list. Find 5 people aged 55-62. Schedule a healthcare cost review this month.”

• “Try this: Next time a pre-retiree asks about retirement, start with healthcare. Not portfolio.”

People remember posts that give them something specific to do.

The 5-Minute Process

Now here’s how to use ALPHA to write a post in 5 minutes.

Minute 1: Choose your audience
Who is this for specifically?

Minute 2: Pick your hook
What will stop them scrolling?

Minute 3: Add data + personal story
What’s your proof? What’s your example?

Minute 4: Write the body
Explain the insight in 3-4 sentences.

Minute 5: Create actionable takeaway
What should they do next?

That’s it.

You don’t need to agonize. You don’t need to overthink. You just need to follow the structure.

Example: ALPHA in Action

Let me show you a post I wrote in 5 minutes using this formula:

Hook: “I reviewed 47 retirement plans last month. 43 underestimated healthcare costs by $200K+.”

Audience: Pre-retirees (implied by topic)

Data: “47 plans reviewed, 43 underestimated”

Personal story: “I reviewed” = my actual experience

Body: “Most people budget for housing, food, travel. But they forget that Medicare doesn’t cover everything. Dental, vision, hearing, long-term care. None of it’s included. And if you retire before 65, you’re paying full COBRA costs until Medicare kicks in.”

Actionable takeaway: “Run your retirement numbers today. Add $300K for healthcare. See if you’re still on track.”

Total time: 4 minutes to write. 1 minute to proofread.

Your Turn: The Prompt

Want AI to help you create ALPHA posts?

Here’s the exact prompt I use: