Today we’d like to introduce you to Marie Swift.
Marie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Creating services that people value and want to pay for has always been a bit of a knack for me. Not that it came easy, but I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of looking for what’s needed, wanted, and missing — and then aligning my vision and skillsets as I tinkered with business models and service formulas.
Before becoming part of the financial services industry, I worked in hospitality. Those roles required patience, precision, and a genuine desire to serve people well. At one point, while living in Boulder, Colorado, I even owned my own catering business. It was creative and rewarding, but also grueling. What I didn’t realize at the time was that all those hospitality skills — anticipating needs, handling pressure, creating memorable experiences — would later become a superpower when I entered a completely different world.
When my husband accepted his first corporate managerial job, we relocated to Southern California, and suddenly I found myself footloose and fancy-free. I didn’t have a professional network there, so I started exploring what might be next. That’s when I landed a position at a wealth management firm, and that’s where everything clicked. I was surrounded by a highly accomplished group of wealth managers who were doing incredible work for their clients. I was fascinated by the planning process, the entrepreneurial mindset, and the level of care they brought to each relationship.
I learned the investment management and retirement planning business from the inside out — sitting side-by-side with some of the nation’s top financial advisors, observing how they communicated complex ideas and built trust. When we hired outside PR and marketing agencies to help the firm, I found myself captivated by that process, too. I started soaking up everything I could about branding, communications, and media relations. Eventually, I realized that I not only understood the business side of wealth management, but I also had a unique knack for translating that expertise into stories that resonated.
That was the spark that eventually led me to start Impact Communications in 1993. I understood the heart of the advisory profession and knew that I could help independent financial advisors and allied firms articulate their value, grow their influence, and connect more deeply with clients.
The early days were scrappy and exhilarating. I worked from a home office, balancing motherhood, client deadlines, and the endless hustle of entrepreneurship. But I believed in what I was building. I saw how powerful good communication could be in helping advisors build stronger businesses and, in turn, help more families achieve financial confidence.
Fast forward to today, and Impact Communications has been serving a select group of independent financial advisors and allied institutions for over three decades. We’ve evolved alongside our clients, expanding into media, content, and strategic consulting. But the core philosophy hasn’t changed: listen deeply, serve well, and always lead with integrity.
If there’s one thing I’d tell aspiring entrepreneurs, it’s this: every chapter of your story matters. The jobs that seem unrelated, the skills you pick up along the way? They all prepare you for what’s next. My mantra: Stay curious, keep your eyes open, and never stop learning. Entrepreneurship isn’t a straight line; it’s a series of experiments that lead you closer to your purpose.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Has it been a smooth road? Definitely not — but I don’t think any entrepreneurial journey truly is. There have been plenty of bumps, detours, and moments of doubt along the way. But each challenge turned out to be a teacher in disguise.
In the early days of building up Impact Communications, I was working from a spare bedroom with two young kids and a husband who traveled for work. I had no formal business training, no funding, and no roadmap — just determination, curiosity, and a belief that I could figure things out. I wore every hat: CEO, copywriter, graphic designer, client strategist, bookkeeper, and rainmaker. There were late nights, tight budgets, and plenty of “what was I thinking?” moments.
Early on, credibility was the biggest hurdle. I was young, and while I had an excellent foundation on which to stand, I had to prove myself by showing up, doing excellent work, and building trust one relationship at a time. As the business grew, new challenges emerged — learning how to hire, delegate, and scale without losing the personal touch clients valued most. There were missteps and course corrections, but each one taught me something essential about leadership, resilience, and staying true to my values.
If I could go back and tell my younger self anything, it would be this: don’t panic when things get hard. Keep your sense of humor, stay resourceful, and remember that grit and grace go hand in hand. Smooth seas never made a skilled sailor; every storm you weather makes you stronger and more capable.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Impact Communications is an award-winning, full-service PR and marketing agency. We’ve spent over 30 years helping independent financial advisors and allied firms articulate their value, grow their influence, and connect more deeply with their clients. We specialize in building reputation and visibility in ways that are strategic, authentic, and results-driven — whether that’s through media relations, content marketing, thought leadership programs, or brand strategy.
What sets us apart is that we truly understand the businesses we serve. I didn’t come from a traditional marketing and PR background. I came from the client side, learning the wealth management business from top advisors. That insider perspective gives us a rare combination of credibility and creativity, including how to translate complex ideas and produce stories that resonate with current and prospective clients, strategic partners, and the broader industry. We also take a highly personalized approach, partnering closely with each client rather than offering cookie-cutter solutions.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that Impact has developed a reputation for substance over flash. Our clients trust us to be their strategic partner, not just their communications vendor. We’ve created platforms like Swift Chats and Fiduciary Voices that highlight thought leadership in the financial services industry and the wealthtech space. Those initiatives reflect what we care about most: helping our clients make a bigger impact while maintaining integrity and purpose.
Impact Communications is about more than just marketing and PR. We help firms tell their story in ways that build trust, differentiate them from the competition, and strengthen relationships with the people who matter most. We combine strategic thinking, creativity, and executional excellence to help clients not just be seen, but be understood, valued, and remembered.
When I chose the name, Impact Communications, it was intentional. We impact lives. I have always tried to hire the right people, select the right clients, and run a meaningful business, all while staying true to our family-first culture. And yes, I’ve been known to wear a GSD hat along with my Impact-branded vest when not on camera with clients.
Everyone at Impact Communications embraces our 3-D Framework, the PESO Model, and The Impact Way. The 3-Ds stand for dedicated, discerning, and driven. Our omni-channel marketing approach is based on combining paid, earned, shared, and owned communications in the right proportions for each client. The Impact Way is a set of operating principles we share with clients and internal stakeholders.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I like best about Kansas City is the people. There’s a genuine warmth, a sense of community, and a “let’s figure it out together” mindset that you don’t find everywhere. That Midwestern friendliness and can-do attitude extends to business as well — you can build relationships here that are both professional and personal, and that makes a big difference in how work gets done. I also love the city’s growing cultural scene — the restaurants, the arts, and the entrepreneurial energy are all thriving, and there’s a creative spirit that inspires me. For instance, we just ate at Cru Bistro and Bottles in Brookside, which was fabulous. Brunch on a sunny day at Marina 27, waterfront at Lake Lotawana, is always fun and relaxing. We also love a good Sporting KC or Royals game, the Kaufman Theater (especially the TEDxKC event or a great concert is happening), and are really looking forward to visiting Atlas9, the new 90’s art experience, and 1587 Prime, the new restaurant that our two superstar Chiefs players, Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes, just opened.
What I like least? Well, if I’m being honest, it’s that the city sometimes struggles to get the recognition it deserves on a national scale. There’s so much talent, innovation, and history here, but people outside the region don’t always realize how vibrant Kansas City is. That said, it’s also part of the charm — you can enjoy everything KC has to offer without the frenzy of bigger cities, and that balance has been a huge part of why I’ve built my life and business here.
Pricing:
- Custom-scoped project plans
- Retainer-based programs
- Hourly consulting and advice
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.impactcommunications.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImpactCommunicationsInc
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impactcommunications/
- Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/showcase/8288231
- Other: https://swiftchats.libsyn.com/
- Other: https://www.fiduciaryvoices.com/
