Explore & Discover: Two Key Action Steps for Working With Top Centers of Influence Centers of influence—such as CPAs, estate planning attorneys and other financial and legal professionals—are the single best source of affluent referrals for top advisors. But that doesn’t mean you should try to build relationships with every COI out there. Instead, you need to be selective by identifying a small handful of top COIs who can really help you grow your practice and who also can benefit by associating themselves with you. To hone in on potentially ideal candidates—and avoid wasting too much time on people who don’t fit the bill—CEG Worldwide’s Elite Advisor Strategist Jonathan Powell recommends that advisors have two meetings with the COIs who end up on their short list.