Displaying 518 results
In name game, firms struggle to stand out
As the ranks of independent advisory firms have swelled, so has the challenge of coming up with a unique company name
Becoming the leader of the pack
Business coaches love to ask advisers whether they want to be leaders or followers. Since no one wants…
Advisory firms learn how to ‘dress’ for sale success
Just like some home sellers who resort to a fresh coat of paint to enhance their home's “curb appeal,” financial advisers can take steps to help their practices sell faster and for a higher price.
People are key to making technology work
Respondents to the recent InvestmentNews RIA Technology Study overwhelmingly (95%) rated technology as either “critical” or “absolutely critical” to the success of their business
Succession planning: The answer within
Internal succession tends to be far less disruptive than other succession routes, observers said. That is because it usually takes place gradually — often over a period of years rather than months.
Three hurdles to enacting a plan
The most popular succession plan among financial advisers is to have no plan at all
Devise a playbook to stem client attrition in the face of adviser turnover
By the time the clients get a halfhearted call from someone whom they have never met, asking them to keep their business with the firm, they have already heard a much more compelling argument from someone that they are used to trusting: their adviser
Firms slam Finra’s proposal to register operations staff
Finra's proposal with the SEC to register operations staff has not gone over big in the adviser community. Here's why.
For those who dare, social media rocks
Active users -- undeterred by regulatory hurdles -- say they are attracting clients using social media. Moral of the story: don't procede at your own risk.
Winning retirement income business
You know the facts: 10,000 baby boomers are retiring each day, a significant number of pre-retirees change financial advisers within five years of retirement, and 401(k) rollovers don't necessarily wind up under the management of long-term advisers
Why broad ownership can enrich an advisory practice
Top-performing advisory firms, on average, have more than one owner, pay those owners better and seem to be getting more from those owners in terms of management skill and engagement.
Be a leader in an age of equals
A senior executive at a major PR firm recently told me that thought leadership is dead
Niches take flight
Advisers who specialize in servicing a single industry group say their narrow focus -- and greater credibility among prospects -- helps them build a more lucrative practice faster
For advisers, being creative is essential, not an option
Every financial adviser needs to be creative
What if your broker-dealer fails?
Rising legal costs, tougher regulation and strained capital resources are making broker-dealers more vulnerable than ever
Why meshing sales and marketing is important
The terms “sales” and “marketing” are used interchangeably, but they aren't the same
The importance of a continuity plan
Are you a fiduciary? Do you have a fully tested and documented continuity plan? If you answered, “yes,” to the former, you need to answer, “yes,” to the latter
How to create a work flow system
The mere mention of advisory practice work flow — or even thinking about how the work gets done (or doesn't) in an advisory business — is enough to cause many advisers' eyes to glaze over
Tax credit could help some firms
A new health insurance tax credit could hit some small financial advisory firms in their sweet spot — but only if they fit a specific profile
Tackling readers’ problems with CRM programs
Customer relationship management programs seem to be a hot button. My last two columns on the subject…
