Welcome to the March Issue of ActiFi's People, Process, and Technology newsletter. Each issue features stories, news items, and ideas to help financial advisors improve their business. Please share this E-Newsletter with colleagues and friends.
Table of Contents
ActiFi in the News
Launching Market Your Financial Practice.com
News You Can Use
ActiFi Blog
Web Resource of the Month
ActiFi in the News
Technology Conference Addresses Advisor Needs
Technology is both a vital-and for some people, a vexing-part of a financial advisory practice. Advisors often set expectations for new technology purchases that are too high and timelines that are too short to realize the hoped-for benefits. Spenser Segal, CEO of ActiFi, said never let a vendor take control of a product demonstration. The reason: read more...
Social Networking: Going Online Without Crossing the Line
Advisors are increasingly using social media to communicate the advisor's value to clients and prospects. But experts say the really savvy folks are employing it for something more powerful: intelligence gathering. Sam Richter, chief marketing officer of ActiFi, calls it "relationship intelligence." It's going to take time for financial services firms to articulate clearly what their social media strategies are. Meanwhile, how can advisors use this new firepower to best advantage? Read more...
Transitioning to Independence: Evaluating Your Options
This article by RegisteredRep is the second in a three-part series on making the move to independence. It covers the "ins and outs" of determining whether independence will work in your particular situation. Getting it right the first time is important, and evaluating your options properly can make all the difference. Read on to get some valuable advice from Jeffrey Haines, senior vice president of ActiFi Inc., which helps financial advisors navigate all the choices related to independence.
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Launching Market Your Financial Practice.com
Market Your Financial Practice.com (www.marketyourfinancialpractice.com) is a first-of-its-kind online program that in essence, provides an advisor with a virtual marketing coach. FINALLY... every financial advisor can now benefit from having an expertly built marketing plan, AND experts to help answer marketing questions. You can learn more at www.marketyourfinancialpractice.com and watch a video here.
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News You Can Use
How to Make a Million Dollars as an Advisor
These days, perception is reality, and your business needs to look like a million dollars. Unfortunately many advisors feel that their corporate image is unimportant. The survey released last month by Harris Interactive shows that adults between the ages of 50 and 65 spend an average of 15 hours a week online, more time than the average of the 18-24 year olds surveyed. This article discusses the importance of investing in your image and brand.
RIA Survey: $1 Million Not Nearly Enough for Retirement
While the average American family believes $1 million is the gold standard for retirement savings, a new survey by Scottrade Advisor Services finds that most independent advisors think this number is probably way off. Read more...
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ActiFi Blog: Social Media - Can Advisors Participate?
For just about every business today, marketing gurus will tell you that if you're not participating in social media, you're missing out. If you own a business and aren't aggressively promoting your company and building your brand on Web sites like LinkedIn and Facebook, if you don't have a blog, and if you're not communicating to the world on Twitter, then you're losing prospective clients/customers. But what about Financial Advisors-are they allowed to participate? Read more...
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Web Resource of the Month
15 Free Security and Backup Utilities
Clicking any link that you find on the Web-even one at the top of a Google search page-can lead to a spyware infestation. Sure, you regularly back up local data. But what about Facebook contacts, Twitter feeds, and Flickr photos? This article discusses four free downloads and services to protect your PC, seven downloads and services to avoid data disasters, and four free antivirus programs.
16 No-Cost Tools to Improve Productivity, Collaboration
With these 11 downloads and Web-based services, you can share large files, save ink, monitor action items, and accomplish even more.
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