I’m Alana Kohl, and I approve this message.
Can you do the same with confidence? Political ads are abundant, with no end in sight. And at the end of each ad is the candidate’s affirmation that they approve the message. Can you imagine if their enthusiastic community organizers or die-hard supporters were given carte blanche to communicate their reasoning for endorsing or working with a certain candidate? Do you think that message would…
Communicating Change: Planning Essentials to Capitalize on Opportunity
Change is the only constant in life, and the financial industry is certainly no exception. From market volatility, tax code and legislative overhauls, to internal business changes including mergers and acquisitions, partnership developments (or splits!) and similar—top industry leaders are those who embrace and thrive in this environment. How can you prepare for and maximize business opportunities during times of change? Establish and maintain a…
8 Moves to Consider for IRAs, 401(k)s Under New Secure Act
January 13, 2020
What Do Financial Advisors and PR Pros Have in Common? They Keep Their Eye on the Prize
Everyone reading this understands the benefits of someone starting to invest for their retirement when they are in their 20’s vs. their 50’s. Although young investors might see some monetary gains from their investments when they’re in their 30’s, it most likely is not enough money to finally retire from work. Some of the advisors that we work with at AdvisorPR discuss how many people…
An Advisor’s PR Journey in the Media Blitz
A Year In Review For many, the end of the year is a time for reflection and review of the past 12 months. This may be a common practice for you and your business and the same goes for me as a PR professional. Securing media coverage for our clients is an exciting accomplishment I look forward to every day. When I think about a client…
Inheriting a parent’s IRA or 401(k)? Here’s how the Secure Act could create a disaster
December 28, 2019
Reduce your taxes with these last-minute moves before the end of the year
December 28, 2019
Expert: The SECURE Act’s ‘biggest effect’ won’t ‘be on retirees’
December 27, 2019
Happy Holidays! Uncle Sam Makes Retirement Planning, Saving Easier With 6 Key Reforms
December 21, 2019
Congress Passed the Secure Act. Here’s What It Will Mean for Your 401(k) and IRA.
December 20, 2019
What do Google, GEICO and Wealthfront have in common?
An outside-the-box approach to company name selection Apparently, it is name changing season. Over the last year, name changes have been one of the more popular services being requested by AdvisorPR. For some, it’s due to a merger of two competing firms coming together as one. For others, it’s a proactive play to go independent from a captive situation. Another was a break-up of a…
IRS releases new Form W-4: What to know to avoid a refund surprise in 2020
December 6, 2019
Video Production Checklist Part 2: Production Day
You’ve drafted your script, created your storyboard, organized the necessary equipment and vendors from part 1 of this checklist, and now it’s finally here: production day. But your work is far from over. There are many items to keep track of during your video shoot. The following checklist can help you stay organized and ensure everything runs smoothly and efficiently. Equipment – The day before…
The Picture-Perfect TV Interview
There is something about the TV interview that everyone loves. Maybe it’s the fact that when viewers see you or your brand on the screen, it adds an extra layer of credibility to your message. Perhaps it’s because those interviews can be leveraged to share with your audience either through your company website or social media. One thing is for sure; it doesn’t matter if…
Retirement expert: “Stop taking pictures of your food and open a Roth IRA”
October 25, 2019
M&A is Rampant: How to Stay Competitive
Return to Marketing Basics Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are all the rage in the financial services industry right now. But, if you don’t want to participate in these ventures, consider the other “A”—addition. As a marketing major (many moons ago), marketing 101 taught us the 4 Ps of marketing – Product, Placement, Price and Promotion. Each of these areas has variables that impact the success…
Financial Coach vs. Financial Advisor: Which Is Right for You?
October 10, 2019
54 years after getting her Series 1 license, advisor finds new BD and enterprise group ‘exhilarating’
October 8, 2019
Tick, Tock! Tax Deadline For 2018 Returns With Extensions Is Near
October 7, 2019
What to Do If You Don’t Like Your Retirement Community
September 20, 2019
5 Tips For First Time Home Buyers Aiming To Slash Their Down Payment
September 19, 2019
The Most Important Thing To Do If You Are Worried About A Recession
September 5, 2019
How to Evaluate Your Marketing Efforts
Marketing is often one of the largest investments for an independent financial advisor. Just like the investments in your clients’ portfolios, marketing efforts need to be considered an investment (not an expense.) This means measuring, evaluating and adapting over time to fit the changing environment. In my most recent blog, I shared tips on creating a successful marketing plan for a financial advisor. Once these…
Retiring Overseas? How Medicare May (Or May Not) Fit Into Your Plans
August 8, 2019
Dow Down, S&P 500 up: Stocks Close Mixed After Trade and Recession Fears Swing Markets
August 7, 2019
Retirement Savings: What You Should do When The Market Plummets
August 6, 2019
Fixed Annuities or CDs: Retirees Have a Big Decision to Make as Interest Rates Fall
August 1, 2019
How to Create a Marketing Plan for Your Financial Business
I believe there is no shortage of marketing ideas in the financial industry. In fact, I have found that the “shiny idea” syndrome of bouncing between too many inspirations is often a bigger marketing challenge for financial advisors. So, how do you know what marketing efforts make sense for you and your financial brand? Just like financial planning, successful marketing starts by having a clear…
Planning to travel while on Medicare? Make sure you have coverage at your destination
July 14, 2019
3 things that are destroying your brand
What to stop and start right now You don’t see it. And you can’t feel, smell, taste or touch it. But it’s there – lurking on your website. On your social media platforms. In your client letters. Brochures. You may even be delivering some of it yourself. It’s client repellent. It’s out there, and you’re the one responsible for it. You’re inadvertently saying and doing…
Content Marketing: Technology Tools to Become a Better Writer
Increasing search engine rankings, lead generation, conversion rates, client retention, referrals, overall marketing ROI—the list goes on for reasons content marketing has undeniable benefits as part of an inbound marketing strategy. Content marketing gets 3x more leads than paid search according to a study by Kapora and marketers who prioritize blogging are 13x more likely to see positive ROI according to Hubspot. So, why aren’t…
CRISIS COMMUNICATION WHEN DISASTER STRIKES: WHAT AND WHEN TO COMMUNICATE
No one wants to think about it—It will never happen to you, your family or your clients or community. But bad things do happen, and when it’s part of your network, it’s important to know what to communicate, and when. While natural disasters can be prevalent this time of year, unfortunately, there are many man-made disasters that warrant a crisis communication plan as well. When…
Curious About Investing in an IPO Like Uber or Beyond Meat? Here’s What You Need to Know
May 17, 2019
Getting to the CORE of Your Company’s Brand
Substance Sells, Generic Repels Like it or not, your business is a brand. If you engage with other people, you have a “brand image” that’s being portrayed. And yes, even if your firm is small, it still projects a brand, too. If you don’t know what that brand is, you’re likely committing a rookie mistake—don’t brand on accident. Be purposeful and strategic and, most importantly, involved…
Dow, stocks fall in midday trading as US-China trade talks resume in D.C.
May 9, 2019
Don’t add another marketing piece until you do this…
Why too much marketing material dilutes the message This industry is consistently evolving and reinventing itself. Advisors are fortunate to have so many “middlemen” vying for their business. From RIAs to B/Ds to IMOs—many of them will do anything to get your clients’ assets. Often, this means providing you with marketing materials and strategies to help you… wait for it… sell more of their products!…
Video Production Checklist: Pre-Production
Are videos a part of your marketing strategy yet? Video marketing is a trend that has become increasingly more popular and shows no signs of slowing down. If you’re not convinced that you need to incorporate videos into your marketing strategy, check out these statistics by Hubspot: 81% of businesses use video as a marketing tool, up from just 63% percent last year. 78% of…
Tell The Right Story At The Right Time
Sometimes you can judge a book by its cover Have you ever been to an airport waiting for a flight only to find yourself perusing a bookstore to pick up the next title you just might read? Of the hundreds of titles to choose from -what makes one book stand out over the other? You might go to the section you are interested first – let’s…
Americans are more confident about saving for retirement, CNBC survey finds. That doesn’t mean they aren’t worried
April 1, 2019
Treasury changes lump-sum pension buyout rules: What it means for workers, retirees
March 21, 2019
How to Win Awards for Your Financial Firm
40 under 40, Top Financial Advisory Firm, Fastest Growing RIA, Best Place to Work—you’ve seen the lists. Perhaps even your competition is on them. Want to know how you can win awards and accolades for your financial business? 3 Ways to Help You Win Awards: There are two kinds of professional awards: Those that rank your business strictly on hard facts, (like AUM via SEC or…
Slam-Dunk Public Relations: What Basketball Can Teach Us About PR
With March Madness quickly approaching, many of us basketball fans (myself included) are gearing up for one of the most exciting sporting events of the year. There’s just something about filling out those brackets, anticipating upsets and waiting to see which of your predictions will be right, that makes you want to play hooky from work so you don’t miss a single game (myself excluded,…
Here’s Exactly How Often You Should Check Your Investment Accounts
March 6, 2019
Don’t Make This Common Investing Mistake That Could Cost You Thousands
March 5, 2019
When it’s time to sell… How to maximize your brand equity
You’ve climbed the mountain. Reached the top. The pinnacle of your life’s work is under you. And now it’s time to cash in. Other than the obvious strong financials, what else is going to help you sell your financial planning business for top dollar? According to industry publications, valuations for financial planning firms are reaching record highs, and private equity is more interested than ever…
Tax filing trouble? What to do if you can’t reach the IRS
February 26, 2019
Here’s your tax bill if you hit $245 million Mega Millions or $322 million Powerball jackpots
February 26, 2019
Phone Bank: Experts answered your questions about Social Security
February 22, 2019
When it’s time to buy…How to maximize your acquisition
Getting the most out of what you bought You’re in growth mode. You’re unstoppable. You’re part of the growing trend in the financial services industry of acquiring smaller RIAs to build your “mega-RIA.” And you’ve only just begun… If you’re in the business to buy businesses, you probably have this acquisition thing down. But if you’re just beginning the process, head this advice: Business acquisitions…
High health-care costs could get you a tax break on your 2018 return
February 14, 2019
Today’s Biggest Opportunities in the Financial Services Industry (PART 2)
Creating a Marketing Plan for Retaining Gen-Xers and Millennial Clients During ‘The Great Wealth Transfer’ In my previous blog, I shared two of what I consider to be the biggest opportunities for the financial industry in 2019, including committing to mastering your craft and preparing for sales, mergers and acquisitions. The third area creating the biggest challenge and thus opportunity: How to retain assets under…
These red flags on your 2018 tax return could spark interest from the IRS
February 1, 2019
Today’s Biggest Opportunities in the Financial Services Industry
Reflections and Marketing Forecast for 2019 and Beyond With the New Year comes a time of reflection for most Americans, and for me personally hits a milestone of 10 years of working in the financial industry. What has changed since the markets bottomed out a decade ago? A Look Back In January of 2009, with the aftershock of the stock market collapse paired with the…
Up Your Marketing: From “Me, Too” to “A Cut Above”
Step One: Doing A Complete Brand Evaluation Start with the big picture. That means taking a microscopic as well as a 30,000-foot look at how your audience and prospects view you. What is your real corporate identity? How is it any different from any other advisor? What are your core messages that feed into and support your brand identity? Do you know how the marketplace…
Maximize Your Media Success in 2019
Creating a Public Relations Plan for Your Financial Firm A new year, a new beginning. As you create your business plan for 2019, now is also a great time to proactively plan your public relations strategy. For many financial professionals, this can often go overlooked, leaving them scrambling later in the year as they realize they failed to prepare a media strategy. We have often…
The IRS can’t pay out tax refunds during the partial government shutdown, but experts say you should still file ASAP
January 7, 2019
It’s The New Year – Time to Reassess Your Sales and Marketing!
Research What’s Working and What’s Not Use the beginning of the new year to dig into your sales and marketing data to find out what works and what doesn’t. Examine the number of prospects touched during the previous year; the number of follow-up’s required to close each new account; and what specific sales activity or marketing message most prompted each new client to sign up….
Has Social Security cut your benefits? Here’s what you should do
December 27, 2018
How to deal with market volatility if you’re retiring soon
December 19, 2018
Dow reverses course and ends higher despite trade, Brexit concerns
December 10, 2018
Claiming a tax deduction for medical expenses is getting harder. What to do before the end of the year
December 6, 2018
Social Security falling short? Top ways to supplement retirement income
October 18, 2018
Speaking to eighth graders: why you need to simplify your technical financial jargon during media interviews
When it comes to the financial services world, the jargon can seem as though it is a foreign language and the acronyms can feel like alphabet soup to the average consumer. While some of these financial terms may be unavoidable during your client meetings, you also have the time to explain what they mean, if necessary. But when it comes to media interviews, there is…
He retired at 34. Here’s how many people are enjoying a very early retirement
October 13, 2018
Have a 401(k) or IRA? Not keeping an eye on this number could cost you dearly
October 7, 2018
Nontraditional interviews: How to prepare for Live Streaming Interviews
From Facebook Live to Youtube Live, streaming video is the way of the future. As more American turn to social media channels to get their news, media outlets are shifting their focus to providing livestream content. While preparing for a livestream interview can be similar to a live TV appearance, there are still some unique steps you should take ahead of your livestream event to…
Nontraditional interviews: How to prepare for Skype and Facetime interviews
In the new era of digital media, non-traditional interviews are becoming increasingly more common but for many financial professionals, experience with these types of interviews is rare. Whether it’s streaming a live interview through a digital platform or recording a video interview through Skype or Facetime, there are tips that financial professionals should note before participating in a non-traditional interview. In this blog, I’ll address…
U.S. government seeks to help small-business workers save for retirement
September 12, 2018
BRANDING STRATEGY: The Devil’s In The Details
A brand is composed of four elements: Essence . . . Attribute . . . Identity . . . and Positioning. Essence is the core or heart. How do people feel emotionally about your brand? Attribute is the dominant trait. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when people see your brand? Identity is the character of your brand. What’s the likeability of your…
Media Placement Highlight Reel: Leverage Your PR Placements Through Video
After accruing a fair amount of media placements, you may be wondering how you can best display your PR successes. While leveraging your placements on your website and social media is a crucial step to ensure you are making the most out of your PR efforts, there is another, more creative way to display your portfolio of placements: a media placement highlight reel. A media…
Growth Hacker Marketing
Using tech startup strategies to build your financial advisory business We’ve all see the tech industry exposed over the past two decades. Many start as a simple idea and seemingly overnight turn into huge businesses that become part of our everyday routine and vernacular. In many ways, the technology industry redefined marketing—the status quo of brand building by buying expensive ad space died with the…
HOW TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY AS A FINANCIAL ADVISOR
The very first step in communicating effectively as a financial advisor is defining YOU: What you do and how you do it that differentiates you from other financial advisors. What is it that makes you stand out from the crowd? If you think your unique value is your ability to understand client needs and objectives, you should know the vast majority – 75% – of…
If someone asks to borrow money, here’s how to avoid becoming a human ATM
August 1, 2018
Use the Summer Doldrums to Assess, Adjust and Renew
The summer doldrums usually mean downtime for many wealth & investment management practices. The principals all take lengthy vacations (and staff lesser duration) on a rotating basis, leaving a skeleton crew to manage the shop in others’ absences. It’s a lazier season of the year for most investment professionals. It’s a time for taking life easy. Kicking back. Traveling to one’s favorite city or destination…
5 Questions to Ask Yourself as You Watch Back Your TV Interview
Pinpoint areas where you can improve your on-camera presence with these simple questions One of your first thoughts after completing a television interview is often, “how did I do?” and one of the best ways to get an idea as to how you performed is reviewing your interview yourself. While opinions and feedback from others can be helpful, it’s also important to take it upon…
The “Right” Amount of PR: Finding the sweet spot of media coverage
Public relations is a fantastic branding tool that can help increase your visibility and credibility while illustrating your expertise through editorial coverage. (Conversely, advertising only affords you the opportunity to just “tell” someone you’re the best and that they should listen to you – not a ton of credibility in that!) However, there are some instances when positive media coverage can work against you. Even…
When Clients Acquire Vast Wealth, Advisors Are A Priceless Resource
June 22, 2018
Rich people in high-tax states are using this strategy to evade SALT caps
June 19, 2018
Why do the colors on my marketing materials always look different? Understanding color codes
Every industry has its own language full of acronyms and jargon. Just as an IRA, IAR and RIA seem similar enough but have drastically different meanings for financial professionals, color modes in the design and marketing world contain similar complexities. While you may think your brand colors are blue and gold—it is not always as simple as that. In actuality, the naming of colors can…
What NOT to Do in Your Media Interview: How to Avoid Being a Bad Guest
A broadcast interview opportunity, whether it be television or radio, can be a great way to share your expertise and position yourself as a knowledgeable expert. Often when these interviews are done successfully, they can turn into reoccurring opportunities, allowing you to appear on these local or national platforms monthly, weekly and sometimes even daily. Unfortunately, many financial advisors can fall victim to common taboo…
What to Look for When Hiring a Public Relations Firm
Working with a public relations firm can help you generate buzz and differentiate against your competition, creating credibility and awareness for your services. However, hiring one is a big decision—one that should be well thought out. But if you have never hired a PR firm before how do you know what to look for? It is important to understand so that you can make a well-informed…
Ways to cash in on your home equity and the tax implications of doing so
May 17, 2018
ATTENTION! Get Yours Now! 3 Ways to Attract the Attention You Deserve
For financial advisors, the struggle is real…. Standing out in a crowded marketplace is anything but easy. With hundreds, and in some markets, thousands, of financial service professionals vying for the same clients, how can you set yourself apart? How do you best position and present yourself as the most trustworthy, knowledgeable and in-demand professional in your community? A “follow the crowd” approach to marketing…
Financial Expert Gives Tips for College Graduates Entering Workforce
May 9, 2018
4 Fundamentals of Effective Financial Marketing
How can I improve marketing results for my financial practice? As the financial industry has continued to evolve toward a comprehensive, financial planning service model over the past decade, many of the advisors we speak with have developed a systematic process to review a new client’s holistic financial picture as a critical first step. The vision: aligning insurance, investments, taxes, estate planning and more can…
How to Keep Your Grown Children From Endangering Your Retirement
April 30, 2018
3 Ways a TV Interview Can Help More than Just Your PR Presence
Securing a TV interview can be an exciting time for a financial professional. A TV placement provides you with a visual component that can be leveraged in a number of ways – from including it on your Youtube channel, to showing the clip at a client or prospect event, to creating a media reel to display in your lobby or office. But aside from the…
Public Relations for Financial Advisors: The Importance of Local Media
When I speak with clients and prospective clients, I can’t help but notice that the majority are more excited about the possibility of working with national news outlets rather than local media. Whether it’s print, TV or radio, it is primarily the same—national media outshines local media in many eyes and has that “sizzle.” But what many do not realize is that local media can…
Out-of-date beneficiary designations are a common and costly mistake
April 17, 2018
7 Tips for Financial Marketing Literacy in 2018
April is Financial Literacy Month—a national effort to highlight and teach the importance of how to establish and maintain healthy financial habits. It made me think about the importance of “marketing literacy” and what financial services companies need to understand to maintain healthy financial marketing practices. There can be a lot of confusion about what marketing terms actually mean, such as positioning or marketing funnels,…
Marketing Essentials for a Financial Advisor: Professional Headshots
Above all, financial services is a relationship business, and photography is a critical tool for introducing and depicting your team to create an instant and lasting impression. These images will be what prospects store in their memories and associate with your name when they see your email in their inbox or your name on their caller ID. They create a feeling of familiarity through your…
These are the ways student loans stop people from buying a house
March 31, 2018
The Best Retirement Plans: How To Build Up Savings That Last As Long As You Do
March 30, 2018
5-point Checklist For a Successful TV Interview
What will I say? How do I practice? What will I wear? How do I calm my nerves? What do I do after the interview is over? These may be some of the thoughts running through your mind once you’ve secured a TV interview opportunity. Whether it be live or recorded, there are many steps you should take to make the most out of your…
The Power of the Press Release: Increase Visibility, Searchability and Credibility
Hear Ye, Hear Ye. Back in the day, (yes, way back in the day) these are the words used by the town crier to catch people’s attention so that he could make a public announcement. While it may not have been the most efficient, it was certainly simple. Stand in the middle of town and read the announcement from a scroll. That is how the…
When to Insource Versus Outsource Your Financial Marketing
How to maximize your combined resources for the BEST results What to do or what not to do. That is always the question! It’s a common narrative by industry coaches to “pick the three things that only you can do, and delegate the rest!” But what happens when you delegate important “big stuff” to an internal team that doesn’t know where to start? Or conversely,…
Writing Checklist: How to Craft the Perfect Financial Bio
If you have ever stared at a blank page struggling to write your own biography, you know what a challenge it can be to effectively communicate all the compelling reasons a future prospect should want to work with you. It is almost like a first date or answering the notorious hiring interview question: “Tell me about yourself…”—an open-ended opportunity that leaves many at a loss…
How to Land Media Interviews Surrounding Market Volatility (and Other Breaking News)
When Ongoing PR Efforts Pay Off for Advisors Often times, media opportunities occur because of someone, typically a PR professional, actively working on behalf of a client to secure media interviews. And while this is the case more often than not, at a certain point, there comes a time when consistent PR efforts pay off in a big way. When breaking news occurs, newsrooms must…
The Art of the Pitch: How to Become a Go-to Financial Resource for the Media
Have you noticed that every year the media features the same stories? Calendar based stories from the holiday season, back to school, Halloween and tax season are just some of the topics that must be included in the media’s coverage. As a financial advisor, you possess knowledge that could be valuable to media in your local area for some of these “must report on subjects,”…
Cryptocurrency Craze: The Ultimate Risk In Financial Investing
February 21, 2018
The 3 Myths of PR: Dispelling the Misconceptions that are Holding You Back
There are a lot of myths and misconceptions surrounding PR, and it appears that many advisors have the same questions or concerns about moving forward with a public relations strategy in their businesses. They don’t fully understand what it is or the value working with the media can provide. However, if you’re serious about your success, it can be the single best thing you can…
How Advisors Make It Easy For Clients To Commit To Positive Change
February 12, 2018
9 Advertising Must-Haves for Financial Professionals
On the heels of the Super Bowl, it is an annual tradition to discuss and analyze the ads that played during the big game. While there may not be multi-million dollar national TV ads in your future, as a financial professional there are advertising fundamentals that are important to communicate effectively and leave a lasting impact. Whether a workshop mailer, a print ad in a…
Financial Expert Says Don’t Panic After Dow Jones Sees Historic Drop
February 5, 2018
Triangle investors talk about Monday’s 1,175 stock market drop
February 5, 2018
Maximize Your PR Opportunities: A Step-By-Step Guide to Coordinating and Confirming Interviews
So, you’ve hired a public relations firm to help boost your media presence and build your brand – smart move! You may be itching to begin the interview process so you can see your first placement and start to feel the impact PR can have on your business – but where do you start? When you first sign on for PR services with AdvisorPR, the…
Email Marketing Automation: Systematize Your Financial Business
Email Marketing Automation (EMA) refers to a variety of tools and mechanism that help to automate ongoing conversations and the seamless delivery of content to your clients and prospects. EMA is traditionally used for a welcome or nurture sequence, which can include tailored messages specifically to your list’s interests. EMA has become a prevalent and growing business strategy due to how efficient, scalable and convenient…
Roth IRAs have been around 20 years — here’s how (and why) to take advantage
January 21, 2018
Celebrating 13 Years: 5 Lessons Learned and Tips to Fast Track Your Own Company’s Success
AdvisorPR’s anniversary is quickly approaching. It’ll be 13 on January 31. As I reflect back on my business over the past 13 years, and of course on the heels of New Years and new goals for 2018, it dawned on me—if I had known then what I know now, how different the journey might have been. Isn’t that what we all say? But I likely…
Tax Reform Killed A Key Roth IRA Legal Loophole — Here’s What To Do
January 18, 2018
How To Coach Undisciplined Clients Without Sparking Their Anger
January 12, 2018
Make This One Change to Your Retirement Account Now, Tax Experts Say
January 12, 2018
Resolutions for Your Financial Business’ Public Relations
It’s the beginning of a brand-new year and a great time to think about some New Year’s resolutions for your business. Yes, you are running out of time, so here at AdvisorPR, we put our heads together to help and came up with a few items that could get your public relations efforts off to a great start. Hire a professional This should sound familiar to…
Taxpayers in high-tax states flock to town halls to pre-pay property taxes
December 27, 2017
Financial Marketing Tips & Tools for 2018
As 2017 draws to a close, many of our clients are making plans this holiday season to relax, recharge and refocus on their marketing goals and resolutions for the new year. The top of many lists includes an emphasis on digital marketing in 2018. Whether that means: Expanding your website to become more engaging and educational Creating a blog or podcast to establish thought leadership,…
Using Calendar-based Events in Your Financial Marketing:
From the Holidays to Milestones… Don’t Miss a Timely Opportunity to Be Seen, Heard and Hired ‘Tis the end of the year and all through your town people are scrambling to maximize their taxable deductions, among other things. From tax deductions and capital gains strategies to retirement account contributions, required minimum distributions and charitable gifting (and everything in between!)—it’s a race with the clock to…
Frank Maselli & Alana Kohl:
The Power of PR – A Performance Enhancing Activity For advisors who are ready to take their practice to higher levels of sophistication and success, PR can be a goldmine opportunity. It can open doors, elevate your stature to a point where prospects call you and make referrals about 90% easier. What to expect from a public relations campaign: Differentiating yourself in a competitive market…
How To Stick To Your Budget In The Age Of Digital Payments
December 12, 2017
Talking Points 101:
A Guide to Making Your Interview Cheat Sheet Talking points can serve as a great resource as you prepare for a media interview. Most often used for TV or radio interviews, talking points can be developed in advance so that both you and the interviewer understand the general direction of the interview. By proactively creating talking points, you can help ensure that the interview goes…
Why Quit Your Job? Let Skype, CRM And The Cloud Keep You In The Game
December 5, 2017
How Do I Get Media to Attend My Event?
4 Tips to Attract Media Attention The holidays are approaching and that got me to thinking about parties. It’s a great time of year to celebrate and many financial advisors will be inviting their clients and prospective clients to a big annual event. It is a nice thing to do, and it’s a time where an advisor and their clients get to mingle in a…
Tax Revamp Helps Fund Managers But Leaves Their Investors to Pay
November 20, 2017
Top 5 Mistakes Financial Advisors Make in Social Media:
How to avoid them to create a savvy social media presence In today’s world, we know that if you do not have a presence on social media and Google, then you really don’t exist. People are moving away from checking the yellow pages and instead turning to Siri or to “Google It.” So how do you stay “top of mind” to folks who are living…
Psst, Millennials! Want An Extra $830K In Your 401(k)? Here’s How
November 13, 2017
Technology and Your Financial Brand
Industry Insights, Key Messages & Considerations Where are you when it comes to technology? Are you an early adopter? Do you embrace cutting-edge innovation in your personal and professional life and use those tools and apps to communicate with clients? Or, do you cling to the old days? Do you tell yourself, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it—my yellow legal pad and dry erase…
Pick the wrong Medicare drug plan and the cost will shock you
October 24, 2017
The Advisor’s Guide to Blogging
Welcome to a blog about blogs! With Halloween just around the corner, this is the perfect opportunity to face your marketing fears and identify a “new” medium and make it your own. For many advisors, content marketing may be at the top of the list. Let’s start with a quick look at just a few reasons why blogging is well worth your time: Content is…
“Off the Record”: Proceed with Caution
Has a reporter ever asked you a question “off the record,” and you’re unsure how to approach this potentially sticky situation? In the world of journalism, an off-the-record statement can help provide context or background information to a reporter, and it is (usually) understood as off limits, or not for publication. But as many of us already know, whether through personal experience or the many…
In a world of passive investing, active strategies still have a place
October 11, 2017
The Military Hopes to Spur Savings With a New Retirement Plan
October 8, 2017
Don’t Worry, There’s Still Time to Undo the Money Mistakes You Made This Year
October 6, 2017
Is Your Marketing a Trick or Treat?
How to make sure your promotion dollars are getting a return Often, small business owners allocate a total gross percentage of their revenue to their “marketing” budget. I often hear anywhere between 10 to 30 percent that’s “invested” back into promotional activities with the goal of attracting more prospects, generating more referrals and closing more business. But when asking the follow-up questions “What’s your…
Media Reel: What is it and why do I need it?
Depending on the extent of your PR experience, you may or may not have heard of a media reel. Even if you have, you may not fully understand the purpose it serves and why you might need one. So, here’s the details on media reels and why you may want to consider getting one: What is a media reel? A media reel is a…
What investors should do before the bull market gets gored
September 19, 2017
Making a Living as a Freelancer? Here’s How to Save for Retirement
September 10, 2017
Why Media Wants to Hear from You
Do You Have What it Takes to be a Financial Resource? So, you want to become a source for media, but you don’t know if you have what it takes? You may be surprised to learn that journalists are always looking for sources; they are necessary for the articles they write. This is especially true in more complex industries, like the financial sector. Unless the…
Materials a Reporter May Find Helpful
How to Leave Behind a Lasting Impression Following Your Interview. Talking points? Check! Professional attire? Check! Nail the interview? Check! After preparing and conducting a successful interview, you may feel like your job is done, but what if there were a way to help secure yourself as an ongoing resource with the reporter you just interviewed with? There are several support materials you can provide…
How to Gain Media Attention
MEDIA COVERAGE IS THE HOLY GRAIL OF ADVERTISING: FREE, TRUSTED, SCALABLE Have you ever tuned in to your local news station to find an interview with a financial professional? In April, he might be asked about tax prep. In December, charitable donations may be the topic of conversation. Regardless of the topic, for financial experts, being interviewed on the news is the perfect way to…
The Trump Administration Just Killed This Retirement Saving Plan, But Don’t Panic
August 23, 2017
Why traditional investment strategies just don’t work anymore
August 22, 2017
Recorded vs. Live Interviews: What’s The Difference?
How to Successfully Prepare to be a Financial Advisor On The News Many of us have experience in front of a camera, but have you ever experienced live TV? While any on-camera opportunities are notable and help improve your on-camera presence, if you’ve never experienced a live TV interview, then you could easily make the common mistake of assuming both scenarios are essentially the same….
3 Tips to Focus your Financial Marketing Priorities
Over the past decade of working closely with financial advisors, there is a common personality trait I have witnessed in many of the industry leaders. This attribute is what the Kolbe Assessment may call a “quick start,” the entrepreneurial spirit that drives advisors to start and build successful businesses. This can also lead to a common challenge: the shiny idea. Whether the idea stems from…
Plan or perish; why it’s imperative to save for retirement now
August 6, 2017
Is There Something I Should Know?
Empower Your PR Firm With the Inside Scoop The other day I heard an old song from Duran Duran called, “Is There Something I Should Know?” There is a part of the chorus goes, “Please, please tell me now” that repeats a few times. I couldn’t help but think that it could be the perfect mantra for PR professionals. What do I mean? Well, there…
You’ve Heard of Fake News… What About Fake PR?
What’s at stake when you attempt to misrepresent yourself and your accomplishments—your credibility. I’m guessing you’re familiar with the term “fake news” by now. We see it everywhere we look these days and it appears in many forms—from the satire of Saturday Night Light and the hoaxes of Bigfoot sightings to poorly reported journalism and the actual “fake news” websites that spread disinformation. It’s these…
Email Marketing 101
An Introduction to Email Marketing for Professionals in the Financial Sector Email marketing is one of the most cost-effective ways to stay top-of-mind of potential clients, nurture current clients and deliver great customer service. Much like the federal government regulates advisors, markers are also subject to regulation. The biggest email marketing regulation is the FTC CAN-SPAM Act. There are multiple requirements to be aware of…
Ed Slott: Tax strategies to help clients take advantage of market declines
July 24, 2017
If you like paying hefty tax bills, stick with your regular 401(k)
July 16, 2017
Retiring the 4% rule: What is a safe withdrawal rate in retirement?
June 11, 2017
How To Deliver The Right Content, To The Right People, At The Right Time
Recently I attended a workshop in Chicago for the American Marketing Association in which marketing buzzwords including “marketing funnel,” “buyer personas” and “content marketing” continued to be a hot commodity. While these concepts in themselves span decades if not centuries, these tools can help breathe new life and provide critical structure to marketing for your financial practice. Who are you talking to? Define your buyer…
Can I use that Song in my Marketing Videos?
A Beginner’s Guide to Music Rights for Financial Professionals. The power of video marketing has grown significantly and many advisors are trading in long-winded written content for powerful, eye-catching and engaging videos. Adding video components to your marketing strategy can help increase your conversion rate, boost engagement and leave a lasting impression with a client or prospect. Whether you choose to add a video to…
From Advisor to Author:
Your Book is More than a Client Handout – Cliff Notes to Book Publishing & Promotion for Financial Professionals There’s a growing trend in the financial services industry of accomplished advisors becoming book authors. It is the pinnacle of credibility and a calling card to prospects who needed that added assurance that you are the expert you claim to be! Often an advisor’s plan consists…
Avoiding the Paper Cuts of Book Marketing:
Digital Marketing Strategies for Financial Professionals Writing a book is one of the greatest ways to showcase your expertise in the financial industry. Digital marketing is also one of the best ways to promote your work. Digital marketing can be started with a click of the mouse; so many people don’t start planning until too late and miss out on maximizing their impact. To get…
I Want to be in Print
The Evolution of Financial PR Oh the good old days, when it was easier to understand exactly where to find the news. It was fairly straightforward, the paper was delivered in the morning to your doorstep or you picked it up on the way to or home from work. There was also radio and TV news, but more than likely a newspaper was a prominent…
Leveraging Your Podcast
Financial Podcasting Part 3 Once you develop your strategy and start recording your podcasts it’s time to build your audience and distribute your podcast. Use these guidelines to determine some simple ways to get more out of each podcast. Write it out. Although one of the benefits of podcasting is that you don’t have to spend a lot of time at your keyboard, having some…
Implementing Your First Podcast
Financial Podcasting Part 2 Podcasting can offer great benefits to financial professionals—when planned correctly. If you have just started thinking about podcasting, consider reading Podcasting Part 1 to learn more about strategizing for your podcast. If you already have your audience, theme, goals and equipment established, it’s time to start your first podcast. Decide who you are. You need to determine your podcast and host…
Podcasting Strategy
Financial Podcasting Part 1 Podcasting can be an efficient way to share your unique story. Podcasts are also a great alternative for individuals who have great ideas, but think they have ‘a face for radio’ or are not avid writers. Podcasting offers great benefits when planned correctly. Before you press record for the first time, review these guidelines to ensure your podcast starts on the…
How to Get in the News as a Financial Advisor
5 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a PR Firm It was more than 15 years ago when I first started in the financial industry, and it’s certainly come a long way. In 2003, public relations was mostly unheard of within the industry. I remember an advisor telling me he’d consider public relations in his practice because he likes the public so much. Clearly, the very…
Don’t Forget About Me
Public Relations is Not an Afterthought Working at a public relations agency, you get used to hustle and bustle especially when the media is on a deadline, and you are arranging interviews that almost always needed to have happened yesterday. Sometimes these things cannot be helped; it’s the nature of we do. However, there are many times when scrambling to get quality media coverage can…
Americans may soon have to kiss these lucrative personal tax deductions goodbye
April 27, 2017
Print Materials in a Digital Age
The Power of High-Impact Deliverables for your Financial Services Firm What is one of the best things to hear as a business owner? You have a new prospect! Once the excitement settles in you may be left wondering…Now what? Whether a contact from your website or a referral opportunity from a client or center of influence, if someone asks you for more information about who…
Using a Calendar-Based Event to Gain Media Coverage
Understanding and anticipating the type of content media outlets are looking to cover is half the battle in public relations. You have valuable insight to share with the media, but how do get their attention? Any journalist will tell you one of the most important criteria they keep in mind when selecting a story, is timeliness—if you have a story that’s important now, your odds…
SEO Best Practices
For Professionals in the Financial Industry As more and more prospects go online to research and find a service provider, being found is an increasingly important component of your overall marketing strategy. Search engine optimization (SEO) is essentially making your website easy for search engines to understand and find important details. This will make your website appear closer to the top of relevant search results…
Building a Brand through Client Experiences
I attended a Barron’s conference in Las Vegas recently and had the opportunity to sit in on a very informative presentation about creating a “wow” experience for clients. This resonated with me for a couple reasons. The presenters asked the attendees in the room, by a show of hands, if they felt that the customer service they delivered their clients and prospects was what they considered…
WHEN THE MEDIA VISITS YOUR OFFICE:
A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO PREPARE If you’ve cleared the first hurdle in securing a new media opportunity by scheduling an interview with a reporter to visit your office, you may be wondering “what’s next?” Whether the reporter visiting your office is from a local newspaper or television station, you should be prepared to put your best foot forward. The following is a step-by-step guide to…
How to Effectively Survey Your Clients
THE ANSWER IS OUT THERE, BUT YOU HAVE TO ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS We have all experienced a negative experience while doing business. Whether it was a lack of response to our e-communications, not having important options available or feeling like we were not valued. We have also all told someone about these experiences. The goal of regular surveys to your clients is to ensure…
No Such Thing As Bad Publicity? Think Again
HOW TO HANDLE A TOUGH SITUATION You may know the old saying “There is no such thing as bad publicity.” Well, maybe at some point in time this was true, but it definitely is not true today. With the pace information travels through the internet and social media, bad news travels fast and very wide. It can take on a feverish pitch, and, depending on…
How to Create High-Impact Surveys
ENSURING THE QUESTIONS YOU ASK GET THE ANSWERS YOU NEED There are many articles, white papers and blogs that explain the value of doing customer service surveys and the best ways to distribute content on any budget, including How to Effectively Survey Your Clients. However, there are fewer pieces that deliver insights into how and what you should be asking your clients to ensure the…
Crisis Communications: When Your Clients are Facing the Unknown
Critical illness, death, injury and even a layoff or early retirement are often uncharted territory for people until they are experienced first-hand. These life events are often unplanned and unexpected, and in many cases, require life-changing decisions to be made almost immediately. This is nothing short of a personal crisis for those experiencing it, and dealing with a “crisis” adds another layer of complication and…
5 Tips to a Lasting Impression for Your Financial Brand
Using promotional swag to leave an impact From tradeshows to client events and memorable drip-marketing mailers, branded promotional giveaway items can be a powerful addition to your marketing mix for top-of-mind awareness. Doing a quick Google search will likely leave you feeling overwhelmed with the possibilities from coffee mugs to phone chargers. So, what’s the difference between a lasting branded keepsake and next week’s latest…
8 IRA-Related Mistakes Young Professionals Need To Avoid
February 16, 2017
DOL rule, Dodd-Frank up in the air: What now for advisors?
February 15, 2017
Retire with a Smile: 10 Surprising Secrets to a Happy Retirement
February 13, 2017
Learn the ABCs of ETFs before betting your portfolio on them
February 13, 2017
Union-Sponsored Retirement Plans Provide Challenge, Opportunity for Advisors
February 3, 2017
5 Website Must-Haves
The internet continues to change at a rapid pace as people find new ways to access and browse the ever expanding content. Search engines use extremely different methods to rank pages than they did a decade ago. To succeed, business websites need increased optimization, features and content than ever before. You can greatly increase traffic and revenue by incorporating these five must-haves into your company’s…
Ed Slott: Why retirees need financial advisers’ help more than ever
January 27, 2017
Web Video 101
In the financial industry, many concepts, services and products can seem incredibly complex. To the average consumer it may be difficult to decipher the jargon and comprehend financial terms we use everyday. Everyone has at some point lost interest or been intimidated by a huge block of text. Video can be a dynamic solution to the overbearing block of text that in the past may have been necessary…
Ed Slott: The DOL fiduciary rule is a game changer for financial advisers
December 29, 2016
5 great money gifts to help your adult children build savings
December 26, 2016
Just in time for the new year, some financial planners’ best retirement tips
December 26, 2017
What is a “Drip Sequence” and Why Do You Need One?
Generating new customers in the financial industry is important to not only staying in business, but growing your business. It is no surprise that many financial advisors spend a considerable amount of time acquiring new leads. However, one major opportunity that is often overlooked is nurturing the leads that didn’t immediately decide to buy, but with time could become quality clients. Reasons to Focus on…
A financial adviser shares the No. 1 thing 30-somethings should do by the end of the year
December 13, 2016
Bonds aren’t always surest bet for every investor’s portfolio
December 12, 2016
Here’s a financial adviser’s best advice on what to do if you live with someone who hates when you spend money
November 30, 2016
Finance Interview: Discussing Money w/ Family Over The Holidays
November 21, 2016
Planning to Work in Retirement? Better Start Planning Now
November 20, 2016