SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- Technology innovations are critical for advisors to remain on the cutting edge and retain the next generation of clients.
A panel of advisors at the 24th Peak Excell Meeting provided insights on technology tools and applications that have enhanced their practice.
SLIDEROCKET
Interested in creating better presentations? Bryan Sweet of Sweet Financial Services says he uses SlideRocket for webcasts, client presentations, seminar presentations, client updates and even holiday greetings.
Sweet calls SlideRocket Powerpoint on steroids because the web-based offering can incorporate audio and video into it and it can be easily integrated with a social media strategy. Sweet Financial uses SlideRocket for all of its half-time and year-end report webcasts.
Sweet says the cost is insignificant. The pro version costs $200 annually.
REMIT PRO
Jimmy J. Williams of Compass Capital Management said after his firm lost a $10,000 check from a client, he realized, we have to change this.
Compass began using Remit Pro, which allows clients to scan and send checks.
Williams, who says his firm also uses Quick Office so that they can use iPads for presentations.
Williams was honest. He said that he is not a technology expert and often brings a team member to presentations to run the iPad for him.
You need to utilize your team, utilize your talents and create a system that uses technology that works best for clients, Williams said.
GOOGLE HANGOUTS
Technology doesnt have to be expensive, Paul West of Peak said. He said Peak bought a few inexpensive web cameras and began to use Google Hangouts and meeting times shrunk dramatically.
Ron Carson of Carson Wealth Management said that by using Facetime, meeting times were sliced in half.
PODCASTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA
Bill Peterman of Money Concepts says he found success by pairing his online podcast, The Money Concepts Experience, with social media.
The weekly radio show offers clients investment ideas, tax tips, and interviews with guests, including Ed Slott and local experts.
The podcast invites listeners to download information from Petermans Facebook page.
I dont consider myself a social media expert by any stretch, but we are finding ways to tie it with our weekly radio show, he said.
Peterman says the podcast doesnt create immediate referrals, but people that have been avid listeners from years will call and become clients.
A podcast can seem overwhelming, Peterman said. He recommended that it is better to pull back and make sure the content is great.
Its all about creating content online that is really good, he said.
