Wealth Think

Professional marketers and smart advisors always tackle the “The 3 M’s” of marketing before they do any serious outreach. The 3 M’s are the foundational elements of all good marketing. However, according to marketing expert Marie Swift, it’s a very common error for many entrepreneurs and small business people to start with the wrong “M.” The problem with that is, it rarely, if ever works.

Growth -- the kind measured in revenue and profits -- is the ultimate goal for the entire brokerage industry. As On Wall Street editor-in-chief Frances McMorris points out, figuring out how to achieve these goals while dealing with constant change is what firms like Raymond James and its competitors are now learning to do on the fly.

From the 1960s to the 1980s, Japan was on a roll. They had one of the highest economic growth rates in the world. Their manufacturing prowess grew to be the envy of the world. Their stock market soared 373 percent between 1980 and its peak in 1989. And, like China today, there were predictions that Japan would overtake the United States as the largest economy in the world. But, as The Prosperous Advisor Steve Sanduski points out, times sure have changed.

While the recent FPA Convention provided some new and very interesting presentations and introduced some pretty high-brow concepts, Financial Planning columnist Bob Veres felt far too many of the presentations were bogged down by speakers who decided -- or were compelled -- to “dumb down” the material to appeal to the lowest common denominator. What did you think?

We finally have some numbers to attach to all the discussion surrounding social media for financial advisors. The people at Nielsen (the same people who measure television audiences) recently released a report detailing social media use in the US. The report is rich with actual numbers and data. While you can read the report yourself, I thought it might be helpful to hit some of the highlights here.

An auction of the deceased actor’s memorabilia, clothes and other property recently garnered more than $1 million but none of his five children, including actress Jamie Lee Curtis, have yet to receive a dime. And, from most indications, that’s exactly the way the “Some Like It Hot” star wanted it.

Using a LifeBio Event can help financial advisors strengthen client bonds and connect with their heirs. Here is how one advisor created a “Norman Rockwell” experience for his very best clients and their special guests. It’s a smart way to build bridges and engage the next generation while positioning yourself as the advisor of choice. You can do it too.

Retirement planning used to be easy. Ten years ago it was a simple mathematical calculation that you could apply across the board to just about everyone. But today, with so many different visions, versions and variables impacting each client, retirement planning has become both a financial planning puzzle and an emotional minefield.

Celebrities are not the only ones to make mistakes with their estate planning. It happens to people all across the country on a regular basis. According to legacy expert attorneys Andy and Danielle Mayoras, one of the most common estate planning mistakes that people make is joint ownership.

If your logo is more than a dozen years old, chances are it's time for a makeover. Tired, dated materials won't reassure prospective clients that you're progressive and will constantly update the knowledge and services you offer. Your branding essentials may not need a complete overhaul, just a simple facelift.