Knowledge and Insight
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Latest Threat to Financial Advisors
Added on August 2014 in Thought Leadership
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Summary: You may have heard recently that the financial planning profession is under attack. Advisors are in grave danger of being rendered irrelevant, the Cassandras warn, by the online investment advisory platforms: the so-called robo advisors. What you don’t hear is that this is nothing new. In fact, the short history of the financial planning profession can be viewed as a series of evolutionary responses to different mortal challenges — all of which, in one way or another, have sharply questioned the relevance and value of financial planners.
Malcolm Gladwell on Why Entrepreneurs Should Be Troublemakers
Added on July 2014 in Thought Leadership
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Summary: As a New Yorker staff writer and best-selling author, Malcolm Gladwell has written extensively about some of the most disruptive innovators in the history of business.While many of the characteristics these entrepreneurs share are somewhat obvious, you'd be surprised to hear what traits Gladwell says the most successful business leaders tend to have in common.
The Virtues of Growing by Design: 2014 FA Insight Study
Added on July 2014 in Thought Leadership
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Summary: A big difference exists between simply growing and growing well. Growth was fairly commonplace among the record number of participants in this year's FA Insight study. Nearly three-quarters of firms characterized their recent growth as “significant.” Just one-third of all firms, however, managed to achieve sustainable growth and avoid any related negative side effects.
Vonnegut: Wealth Management's Biggest Losers
Added on July 2014 in Thought Leadership
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Summary: It's time for the client's annual portfolio review--and time to take market share, the advisers think. They know the client, a wealthy family, spreads its assets around the Street. And their firm's results have been exceptional this year. So they bring out the spiral-bound pitch books. They load up the PowerPoint slides. Then one after another, with confidence and steely-eyed gravitas, they extol their investment performance on the overhead projector. As the meeting ends, a member of the family says, "Our other adviser made its presentation on iPads." Thud.
Going Back to Basics to Rebuild Our Business
Added on July 2014 in Thought Leadership
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Summary: Based on early returns, it appears that we are losing ground. Both potential clients and prospective employees have come to view the business with suspicion and disdain, and we have not done enough to combat this negative perception. I see at least three recent developments that are putting the future of our business at risk.
