Simple, Not Simplistic

I just finished reading your “High Definition” article in the August issue of Investment Advisor–thank you! This is probably one of the best marketing articles I have read in a long time. It is chock full of great, creative examples of how advisors can strengthen existing client relationships and simultaneously grow and expand their business. I found Bert Whitehead’s old client/new client welcome dinner to be especially intriguing. It’s really the simple things that make a difference.

We are always looking to improve and expand our marketing efforts. In our small firm, while we consider ourselves pretty creative, we sometimes look to other sources to help generate fresh ideas. Thanks to your sources, I am full of new possibilities. Implementing these ideas will be a fun, rejuvenating exercise. I believe it’s important to communicate clear, consistent messages, but coming up with creative, memorable ways to connect and actually bring those messages to life, always makes my job more enjoyable!

Mona E. Grizio

Marketing Director

TandemGrowth Financial Advisors, LLC

Roswell, Georgia

It’s Either Good or Bad

To the detriment of us all, FPA is publicly using the word “fiduciary” to

subliminally make two points: that financial planners are superior sources of advice, and investors are not protected when dealing with sources of advice who are not deemed to be fiduciaries. Advice is either good or bad, the distinction only comprehensible in hindsight. Relief from bad advice is available through arbitration.

When bad advice is provided by a financial consultant (stockbroker), firms pay judgments and perpetrators are removed from the business.

When bad advice is tendered by a financial planner, an arbitration award might not be paid; disciplinary penalties include suspension or removal of a professional designation or closing of a financial planning practice by state or federal regulators. Hence, we offer less protection to individuals than other providers irregardless of theoretical status as fiduciaries.

Public debate over theoretical models, such as the fiduciary model, confuse