Independence and Trust
By Mike PattonPlease permit me to be a little reflective in this blog. Let's consider the phrase Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. These are three...
May 25, 2007
Awash in a Sea of PhDsThis was an important week, both in a long-term strategic sense and from a current perspective. On the strategic front, I spoke at an annual...
May 21, 2007
Schwab Institutional's McWhinney ResignsDeborah McWhinney, president of Schwab Institutional (SI) since 2001, has resigned her position effective immediately, and has been succeeded by Charles Goldman, SI's COO.
May 18, 2007
Writing Financial Plans; Creating a Marketing KitThis past week I presented my first financial plan as an independent. I analyzed several scenarios to determine the proper course of action for the...
May 12, 2007
Schwab Cuts PortfolioCenter Prices for Smaller Firms, Adds Service LevelSchwab Performance Technologies, the portfolio management software subsidiary of the Charles Schwab Company, announced a new version of its PortfolioCenter designed for RIA firms with 50 or fewer clients, called PortfolioCenter Emerging Practice, with a smaller pricetag than the full-blown software.
May 10, 2007
Adding Clients and Getting In Some ReadingThe term one armed paper hanger has taken on a new meaning this week. I gained another comprehensive financial planning client, which makes three total....
May 09, 2007
One Way or the OtherThe topic of dually registered advisors is hot. You'll find it discussed at most advisor trade conferences and see much commentary on the subject, especially on how broker/dealer firms are trying to accommodate this new model. Different than "pure" or fully independent RIAs, dually registered or "hybrid" advisors are those...
May 08, 2007
Fidelity to Offer CRM, Financial Planning ApplicationsAdvisors affiliated with Fidelity Registered Investment Advisor Group will have customized versions of two popular applications available to them in the fourth quarter: Oracle's Siebel customer relationship management offering, and EISI's NaviPlan Central.