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Advicent blog, downloadable resources, and videos
Advicent blog, downloadable resources, and videos
As an advisor, understanding how clients think about money is essential to not only provide good advice but also to attract new clients. This is especially true for high-net-worth (HNW) clients, who tend to look at certain factors when making investments or other financial decisions.
September 17, 2018 by Kelton Corcoran
For new advisors, along with all the extraneous tasks of operating a business, generating maximum revenue from each prospect is critical to finding success. The best and most efficient way to do that is by having a consistent, well-structured sales process.
September 7, 2018 by Nate Oberholtzer
The financial industry is a complex business to be a part of. The needs of clients and the subsequent services provided by advisors can vary drastically on a case by case basis. Lately, we have seen a rising need for a more “flexible” and “scalable” financial planning tool, but what does that really mean?
September 4, 2018 by Robert Gunther
You’ve likely heard of the Pareto principle before, which states that 80 percent of the effects are produced by 20 percent of the causes. In the advisory world, this is often true, where 20 percent of clients will result in 80 percent of a firm’s business.
August 30, 2018 by Patrick Meyer
Providing financial planning for the high-net-worth is often one of the largest value indicators of the relationship between a family and a financial firm, given that many firms do not even offer comprehensive financial plans.
August 28, 2018 by Logan Lee
Differentiation is one of many pieces in the puzzle of developing a successful practice in the financial services industry. However, the reality is that most financial institutions behave the exact same way so it is difficult to attract highly sought-after clients.
August 27, 2018 by Moriah Diedrich
Football and finance. What could these two possibly have in common? Turns out, it helps shed light on a few important lessons for HNW advisors.
August 24, 2018 by Kelton Corcoran
Last month, Capital Group published a survey that outlines shifting trends around how Generation X and millennial parents are discussing financial topics with their children. Let’s unpack some of the survey’s key findings.
August 17, 2018 by Andy Penkalski
A number of articles have been written extolling the virtues of cash flow planning as part of the financial planning process. After years of speaking with advisors, I’ve heard many misconceptions regarding the cash flow planning portion. In hope of clearing this up, here are the five most common cash flow planning myths that I’ve run into.
August 14, 2018 by Devin Rivera
As ultra-high-net-worth clients get closer to their sunset years, concerns over minimizing potential estate taxes become a very real question. NaviPlan® financial planning software can help answer those concerns with its various estate strategy and modeling options.
August 10, 2018 by Alex Noonan
NaviPlan’s Presentation Module is a slideshow marketing presentation that can be used to either review or input a clients’ data. One of the many benefits is that these presentations resonate well with clients and can be utilized whether this is an existing client or a brand new client’s first meeting.
August 9, 2018 by Dillon Gilpatrick
Utilizing an effective software solution can help cater to the needs of your entire book of business, no matter what situation the clients are in.
August 3, 2018 by Jacob Erickson
Presentation Module, a feature in NaviPlan®, brings firms process benefits that result in business growth, even during changes to the advisor workforce.
July 31, 2018 by Kyle Johnson
At Advicent, we recently held our 2018 Rally Week to reflect on our progress from the first half of the year and look ahead towards the second half. We were joined by some of our existing partners for presentations on their business processes and feedback on how our products fit their needs.
July 26, 2018 by Tony Velasquez
Advicent recently held our 2018 Rally Week to reflect on the first half of the year and kick off the remaining second half.
July 24, 2018 by Kyle Johnson
July 18, 2018 by Alex Noonan
Our latest updates include enhancements to the NaviPlan client portal, tax updates, and report improvements.
July 9, 2018 by John Heinen
Despite being an incredibly large and diverse industry, the financial services profession does encounter a number of common challenges. In today’s blog, I will look at three of the most commonly discussed roadblocks and how Advicent solves for them.
June 29, 2018 by Matt Marcum
Take a moment and think back to some of the best experiences of your life. Perhaps you are thinking about your wedding day or the birth of a child. Maybe you are thinking about your graduation or that really amazing vacation you took. Regardless of what comes to mind, I am confident that you are not thinking about that one time you bought new financial planning software. However, in the next few months, it is my goal to change that!
June 22, 2018 by Kyria Branaugh
Working as the Revenue Operations Lead, a big part of my job is finding new software to help our sales and marketing teams flourish. However, finding the best software fit can be extremely challenging.
June 22, 2018 by Kyle Johnson
WealthManagement.com recently announced the finalists for its 2018 Industry awards, and Advicent has been recognized in the Thought Leadership category for our 2018 content initiative focused on the benefits experienced by advisory firms that refine and enhance their high-net-worth planning strategy.
June 12, 2018 by Andy Penkalski
Firms of all sizes across the globe often struggle with inefficient processes, which can cause many other problems like decreased customer retention, lower prospect-to-client conversion rates, employee frustration, and more.
June 7, 2018 by Tom Burmeister
This may sound obvious, but a one-size-fits-all approach to financial planning is not the best way to serve your clients. Every client has different needs, goals, and time horizons, meaning scalability is important for providing each client with the best advice possible.
June 5, 2018 by Jeffrey de Ropp
Download our free eBook to start engaging more leads with these simple digital marketing tips.
June 1, 2018 by Andy Penkalski
When it comes to a digital strategy, many advisors are not so prepared.
May 30, 2018 by Devin Rivera
Modern technology is often over-packed with features. If the tech is any good, at least some of those features are genuinely useful and have daily relevance.
May 23, 2018 by Nathan Lukow
Regardless of the demographic, every investor is likely more attuned to data security issues in the wake of numerous current events. The European Union is about to enact a far-reaching tightening of data gathering regulations with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) set to take effect on May 25.
May 21, 2018 by Andy Penkalski
Our professional services team provides world-class consulting services that enable your business to successfully adopt intuitive, supportable, and integrated financial planning solutions that align with your vision. At the core of our implementation strategy is a change management process that has been informed by decades of experience working with enterprise-level financial institutions.
May 18, 2018 by Andy Penkalski
In recent months, the financial services industry has witnessed several interesting developments around cryptocurrency's inevitable evolution toward greater adoption and legitimacy.
May 11, 2018 by Andy Penkalski
There has never been a better time for an advisor to add financial planning to their firm, or to modernize and step away from their old spreadsheet system.
May 9, 2018 by Matt Marcum
Our latest enhancements include enhancements to client reports, the NaviPlan client portal, and the Presentation Module.
May 7, 2018 by John Heinen
Leveraging financial planning in your practice can have a variety of positive benefits, including a unique value proposition, establishing a relationship with clients, cross-selling products, ensuring your advisors are acting in a fiduciary manner, and more; however, how do you go from a firm who historically has not engaged in these conversations to a new age, comprehensive planner?
May 7, 2018 by Patrick Meyer
As the financial services landscape only grows more competitive, how can advisors ensure they are obtaining the largest share of wallet possible from their most affluent clients?
May 2, 2018 by Andy Penkalski
There are many tools that help firms develop their financial planning, hiring, and client onboarding processes, but not every firm is using them as effectively as possible.
April 30, 2018 by Robert Gunther
Learn how your firm can begin implementing simple digital marketing strategies that boast substantial prospecting results in this webinar.
April 27, 2018 by Andy Penkalski
I recently spoke with Craig Iskowitz, founder and CEO of Ezra Group and author of the Winners of Tech blog, to take a deep dive into my experience within in the financial technology industry and lessons I have learned throughout my time as a contributor and leader of Advicent.
April 25, 2018 by Angela Pecoraro
Wealthy retirees can present a unique opportunity for advisors looking to enhance their high-net-worth (HNW) strategy. They do not obtain a standard paycheck like other HNW clients, but they often have equally complex financial situations to navigate.
April 23, 2018 by Katelyn Rattray
As noted business researcher Chester L. Karrass once stated in one of his most renowned pieces, “In business as in life – you don’t get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate.” Negotiation is truly more than just an act to reach an agreement; it is an art and a talent that can be incredibly hard to acquire.
April 20, 2018 by Dylan Amick
Beyond the obvious benefits of delivering cutting edge service to improve customer engagement and increase cost efficiency, personal financial management technology allows advisors to actively attract Millennials and legacy clients.
April 18, 2018 by Patrick Meyer
You client has been dazzled by your presentations and financial recommendations, and all they need now is a document that captures all the information in an easy-to-read, referable document. Using NaviPlan client reports, you can provide a scalable, customizable report that is as unique as their financial life.
April 16, 2018 by Alex Noonan
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg spent multiple days fielding questions about cybersecurity from members of the house and senate, and here are some lessons to take away from those questions.
April 13, 2018 by Matt Marcum
A new year typically means new goals for both financial advisors and their clients. Whether setting your own goals for your practice or helping clients set their financial goals, goal setting should meaningful.
April 11, 2018 by Drew Butterfield
As a financial advisor, you want to make sure that you can deliver top-notch retirement advice in addition to an excellent client experience from onboarding and beyond. Utilizing financial planning software can help bridge the gap between you and your client as well as deliver a unique client experience throughout onboarding the process.
April 9, 2018 by Jacob Erickson
Generation X is now slated to have $22 trillion in investable assets by 2030, which is when the oldest within the cohort will hit retirement age. Here are some effective ways to appeal to Gen X to build relationships before this wealth transfer occurs.
April 4, 2018 by Sean Marus
Within financial services, we should explore the diametrically opposed and seemingly mutually exclusive opinions advisors have on whether or not it makes sense to charge for financial plans.
April 2, 2018 by Nathan Lukow
From base-level data entry to client presentation, NaviPlan empowers you to give your clients the planning scenarios they need to accomplish their financial goals.
March 28, 2018 by Alex Noonan
Many advisors today are facing the same dilemma: Do they double down on their high-net-worth (HNW) book of business or shift gears and start trying to appeal to Millennials to sow the seeds of their future? Drowned
March 26, 2018 by Sean Marus
In my 5 years with Advicent I have had the opportunity to attend many industry conferences. Earlier this year, I attended my second TD conference in Orlando. Here are a few things I learned during my time there.
March 23, 2018 by Brian Sasaki
Learn how your firm can leverage the six steps of financial planning to enhance your competitive advantage, exceed client expectations, and bolster compliance in this webinar presented by Advicent.
March 21, 2018 by Sean Marus
Millennials may need to be wary about their overreliance on robo-advice, as they appear to be investing with robo-advisors for a shorter period of time than those with traditional human advisors.
March 19, 2018 by Matt Marcum
If the past is any indication, newly proposed advisor competency legislation in Australia may lay the groundwork for the future of financial services regulation in the U.S.
March 16, 2018 by Sean Marus
The fact that improved SEO results generally manifest themselves over weeks or months rather than days makes adopting these practices equal parts frustrating and essential.
March 12, 2018 by Andy Penkalski
Our latest enhancements include new tax calculations to satisfy the changes made by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and an "explore your options" functionality now available in the NaviPlan client portal.
March 12, 2018 by John Heinen
I recently discussed how financial advisors can increase their high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth client base in FA Magazine.
March 9, 2018 by John Heinen
Gone are the days of financial advisors sticking to their individual niches; to compete in an increasingly competitive and regulated industry, advisors must be able to adapt to every client request.
March 9, 2018 by Sean Marus
In financial services, examining empirical statistics is the crux of major decision-making. With the first quarter coming to a close, here are three key statistics that will be paramount to advisors as they fine-tune their strategy for the remainder of the year.
March 7, 2018 by Tyler McNaughton
High-net-worth clients could potentially use insurance to retain asset values or to reduce estate taxation needs. These individuals may not be aware of such benefits, which can offer a unique opportunity for the inclusion of insurance policies in their financial plans
March 5, 2018 by Alex Noonan
Simplifying a complex system like the economy provides great value in understanding it.
March 2, 2018 by Kyle Johnson
Financial plan presentation has become stagnant over time. Plans are often presented to a client in the form of a binder full of reports, text, and a few graphs — sometimes up to 100 pages or longer.
February 28, 2018 by Zach Weidman
By combining the knowledge of an advisor with the robust ability of financial planning software, you are covering all your bases and, in most cases, uncovering new services.
February 26, 2018 by Robert Gunther
Before any small firm begins exploring any big-ticket fixes to a universal problem, it is wise to ensure that your website is already optimized to outperform the competition on major search engines.
February 22, 2018 by Andy Penkalski
The rise of robo-advice and increased competition has made the ability to serve any client who walks through your door invaluable. With NaviPlan, the most flexible and accurate financial planning tool in the market, you can service any client by utilizing scalable features of varying complexity.
February 21, 2018 by Alex Noonan
Leading with financial planning could be the key in not only making your firm stand out amongst this age group, but could also deepen relationships and reduce the amount of firms with whom HNWIs work.
February 19, 2018 by Matt Marcum
How can advisors proceed to target this group? What do advisors need to know before taking on this type of client? Let us dig deeper into what HNW business owners need and expect from financial advisors in order to truly understand the opportunity present
February 16, 2018 by Katelyn Rattray
By prioritizing client needs and experience, Advicent offers a great technology stack to allow you to do everything that is required and be proud of the plan and roadmap that you provide for your clients.
February 14, 2018 by Jacob Erickson
Learn more about how firms can leverage technology to attract, retain, and serve the needs of HNW clients in this recent study from Advicent and WealthManagement.com in this whitepaper.
February 13, 2018 by Katelyn Rattray
As the dust has settled on the role of robo-advice, the use of the term “advice” is often a misnomer. In its current iteration, robo-advice is doing anything but providing advice.
February 12, 2018 by Kyle Johnson
With 2018 in full swing, many firms are still working to finalize their budget for the remainder of the year. Attending an industry tradeshow, however, should be a priority when considering budget restrictions.
February 9, 2018 by Jenna Diemer
Learn more about top high-net-worth buyer personas and what they expect from advisors in this infographic.
February 8, 2018 by Katelyn Rattray
It is important to remind a panicked investor that short-term fluctuations are neither indicative of larger downward trends nor a direct reflection of global economic health.
February 7, 2018 by Andy Penkalski
With 15 years of experience in the industry, I have had many conversations on the topic of financial planning. In many cases, there is a misconception that financial planning is synonymous with portfolio management.
February 5, 2018 by Shawn Preisler
Instead of limiting an advisor to a paper report, the Presentation Module allows an advisor to use NaviPlan in a more interactive fashion by showing prospects and clients different presentations to address various goals.
February 2, 2018 by Matt Marcum
When something seems complicated or overly difficult, most people tend to avoid that task — even with the more complicated questions HNW prospects will undoubtedly ask. Therefore, it is best to keep it simple
January 31, 2018 by Patrick Meyer
More often than not, HNW individuals will have three main questions before picking the financial professional that is right for them. Advisors must be prepared to answer the following questions when working to convert prospects into long-term clients.
January 29, 2018 by Dylan Amick
By being able to improve both the quality and quantity of financial plans they can put out, advisors can increase their assets under management and distinguish their practice from their competition.
January 22, 2018 by Allison Sobek
What sets you apart from your competition? With the arrival of the robo-advisor, what are both high-net-worth and mass affluent investors looking for from an advisor? These are the technology tools all advisors should be embracing.
January 19, 2018 by Alex Peter
By leveraging these tips and tools, financial professionals can increase efficiency and, in turn, increase client satisfaction and business growth.
January 17, 2018 by Katelyn Rattray
Though there are many practices to perpetuate that client-advisor relationship, there is arguably none better than pairing expert advice with reliable technology.
January 15, 2018 by Dylan Amick
Financial planning enterprises, despite their differentiators, at many times are plagued by the non-unique profitability killer of wasted time.
January 12, 2018 by Rachel Gutbrod
In light of the recently discovered processor vulnerabilities – colloquially being referred to as Meltdown and Spectre by news outlets – Advicent would like to clarify that we are meticulously tracking the implications of both security flaws and that we remain unwavering in our commitment to your organization’s data security.
January 10, 2018 by Lee Laboy
While it may not be the most exciting topic for most Americans, providing debt management and budgeting advice for your clients may provide and unlikely avenue into financially serving high earning Millennials.
January 10, 2018 by Matt Marcum
As the financial services landscape only grows more competitive, how can advisors ensure they are obtaining the largest share of wallet possible from their most affluent clients?
January 8, 2018 by Andy Penkalski
FinTech has continuously grown year-over-year and has become an integral part of many firms’ business. The following items are important to keep in mind so that you can ensure that you are getting the most out of your vendors.
January 5, 2018 by Zach Weidman
With the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, many financial professionals and consumers are concerned about the effects of this legislation on both personal and business finances.
January 5, 2018 by John Heinen
The financial services industry experienced many shifts and regulations changes in 2017. As financial professionals navigate their way through effects of last year’s trends, the financial services and FinTech industries show no signs of slowing down this year.
January 3, 2018 by Alex Peter
Like most Americans, all of us at Advicent have been paying close attention to the possible outcomes of Congress' recently proposed tax code legislation. As indicated by the unrivaled calculation engine that powers our software, we pride ourselves on accuracy. Because of this, we chose to refrain from comment until any finalized legislation was ready to clear both houses.
December 20, 2017 by John Heinen
Here are some of the things financial professionals should discuss in order to take the fear out of making money.
December 20, 2017 by Logan Lee
By leveraging these functionalities in NaviPlan, your firm will be able to reach new levels of success.
December 18, 2017 by Alex Peter
With recent events like the huge Equifax and Home Depot cyberattacks, cybersecurity has moved to the top of everyone’s priority list, including regulatory firms like FINRA and the OCIE.
December 15, 2017 by Brian Sasaki
Financial planning should be viewed as a way to strengthen and lengthen the relationship between advisors and their clients.
December 13, 2017 by Brendan Haney
In an essay titled "The Hedgehog and the Fox," writers and thinkers are categorized into two distinct subsections: hedgehogs and foxes.
December 11, 2017 by Kyle Johnson
At Advicent, our business strategy is primarily informed by the shifting trends and evolving needs of the financial services workforce.
December 8, 2017 by Andy Penkalski
As a financial advisor, you know the role that high-net-worth (HNW) and ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) clientele can play in your success. Working with clients who are worth over $1 million in liquid assets can provide a lot of opportunity due to their amount of wealth and their more substantial need for financial advice to match.
December 6, 2017 by Dylan Amick
Making the link between retirement planning and grocery shopping, as well as between the mortgage and the electricity bill, is becoming increasingly important, and only then can the client improve his or her understanding of their own financial situations.
December 4, 2017 by Katelyn Rattray
With a major redesign to Presentation Module, NaviPlan now provides an even better digital experience for advisors and clients alike.
December 4, 2017 by John Heinen
Bitcoin has made waves in the news recently due to the extremely high price it is fetching and the wild price swings it is going through. It is likely that your clients are wondering how bitcoin functions and what exactly drives its price.
December 1, 2017 by Kyle Johnson
Many financial advice experts claim that the next generation of investors want digitized robo-advice. However, contrary to this belief, the majority of Millennials do not want robo-advice; what they really want is your service.
November 29, 2017 by Sean Marus
There are many ways to improve your ROI. So, how does your ROI stack up against your competitors?
November 27, 2017 by Dylan Amick
Charging for financial plans is a business model that a relatively small minority of advisors has been using for years, but the concept has really taken off since the introduction of the DOL fiduciary rule in 2015.
November 20, 2017 by Nathan Lukow
For advisors looking to attract HNW clients to their business, it is vital that they have a plan set in place instead of hoping for them to walk through their door on their own.
November 17, 2017 by Sean Marus
I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Huffington Post to discuss my background and experience as a business leader in the financial technology industry.
November 15, 2017 by Angela Pecoraro
In addition to the revenue stream generated by plans themselves, here are three key ways that advisors leverage holistic financial plans provide to — and extract value from — their clients.
November 13, 2017 by Nathan Lukow
Despite all of the noise, there is one descriptor of a financial planning tool that stands out as the most important thing to consider.
November 10, 2017 by Matt Marcum
The Learning Centers in our applications provide you with a diverse assortment of documentation that include basic step-by-step processes, detailed breakdowns of internal calculation processes, video guides, and more.
November 8, 2017 by Alex Noonan
Whether you define success as additional product sales or a higher percentage of potential clients granting you assets to manage, tracking is the first step in understanding the ROI of our tools.
November 6, 2017 by Kyle Johnson
With a redesigned user experience, the latest release of the NaviPlan client portal will provide greater insight into any plan for both you and your clients.
November 6, 2017 by Brian Kutmas
Client communication is very important in today’s financial planning world, and communication between advisors and their clients is simply not happening enough.
November 3, 2017 by Jacob Erickson
According to EY, more than half of all clients expect digital will be the primary channel within two to three years for advice, education, and service. Digital has permeated nearly every other facet of consumerism, and financial services is no different. Enter robo-advisors, stage right.
November 1, 2017 by Katelyn Rattray
Beyond making a good first impression, let us discuss why having a sound and cohesive brand is important and invaluable for any company.
October 30, 2017 by Mariah Rittershaus
Connecting with Millennials is not as difficult as advisors might believe, as there is a prevalent, common denominator that bands together the majority of the cohort.
October 27, 2017 by Sean Marus
While clients who have amassed large amounts of assets can certainly benefit from financial planning services, other client segments should not be excluded from the planning process.
October 25, 2017 by Shawn Preisler
Significant legislative changes — like that of the potential 401(k) overhaul — will fundamentally alter the way that investors and their advisors approach retirement funding. In light of an uncertain legislative future, how will you work with your clients to ensure they stay on track for their goals?
October 23, 2017 by Sean Marus
Visitor traffic does not mean they are converting. Here are five quick ways to increase your website conversion rate to generate a higher ROI for your financial planning firm.
October 20, 2017 by Samantha Russell
Advicent is the financial planning technology provider of choice for nearly 100,000 financial professionals within 4,000 clients worldwide.
October 19, 2017 by Katelyn Rattray
Whether you are teaching the basics of a software or trying to help clients understand the importance of their financial plan, teaching theories still ring true. Here are a few common aspects of Adult Learning Theory that you can easily apply to have more impactful client meetings.
October 18, 2017 by Kyria Branaugh
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At Advicent, we see our API library as the future for enterprise organizations who want to deliver more meaningful financial advice. Just as Whole Foods will leverage Amazon Web Services, enterprise firms who partner with Advicent will leverage API technology to create a better consumer experience.
October 16, 2017 by Sean Marus
When the madness that inherently coincides with investing runs rampant, that is when the true value of a knowledgeable financial advisor becomes evident. As a financial professional, knowing the past — and how the public reacted to it — will help you assert yourself as an invaluable asset to your clients’ lives.
October 13, 2017 by Sean Marus
There has been a great deal of debate over the years regarding the DOL fiduciary rule. Recently, full implementation of all elements of the rule was delayed to July 1, 2019 while the ruling is under review.
October 11, 2017 by Brett Coffelt
Despite the most benign tone, "why" is a loaded word. Here are 3 ways to discover value — your clients’ "why" — without explicitly asking.
October 9, 2017 by Haley Haas
Financial planning has been around for a lot longer than just the digital age, and there are a few nontraditional reasons why financial planning is beneficial to have in any advisory practice.
October 6, 2017 by Patrick Meyer
The only way to foster genuine loyalty from your clients is by earning it. As Seneca the Younger said, “Loyalty bought with money is overcome by money.”
October 4, 2017 by Devin Rivera
I had the opportunity to represent Advicent at the XYPN Conference in Dallas. It was a phenomenal experience to be able to rub shoulders with other vendors, learn from the speakers, and talk with many industry experts on where they see the industry going.
October 2, 2017 by Zach Weidman
Correct planning, both financially and strategically, can be the difference between making any move a nightmare or a simple process.
September 29, 2017 by Alex Noonan
Here are the overall benefits that I experienced by saving early and often for my major purchase goal.
September 27, 2017 by Logan Lee
As a financial advisor, the things you think are interesting and the ways you interpret and absorb information are entirely different from those of your clients.
September 25, 2017 by Nathan Lukow
With two additional Hurricanes – Maria and Jose – poised to make US landfall, investors may begin to wonder, “How long does a hurricane season need to last for a portfolio adjustment to not be a poor reactionary decision?”
September 22, 2017 by Andy Penkalski
Advisors have their time maxed out by trying to capture new business, meet the needs of existing clients, and dealing with the disruption of DOL fiduciary rule. Advisors do not have the ability to spend a significant amount of time on planning processes.
September 20, 2017 by Allison Sobek
Knowing the buyer is critical to the success of your business because the business can make effective decisions based upon the ultimate boss: the customer.
September 18, 2017 by Kyle Johnson
Try using this simple three-step process to evaluate what changes your firm could easily make to be positioned for success regardless if the DOL rule lives or dies.
September 15, 2017 by Shawn Preisler
Almost every industry is undergoing a sort of metamorphosis, whether it is automation in manufacturing, home delivery meal kits, or stores that automate the checkout process; these are all driven by the consumer revolution.
September 13, 2017 by Alex Peter
Difficulty in making decisions for a consumer can generally be attributed to the amount of available options, social pressure, and time. Here is how you can use this information to your advantage to preemptively address indecision that may face potential prospects.
September 11, 2017 by Sean Marus
The issues surrounding Millennials and homeownership, however, are much deeper than simply spending too much on coffee or expecting to own a designer car in their 20s.
September 8, 2017 by Katelyn Rattray
Many Americans may be hesitant to reach out to seek the aid of a financial advisor. This is not necessarily a reflection of the advisor, but rather a byproduct of commonplace misconceptions about financial planning.
September 6, 2017 by Brian Sasaki
With the help of an intern, you will have more available time to more effectively communicate with your clients and work to maintain a relationship with them.
September 5, 2017 by Dylan Amick
Financial illiteracy in young adults will affect how they chose to handle their finances. It is paramount for advisors to understand the shortcomings of young adults in financial literacy so that they may better cater to their needs.
September 1, 2017 by Liz Baumann
Download our whitepaper to learn about this major shift in the advice delivery process and its effects on financial services.
September 1, 2017 by Katelyn Rattray
It is true that Millennials spend are spending more. It is just not where older generations tend to assume it is.
August 30, 2017 by Andy Penkalski
Advisors need to start thinking about what they value about their own time and experience. How do your people drive your firm’s mission? What makes your expertise so much more valuable? How is your level of service so different from your competition?
August 28, 2017 by Matt Marcum
Advicent hackathon participants were able to quickly and easily find ways to use our financial planning APIs to build unique and innovative solutions.
August 25, 2017 by Brian Kutmas
In a recent sit-down with Financial Planning, I discussed both the challenges facing large firms and the avenues available to ensure their long-term competitive fitness.
August 23, 2017 by Angela Pecoraro
As an advisor, it is easy to make the connection that the more communication you have with your client, the more top of mind you remain with the client and the more likely you will uncover opportunities to help your client with their financial needs.
August 21, 2017 by Tyler McNaughton
As advisors are pushed to take on more clients and provide each client with a more personalized experience, time efficiency in providing personalization becomes of paramount importance.
August 18, 2017 by Kyle Johnson
As the vision for the complete solution starts to flesh out, organizations quickly realize they need a solution that integrates into their pre-existing back office technology stack.
August 16, 2017 by Dylan Amick
Now that all financial advisors dealing with retirement accounts are legally obligated to act as fiduciaries, advisors are now tasked with finding new ways to set themselves apart from the pack.
August 14, 2017 by Sean Marus
The focus of the meeting was the product, when in actuality the focus should have been placed on me and my specific needs; this information is vital when looking to conduct meetings with both clients and prospects.
August 11, 2017 by Marquis Pantel
Here are four unique strategies you and your firm can implement to ensure you are helping your client and yourself in the process.
August 9, 2017 by Alex Peter
When many clients think of their retirement needs, they may think of lifestyle expenses, vacations, and late-in-life medical needs. However, a common―yet forgotten―expense is one of poor health that can creep up on a client when they least expect it.
August 7, 2017 by Alex Noonan
Download the whitepaper to learn more about the benefits of leveraging holistic financial planning in your firm.
August 7, 2017 by Katelyn Rattray
Many human advisors and firms began to feel threatened by this self-directed, digital alternative to financial advice, but trends within the robo-advice market are demonstrating that this concern may not be necessary.
August 4, 2017 by Katelyn Rattray
Download our whitepaper to learn more about leveraging the enterprise technology expertise in your digital strategy development.
August 3, 2017 by Katelyn Rattray
The widespread popularity of social media is showing no signs of decreasing. Here are a few ways that using social media can help advisors.
August 2, 2017 by Steve Mahne
The key is to manage that workload efficiently and not let it get to a point where it becomes overwhelming. Here are a few ways to effectively manage work when you are feeling overwhelmed.
July 31, 2017 by Drew Butterfield
Whether you choose to get licensed yourself, hire a financial advisor, merge with another firm, or partner with an advisor to exchange referrals, here are nine ideas to improve the financial planning side of your accounting practice.
July 28, 2017 by Patrick Hannon
With a significant amount of women not saving enough for retirement, let us examine some other challenges that women face in regards to their finances.
July 26, 2017 by Amanda Arient
In many technology companies, sales teams are no longer handling the relationship with a client after the sale.
July 24, 2017 by Kyle Johnson
There is a widespread need for financial advice, and with many competitors in the market, it is important to make the client feel like more than just another number.
July 21, 2017 by Dylan Amick
The momentous changes we have seen in wealth management this year has prompted me to reassess the top five trends in the industry – but with an eye to the future.
July 19, 2017 by Alex Peter
The product itself should obviously be a main point of evaluation as you look to make a purchasing decision, but here are three other key areas you should be asking questions about to evaluate a successful partnership.
July 17, 2017 by Zach Weidman
One methodology often used in software development is called “Scrum,” and it includes planning short durations of work, and then getting feedback from users and taking a retrospective approach as to what can be improved from the previous iteration.
July 14, 2017 by Brenna Daley
Professional advice is a blend between financial advice and relationship management, and increased client demands can dictate the direction and efficiency of your business.
July 12, 2017 by Josh Stewart
In order to properly work toward a life of financial freedom, women need to prepare for their futures by investing their money.
July 10, 2017 by Amanda Arient
I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel to discuss the culture of innovation that we have developed at Advicent over the past several years.
July 7, 2017 by Angela Pecoraro
Many clients look to their advisors as a source of information and financial life coach, rather than simply a person who manages their money. It is imperative that advisors proactively provide access to a client’s financial plan as well as relevant, educational information to increase a client’s overall financial literacy.
July 5, 2017 by Katelyn Rattray
In a broad sense, client segmentation is the process of using key traits to divide your client base into groups of similar individuals.
June 30, 2017 by Devin Rivera
When working with a software as a service (SaaS) company, you get more than just a vendor; you get a partner that truly understands the unique needs of your firm.
June 28, 2017 by Sean Marus
As much pressure as you may feel to step up your digital game, it is important to remember a simple question that can dictate your business decisions: will I make money by investing in this technology?
June 27, 2017 by Patrick Meyer
In a post-DOL world, there is not a single solution to achieve compliance, but the workflows required to maintain a compliant advisory team can be bolstered by a lean, uniformly-implemented technology strategy.
June 23, 2017 by Andy Penkalski
Though Buffet is undoubtedly a legendary investor, his principles extend far beyond where to allocate capital. Let us explore some of Buffett's most notable business principles and how you can apply these to your own practice.
June 21, 2017 by Sean Marus
Everyone has their own “get to know you” process for prospects. This is your opportunity to learn about their needs and to show the value you can bring to them
June 19, 2017 by Devin Rivera
Whether it is banking, wealth management, or any other number of financial service solution providers, Millennials are seen as underutilizing these services.
June 16, 2017 by Alex Peter
When working with a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) company, you are not only getting the tool itself, but also the full backing of the support department behind it.
June 14, 2017 by Adam Ballent
NaviPlan is an unparalleled planning tool, and its power comes from the ability to create multiple plans to compare side by side with different outcomes and events in each plan.
June 12, 2017 by Brian Sasaki
“Simple to sophisticated” is a phrase that Advicent uses consistently when referring to the scalability of our technology. But what does it mean to you: the advisor?
June 9, 2017 by Tony Bevan
Would more people work with a financial advisor if they were able to access this service in an easier, more consumable way like subscription services?
June 7, 2017 by Jen Mysliwicz
Download our whitepaper to learn more about account aggregation and how it can enhance your digital strategy.
June 6, 2017 by Katelyn Rattray
Think about how you usually find prospects. Is it through referrals, digital marketing, print communication, or tradeshows? If you did not answer “yes” to all of these, you could be missing out on connecting with many potential prospects.
June 5, 2017 by Brenna Daley
Client expectations are changing; therefore, your client experience must evolve with them. Use the three strategies below to start enhancing your client experience today.
June 1, 2017 by Katelyn Rattray
When advisors ask about their clients, they typically ask about the husband. Although this is not an odd setting for a software company, it concerned me; so I started asking questions. Why are not more women working in finance? Where are the women investors?
May 30, 2017 by Amanda Arient
According to a recent survey from Financial Engines, only 32 percent of Americans have heard about the Department of Labor (DOL) fiduciary rule. From the same survey, only 21 percent of respondents said they definitively knew the difference between a financial advisor who identifies as a fiduciary and one who does not.
May 26, 2017 by Sean Marus
Alexander Acosta recently announced that the DOL fiduciary rule will not be delayed any further. Since the wealth management industry has been focusing on this for so long, I will paraphrase it: The DOL fiduciary rule is coming fast
May 24, 2017 by Alex Peter
Alexander Acosta, the new Secretary of Labor, confirmed on May 22 that the Department of Labor (DOL) Conflict of Interest – Fiduciary Rule will go into effect as planned on June 9 after months of uncertainty regarding implementation of the rule.
May 23, 2017 by Sean Marus
The Advicent Innovation Summit brings together large financial advice institutions, independent financial advisors, FinTech consultants, thought leaders, and FinTech press
May 22, 2017 by Kyle Johnson
Although the financial plan may have made perfect sense when it was started, life happens, things can fall out of whack, and priorities change. As an advisor, you can remind your clients of this; touch base and keep the plan relevant.
May 19, 2017 by Steph Kotlarek
Imagine that you are updating a client’s financial plan and suddenly the computer screen goes blank. A message appears demanding a $10,000 ransom paid within the hour or else the entire hard drive will be erased.
May 18, 2017 by Justin Kuepper
Google recently published an expectedly thorough report on the preferences of the modern teen. Generated via several surveys coordinated with YouGov, the aptly titled It's Lit: A guide to what teens think is cool" identifies superficial trends in cultural facets.
May 17, 2017 by Andy Penkalski
One of the biggest sales challenges that financial services firms face today is a way to differentiate themselves in a crowd of hundreds of other firms that offer a very similar service. However, many firms would argue that it is not the service that differentiates you, but the way that you deliver the service.
May 15, 2017 by Brandin Arndt
It might be time to consider making a distinction when talking about millennials. As New York Magazine points out, millennials seem to be splitting themselves into two categories: "Old Millennials" and "Young Millennials."
May 12, 2017 by Matt Marcum
$30 trillion in assets will shift hands over the next few decades and yet as little as 2 percent of children stay with their parent’s advisor. If your firm currently has a majority of clients in late stages of retirement, it is important to have a strategy in place to prepare for the transfer of wealth.
May 11, 2017 by Joanna Mesirow
Given the massive implications of the fiduciary rule going into effect, it is more important than ever to know how you and your firm will comply with the rule.
May 10, 2017 by Kate McBride
Download our whitepaper to learn about the rising demand for financial planning and how to remain competitive in the shifting financial services industry.
May 9, 2017 by Katelyn Rattray
Economic changes and business conditions are ever-changing the landscape of how companies need to meet their client demands. When implementing new policies, procedures, and best practices, organizations are faced with change management.
May 8, 2017 by Marquis Pantel
On May 18 in New York City, the Advicent Innovation Summit will bring together thought leaders from all across the financial services industry to share unparalleled expertise and develop dynamic strategies for growing their businesses.
May 5, 2017 by Alex Peter
I was reminded this past weekend of the importance of empathy and emotion in the broad milieu that is client experience.
May 4, 2017 by Tyler McNaughton
With the financial services industry becoming more competitive, advisors must find new ways to engage with prospects and clients as well as demonstrate their value above robo-advisors.
May 3, 2017 by Katelyn Rattray
The proliferation of technology has meant that devices, software platforms, and lightning-fast modes of communication have seeped into every facet of our lives.
May 1, 2017 by Sean Marus
In the world of software development, developing a well-rounded, useful piece of software requires creating an experience that allows the user to easily gain from engaging with it. There are three major aspects involved in creating a good client experience: a clean and familiar user interface, a workflow that is easy to understand, and the ability to follow the workflow successfully.
April 28, 2017 by Sarah Koallick
Allow me to set one thing straight before I jump in: This is not meant to ponder whether financial planning software can be delivered “as-a-Service.”
April 27, 2017 by Andrew King
As a Millennial, I have recently started to utilize the services of a financial professional. This journey is one that many Millennials will take, and each experience will be different.
April 26, 2017 by Alex Becker
Spring can be an atypically quiet time at Advicent. While our experts are constantly collaborating with advisors throughout North America on tactics we can provide to make their businesses more efficient and profitable, March and April often has us listening to more voicemail greetings than any other time of the year.
April 26, 2017 by Andy Penkalski
Ensuring that a client has a positive experience is quickly becoming the primary goal of all organizations as they recognize retention benefits, but also increased growth.
April 26, 2017 by Alex Becker
Paolo Sironi is a global thought leader at IBM Watson Financial Services. He is a recognized author on topics such as quantitative finance and innovation, demonstrating international expertise in investment management, risk management, and corporate banking.
April 25, 2017 by Katelyn Rattray
I have spent a great deal of time meeting with advisors to determine how our planning technology fits with their firms. Whether I am working with a trust department at a bank or an RIA with a $5 million minimum, I always start the conversation by trying to get an understanding of where new prospects come from and what steps are taken to convert those prospects into profitable clients.
April 24, 2017 by Nathan Lukow
I want to thank you for your business and partnership. We recognize that you have a choice in financial planning software providers and appreciate the trust you have put in Advicent to support the financial health and well-being of your clients.
April 21, 2017 by Angela Pecoraro
Advisors are experiencing increased competition from online firms, low cost index funds, robo advisors, and more. Subsequently, advisors need to do more to stand out from the crowd and find ways to truly differentiate their practice from the competition by offering an enhanced client experience.
April 20, 2017 by Shawn Preisler
With increasing regulation in our industry and rapidly changing technology, it is very important for an advisor to truly understand their client’s entire financial situation.
April 19, 2017 by Jeremy Schraufnagel
It is that time of the year again. For CPAs and other advisors that do any sort of tax planning, March and April represent an extremely busy time of the year, packed with meetings and harping on clients to locate and share important financial documents.
April 17, 2017 by Matt Marcum
By nature, people want to be known, understood, and appreciated by those with whom they interact. You, as their financial advisor, are no exception to this desire
April 14, 2017 by Martha Collins
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Improving the client onboarding experience for our new clients is one of the most important steps to acquiring and keeping new business.
April 13, 2017 by Amanda Arient
92 percent of people never achieve their New Year’s resolutions. Furthermore, one out of four people make the same resolution every year. These facts certainly make you wonder: Why are we so bad at achieving our goals?
April 12, 2017 by Kyria Branaugh
There are many perceptions of financial planning—good and bad—around which advisors must work, and the idea of “acting in the clients’ best interest” has been the focus of the industry for the past year.
April 10, 2017 by Emily Koller
In financial services, retail, or nearly any other industry, a core focus should be placed on delivering a superior client experience.
April 6, 2017 by Derek Semenas
Consumer demands force businesses to perform in a specific manner to acquire their business. Regardless of the DOL fiduciary rule going into effect, clients now expect their advisors to provide them with advice that is compliant with the fiduciary standard.
April 5, 2017 by Kyle Johnson
We live in a day and age where “time is of the essence” and “time is money.” The time advisors and clients spend collaborating face-to-face is of the utmost importance to Advicent as we seek to make that time together as valuable as possible.
April 3, 2017 by Haley Haas
Knowing your audience is paramount in any industry that provides customer service, caters to client experiences, or looks to sell a product. The better you know who you are selling to or delivering service to, the easier it is to put yourself in their shoes.
March 31, 2017 by Zach Weidman
In the life of a user experience developer, your job is to work towards building software that makes sense. By definition of your title, what you produce has to be a pleasant experience for your intended users.
March 29, 2017 by John Rusch
When we begin development of a new tool or functionality, we receive feedback from both prospects and our current users. Through our research process, we learned that there was an opportunity to facilitate a rapid client onboarding experience through our software.
March 27, 2017 by Alex Peter
When talking to advisors, I consistently hear that when a client is first onboarding, there are multiple meetings between the initial meeting and when the first plan is delivered.
March 24, 2017 by Patrick Meyer
Over the past decade, many advisors have chosen to begin making the switch from a commission-based book of business, and have begun doing more fee-based work.
March 22, 2017 by Shawn Preisler
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When discussing the potential impact of the DOL fiduciary rule being delayed with my wife, she pointed out that the term “fiduciary” may not be seeping into the public sphere as much as I thought.
March 20, 2017 by Matt Marcum
In the world of an advisor, time is money. This is why an advisor’s workflow is an underrated and unappreciated aspect of their success in financial services.
March 16, 2017 by Brandin Arndt
Value propositions are more important than ever for financial advisors. Show your clients and prospects what you can do beyond their perceived “norm” for financial advisors. Play the challenger: ask a client if they’ve received professional guidance in an area they probably haven’t considered asking you about.
March 15, 2017 by Tom Burmeister
Download our whitepaper to learn about remaining competitive in the face of increasing competition and shifting regulation.
March 14, 2017 by Katelyn Rattray
Amid shifting fiduciary standards and the proliferation of robo-advice, it is increasingly difficult to attract prospects and retain clients. Providing your clients with a tailor-made experience from the earliest stages of the relationship can significantly increase client retention.
March 13, 2017 by Sean Marus
Do you feel like you do not have enough time to create your own content to deliver to clients? Are you sending your client base content that does not relate to them?
March 10, 2017 by Dave Kirkeby
What do penicillin, erasable computer memory, and financial planning workflows have in common? Major use cases for each of these inventions were discovered as a side effect of the original intention of the invention.
March 9, 2017 by Kyle Johnson
In my role, I have the opportunity to participate in internal strategy calls to discuss how we will provide value to our clients and prospects. The prospects that we engage with have voiced concerns regarding the calculation engines, tax data update schedules, adoption rates of user portals, and the ability to showcase their unique value proposition with their current technology stack.
March 8, 2017 by Alex Peter
Download our whitepaper to learn more about the benefits of client journey mapping and how to start the process.
March 7, 2017 by Katelyn Rattray
As we sit in the limbo that is the future of the DOL rule, many financial firms are preparing for the industry change. In this preparation, many firms are taking a long, hard look at financial planning software for their practice.
March 6, 2017 by Brian Sasaki
It is no secret that FinTech has fundamentally re-shaped not only how advisors interact with clients but also client expectations of the services offered.
March 3, 2017 by Rachel Gutbrod
Plenty of words have been drummed up on our blog over the last year concerning how financial planners will best capture the emerging Millennial market as automated competition continues to penetrate the industry well before an estimated $30 trillion in AUM transfers generations.
March 2, 2017 by Andy Penkalski
Once a financial advisor gets on the phone, the majority of calls often go wrong because they do not have the proper steps of cold calling completed well. Every meeting I have ever set from a cold call included at least four of the following steps, and the best representatives I ever coached did all five consistently.
March 1, 2017 by Patrick Hannon
Technology is evolving constantly, always updating. There is always the newest and greatest with which we find ourselves trying to keep up.
February 27, 2017 by Steph Kotlarek
The anticipation of the Department of Labor fiduciary rule is still top of mind for those in the financial services industry. Is it possible that compliance, regulation, and the governing of this industry have taken the back seat for years?
February 24, 2017 by Logan Lee
Conversations about jobs—how they have been lost and whether they can be restored—dominated the public discourse in 2016. All signs indicate that this topic will continue to be important for the foreseeable future as well.
February 23, 2017 by Andrew King
Enterprise software purchasing processes are complex. Most of which are messy layers of budget restrictions, inaction, complicated decision-making processes, and department battles.
February 22, 2017 by Patrick Hannon
Takeaways were vast after attending the TD Ameritrade LINC conference earlier in February. There were many discussions regarding various topics, but the highpoints seemed to be technology, integration, client experience, and broadening your value proposition.
February 20, 2017 by Zach Weidman
The FinTech industry is flooded with news and content that contain a lot of financial jargon. Much of this content does not come from “native” financial professionals but rather marketers, mathematicians, developers, and creatives that have brought something new to the table.
February 20, 2017 by Dorien van der Linden
As a sales professional and leader for a decade and a half, one of the most important lessons I have learned is that you have two ears and one mouth. The days of the typical sales process are over in which the consumer speaks with a salesperson to explain their problem and the salesperson determines a solution.
February 17, 2017 by Brad Joudrie
Many people will tell you that it is important to always be planning ahead in life. This applies to many aspects of life, but it really just boils down to being prepared for whatever may come next.
February 15, 2017 by Dan Pappas
The 2017 TD LINC conference was eventful to say the least.
February 13, 2017 by Brian Kutmas
At Advicent, we are committed to providing tools that help advisors engage their clients and offer an exceptional digital experience.
February 10, 2017 by Alex Peter
How much thought have you given to your digital footprint and digital strategy? Most advisors and financial institutions agree that online brand identity is important, but the extent to which it plays a role when consumers decide with whom to work may surprise you.
February 8, 2017 by Matt Marcum
We have been closely monitoring the new Conflict of Interest Rule from the Department of Labor (DOL) since its first draft more than six years ago. This rule, much like similar legislation found across Europe, Australia, Canada, and elsewhere, was written in order to protect citizens (investors) from conflicts of interest when purchasing investment products — specifically in regards to retirement.
February 3, 2017 by Katelyn Rattray
In this video, you will learn how to create a NaviPlan retirement report, beginning with Forecaster assessment and promoting it to a level two plan in just a few minutes.
February 2, 2017 by Rachel Gutbrod
With Donald Trump now officially in office, many wondering what the future will hold, not only for our country but for our industry. Specifically, many people have questions regarding the policies and regulation that will be put in place moving forward.
February 1, 2017 by Jen Mysliwicz
What does every new financial advisor need to do when they first break into the industry? Obtain new clients. Advisors, however, often have difficultly defining their prospecting strategies.
January 30, 2017 by Dave Kirkeby
The past year has been a boon for regulatory changes in the North American financial services industry. The Investment Industry Association of Canada implemented the final phase of its Client Relationship Model (CRM) framework in July.
January 27, 2017 by Andy Penkalski
New year, new you? It is that time of year where we resolve to make important changes in our lives that will bring us closer to our goals and personal achievements.
January 25, 2017 by Tia Love
As one year closes and another year begins, I see advisors who fall into one of two categories. The first category is advisors that kick their feet up and enjoy the holiday with the families. The second category is advisors that do not take any extra time off because they do not feel they can get everything done.
January 23, 2017 by Patrick Meyer
When looking at a bank or wealth management firm’s corporate structure, financial advising is classified as a sales function under the corporate organization chart. Managers of financial advisors are accountable for generating revenue in the most efficient way possible.
January 20, 2017 by Kyle Johnson
With every new year, people tend to make New Year’s resolutions. Some of these are simple to achieve such as giving up soda or candy. Sometimes these goals are complex and may take the whole year like losing weight or making a lifestyle change.
January 18, 2017 by Zach Weidman
Predictions in the technology industry are generally futile. Technology is unpredictable, and in the fintech industry, even more so. We experienced a great deal of change in 2016, and should expect further excitement in 2017. But before we get into my predictions, I would like to preface this commentary by pointing out two things: Brexit and president-elect Trump.
January 16, 2017 by Anthony Stich
In 2016, we saw a lot of industry changes and the formation of other future trends including robo-advisors, uncertainty about the DOL fiduciary standard, new technology emerging, and more.
January 13, 2017 by Alex Peter
Download our eBook to learn more about the benefits of blogging and how to get your blog off the ground.
January 11, 2017 by Katelyn Rattray
Picture this: It is a snowy December morning in Wisconsin. You are headed off to work for the day, thinking of all the tasks you know must be completed first thing.
January 9, 2017 by Makanzie Kubale
With the new year upon us, many advisors are likely finalizing their business plans for a year that will require a more surgical focus than in the past.
January 6, 2017 by Andy Penkalski
The DOL Conflict of Interest Rule gets to the core issue for investors: trust. Trust remains one of the biggest reasons investors pick their advisor.
January 4, 2017 by Katelyn Rattray
As 2016 comes to a close and firms and advisors are looking toward the new year, it is important to remember what this past year has taught the financial services industry.
December 30, 2016 by Brandin Arndt
Computers excel at completing repetitive and routine tasks. They can be much more accurate than a human and are typically much faster too.
December 28, 2016 by Chris Dykstra
Communicating complex information to an audience with little prior knowledge is a daunting task. This is especially true when working with clients new to financial terminology and concepts in an industry filled with specific jargon.
December 26, 2016 by Brenna Daley
The holiday season is upon us! 'Tis the season to watch any and all holiday movies aired on TV, streamed through your favorite service, or via your trusty old DVD player.
December 22, 2016 by Alex Becker
Building digital experiences takes a long time, considerable skill, and immeasurable effort.
December 20, 2016 by Kevin Bereswill
Any professional software development department is accompanied by a quality assurance department. Here at Advicent, each development team has its own quality assurance analyst dedicated to reviewing that team’s projects.
December 14, 2016 by Martha Collins
By now, this pesky little acronym is receiving eye rolls and the same irritated reaction many people experience when hearing the same song on the radio for the thousandth time.
December 12, 2016 by Rachel Gutbrod
Open source software is one of the latest phenomena in software development. Open source software, the opposite of proprietary software, is exposed to the public for the world to see.
December 9, 2016 by Kyle Johnson
After the 2016 presidential election, results showed a win for the Trump/Pence ticket and control of both houses of Congress by Republicans. With these results, there seems to be a renewed optimism among some financial industry insiders that the DOL Conflict of Interest Rule could be repealed or significantly revised.
December 8, 2016 by Matt Marcum
Financial services is a pretty broad industry. The industry as a whole ranges from one-person firms that handle very holistic services to very large firms handling a very boutique niche, and vice versa.
December 7, 2016 by Katelyn Rattray
Rules are often a good thing — especially when they are trying to protect you, your practice, and more importantly your clients. With the DOL rule in the US and CRM2 in Canada, what better time is there to show your clients the value you bring to the table as their trusted professional advisor?
December 6, 2016 by Tony Bevan
Download our free eBook today to learn tips for creating your 2017 business plans and ensuring you accomplish your goals.
December 6, 2016 by Katelyn Rattray
With 2017 just around the corner, it is time to start finalizing business plans and budgets for 2017.
December 2, 2016 by Dan Pappas
The holiday season is upon us. It is time for creating lasting memories of joy and togetherness, spending time with friends and family members, and of course holiday-themed drinks at coffeehouses.
December 1, 2016 by Erik Ortega
Just as athletes all over the world set goals for a new season regarding how to become a better player, financial advisors must do the same to continue to prosper and surpass the success in 2016.
November 30, 2016 by Derek Semenas
The day after Thanksgiving is the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season, commonly known Black Friday. The holiday season is a crucial point for most retailers with 30 percent of annual retail sales occurring between Black Friday and Christmas.
November 29, 2016 by Kyria Branaugh
There is no doubt that when inadequate cyber security is exposed in a company's operations, there is an impact to the company's reputation and, often, to the bottom line.
November 28, 2016 by Jerry Heidtke
I recently shared a link to an article that my sister wrote called “Positivity Is Key.” She hits on a lot of important points in regards to having control over our outlook on life, especially during difficult times.
November 23, 2016 by Jen Mysliwicz
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No single software solution can completely ensure that an advisor or firm will not be subject to investigation or litigation. Due to the complexity of the client-advisor-firm relationship, there will be situations where decisions and recommendations are that made outside of established workflows are called into question.
November 22, 2016 by Alex Peter
I have been told money cannot buy happiness throughout my life; however, as I get older and realize how important money is, I have begun to question this idea.
November 21, 2016 by Ryan Allen
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While experiences with their own inboxes may leave independent and mid-size advisory firms feeling otherwise, email marketing remains one of the most effective marketing tactics when it comes to return on investment.
November 18, 2016 by Andy Penkalski
Download our whitepaper to learn more about leveraging technology to remain competitive with robo-solutions.
November 18, 2016 by Katelyn Rattray
Running a small business is difficult — especially in the financial services industry with sweeping regulation changes, shifting client expectation, and new technology popping up every year.
November 17, 2016 by Patrick Meyer
The Department of Labor (DOL) has set a new standard for advisors by redefining who qualifies as a fiduciary. New objectives aim to ensure that advisors are always putting the best interests of their clients first, and reduces conflicts of interest for advisors by increasing fee disclosures.
November 16, 2016 by Katelyn Rattray
The financial industry has the ability to make people feel secure or terrified, depending on the individual situation.
November 15, 2016 by Jyasi Corbett
How was business in 2016? Did you hit all your goals? Have you started to think about 2017?
November 14, 2016 by Tom "Tater" Roberts
There are many ways to keep an eye on your marketing efforts. Some of the most common means of tracking those efforts are wrapped in a high-level attribution system that consists of a Google Analytics code, goals, and UTM parameters.
November 11, 2016 by Kyle Johnson
Trust is a word we all know and use, but what do we really mean when we use it?
November 10, 2016 by Makanzie Kubale
Falling on the same day as a shockingly low-scoring professional football game, an equally shocking 60 Minutes interview with Jeff Rubin regarding the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) took place on October 23, 2016.
November 8, 2016 by Jason Pickart
Over the past three years, I have had the pleasure of working with more than 500 financial firms. Everyone—and I mean everyone—is looking for ways to be more efficient.
November 7, 2016 by Jyasi Corbett
For many advisors and other financial industry professionals, conferences and tradeshows quickly fill the calendar as the year progresses. These events have become as much an exhibition of human ingenuity and technological advances as an informative networking platform.
November 4, 2016 by Katelyn Rattray
After you have moved your client through the entire financial planning process and given them the key to the door into a seemingly successful financial future, what happens next?
November 3, 2016 by Brandin Arndt
Here at Advicent we wear many hats, including those related to financial planning and those related to software development. We have great people who fill both of these roles – some experts in one or the other, some experts in both. Combining the two is what is needed in order to remain effective in the FinTech industry.
November 2, 2016 by Joey Dieringer
In today’s age, there is an abundance of tools that advisors can use to help make their job a bit easier. However, this can be very overwhelming if an advisor is just getting started in the world of financial planning software.
November 1, 2016 by Adrian Moreno
A recent article from The Street discussed that the human lifespan may extend to 115 years. While human life expectancy possibly increasing is not surprising, the financial repercussions on one's retirement surely is.
October 31, 2016 by Matt Marcum
Advicent has decades of experience with enterprise software implementation and is continuously enahncing our offerings to ensure firms can provide the best possible digital client experience.
October 28, 2016 by Pietro La Greca
Most young adults receive their first exposure to personal financial planning and money management during (or immediately after) college, through a distinct lack of doing anything of the sort.
October 27, 2016 by Ryan Snelgrove
Many people argue that the new Conflict of Interest Rule by the Department of Labor was inspired by the Retail Distribution Review (in the United Kingdom) which is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). In fact, Advicent has written about this in the past and do feel that the similarity between the two regulations are uncanny.
October 26, 2016 by Anthony Stich
We are currently six months away from the new DOL fiduciary standard taking full effect, which means many firms are looking for ways to incorporate financial planning into their existing practices.
October 25, 2016 by Brian Sasaki
Many advisors struggle to find prospects and qualify individuals that would be a good fit for the advising they offer. As it turns out, many advisors may be imposing too many restrictions on themselves without even realizing on what they are missing out.
October 24, 2016 by Dan Pappas
Financial planning is all about “more”: accumulating more, funding more goals, providing more peace of mind. But sometimes the thing that can make the most impact for clients is providing less – less pain.
October 20, 2016 by Julie Posh
You have created what appears to be the perfect plan for your client – then something unexpected happens. Something that neither you nor your client could have expected has thrown their plan out of whack.
October 19, 2016 by Steph Kotlarek
In an ever-evolving technology space where old practices are trending digital and new digital trends are changing the way we think, I would like to focus on the impending melding of two giant “must haves” for clients in the financial space.
October 18, 2016 by Logan Lee
Financial advisors may wear a lot of different hats while working with clients. One of the more unique roles that an advisor could potentially fill is the role of financial therapist.
October 17, 2016 by Drew Butterfield
Download our whitepaper to learn more the impact of technology on compliance with the DOL fiduciary standard.
October 14, 2016 by Katelyn Rattray
“I wish I had saved more and started saving earlier.” 52 percent of individuals 55-64 years old say they wish they had started saving sooner. Additionally, 47 percent said they wish they had saved more.
October 13, 2016 by Sean Marus
As a newly married couple, my husband and I have heard the same piece of advice from many older couples: “Travel more.” However, planning a trip can be very intimidating financially, which is probably why those couples chose not to travel as much.
October 12, 2016 by Martha Collins
Download our free whitepaper to learn more about the benefits of digital advice to your business strategy.
October 12, 2016 by Katelyn Rattray
The 2016 presidential race has been a whirlwind of insults and scandal thus far. With the election right around the corner, advisors need to keep in mind that presidential elections are always an important time for our country and the election outcome may affect the financial plans of clients.
October 11, 2016 by Alex Becker
I recently attended my first two conferences – the first was our Advicent Innovation Summit in Toronto and the second was the XY Planning Conference in San Diego.
October 10, 2016 by Alex Peter
We are in the last quarter of 2016, and many advisors are preparing themselves to set up those year-end client meetings to make sure their financial life is still on track. Making sure advisors and clients are on the same page will be of value when 2017 planning begins.
October 7, 2016 by Tony Velasquez
They say experience makes life decisions easier, but I am not in agreement. In the past 30 days, I have taken my third child on her first college visits in her college selection process. It is definitely not getting easier.
October 6, 2016 by Loren Brockhouse
Fourth quarter is an important time to create your business plan for the year to come. Many of you keep track of your business plan in your head, but creating a written business plan is important because it creates actionable goals.
September 29, 2016 by Kyle Johnson
Download our whitepaper to learn more improving your client communication strategy.
September 29, 2016 by Katelyn Rattray
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The recent death of musical legend Prince has left us with many questions, most with respect to the current absence of any will or estate plan. How can somebody whose life was elaborately planned and purposeful not leave behind a will or plan for his estate?
September 28, 2016 by Erik Ortega
Being a recent college graduate, I deal firsthand with the major student loan debt crisis and the large amount of concern it brings to Millennials across the country.
September 27, 2016 by Ryan Allen
I recently had the opportunity to attend the LPL Focus conference in San Diego, California. I would like to start out by thanking our hosts for the opportunity to attend (it was our first time) and for their hospitality.
September 26, 2016 by Dave Kirkeby
The next generation of financial planning clients are commonly overlooked by today's advisors. Many clients under 40 are pulled and stretched in a number of different ways for financial advice due to all of the options our digital world provides to manage finances.
September 21, 2016 by Brady Field
When it comes to protecting segments of your AUM from being pick-pocketed by a robo-advisor, the Millennial-targeted Acorns® app is not about to make any serious land grabs on your current book of business.
September 20, 2016 by Andy Penkalski
The economy is complicated and full of unexpected ups and downs, making financial planning more important than ever before.
September 19, 2016 by Alex Glover
I have the great pleasure of being surrounded by people that strive to be successful, both financially and in their career. Sometimes the two go hand-in-hand, other times one has to suffer at the expense of the other.
September 15, 2016 by Tia Love
A new school year starting, another summer drawing to a close, students heading back to school, young couples moving into their first apartment, and concerts galore.
September 14, 2016 by Jen Mysliwicz
The hottest topic on this year’s financial advisor conference agenda has been the DOL’s fiduciary rule.
September 13, 2016 by Rachel Gutbrod
With the increasing boom of technology in today’s world comes the risk of cybersecurity and the challenges at keeping your sensitive information protected.
September 12, 2016 by Derek Semenas
Those of us who spent time at the fourth Advicent Innovation Summit in Toronto were able to connect with industry professionals and hear from some of the leading financial services organizations in Canada.
September 9, 2016 by Jay Keown
Advisors and banks have all heard a lot about Bitcoin. To the untrained eye, Bitcoin is a currency that represents an investment vehicle. But what if I told you that Bitcoin’s biggest impact will be to change all financial transactions from simply buying stocks to financial derivative trades?
September 8, 2016 by Kyle Johnson
In August, our world came together around some incredible achievements by athletes worldwide.
September 7, 2016 by Martha Collins
On August 25, Advicent held its fourth Innovation Summit focused on digital advice delivery and advisor best practices for the Canadian market.
September 6, 2016 by Andrew King
With more and more people completing higher education and taking on staggering amounts of college debt, Millennials are scrambling to find ways to pay off the education for which they worked so hard.
September 1, 2016 by Katelyn Rattray
When you think about what generates high profits as a financial advisor, my guess is your first thought is not a 529 plan. What if we looked at it from a different perspective?
August 22, 2016 by Makanzie Kubale
One of the challenges that many firms experience is that their clients have spending habits that go directly against what their financial plan states they should be doing in order to achieve the goals outlined in their plan.
August 18, 2016 by Shawn Preisler
The DOL rule is creating more curious clients. At the moment, the push for transparency from the DOL has only gone as far as dragging commission-based financial advice into the public spotlight.
August 15, 2016 by Jonas Leyrer
Download our free whitepaper to learn more about increasing your firm’s ROI in the wake of the DOL rule with financial planning software.
August 10, 2016 by Katelyn Rattray
One of the biggest issues on the minds of financial advisors since the second half of 2015 has been the DOL rule.
August 4, 2016 by Dan Pappas
Download our free eBook and start fostering stronger client relationships through events today.
August 4, 2016 by Adeline Gerritts
A few days ago, a friend of mine with whom I play golf asked me about the DOL rule. He said, “I keep hearing about it on television, how it’s changing the financial services industry, but I honestly have no idea what it means.”
August 3, 2016 by Tom "Tater" Roberts
Maybe it is time to rethink what a financial plan means to a younger client.
August 1, 2016 by Matt Marcum
Some say a picture is worth a thousand words. Can you picture what your retirement is going to look like?
July 29, 2016 by Tony Bevan
“All models are wrong, but some are useful,” said George E.P. Box, a famous statistician. Everyone has mental models of how the world works because a model provides a simplified explanation for a very complex world.
July 25, 2016 by Kyle Johnson
You may have noticed many more people than normal out and about lately, heads tilted down, glued to their phones. Chances are you have played or have seen someone playing the latest mobile game craze, Pokémon GO.
July 22, 2016 by Addison Faul
Download our free whitepaper and start innovating today.
July 19, 2016 by Katelyn Rattray
Financial planning software and tools have traditionally been built as closed systems; however, as the need for client interaction with financial plans and advice becomes more critical, financial planning software is adapting by utilizing an open architecture that organizations can use in their digital strategies.
July 18, 2016 by Andrew King
Imagine being able to treat each client as if you saw them every day and had a close personal relationship with them.
July 15, 2016 by Tony Velasquez
The digital movement of financial technology is disrupting the current market in more ways than imagined. Applications can scale and touch millions of users overnight. This is creating a demand in the market to push their interactions with clients and prospects to leverage technology like never before.
July 11, 2016 by Katelyn Rattray
The first professional training I experienced after The University of Minnesota was Dale Carnegie. After twelve 4-hour sessions, what I remember most is the phrase “rest before you get tired."
July 6, 2016 by Loren Brockhouse
On Thursday, June 23, a referendum was held to decide whether the United Kingdom (UK) should leave or remain in the European Union (EU).
July 5, 2016 by Annalise Green
At Advicent, we believe everyone deserves a financial plan, and we provide technology that enables advisors to bring their financial planning practice into The Digital Revolution with state-of-the-art tools.
July 1, 2016 by Brian Sasaki
The hottest topic on this year’s financial advisor conference agenda has been the DOL’s fiduciary rule. One of the cornerstones of the DOL rule involves an examination of a client’s entire financial picture when delivering advice.
June 27, 2016 by Tom Burmeister
Oftentimes buyers get wide-eyed over the features of a product and do not realize the true benefits that result from those features.
June 24, 2016 by Adeline Gerritts
A successful playoff hockey team is comprised of sharpshooters, big hitters, and hot goalies. In the same way, a successful retirement plan outlines effective strategies in various areas such as saving, cash flow, and asset allocation.
June 23, 2016 by Katelyn Rattray
There are many things to consider when deciding whether to annuitize a pension or take a lump sum. It is important to understand your clients fixed expense landscape.
June 22, 2016 by Katelyn Rattray
The DOL rule gets to the core issue for investors: trust. Trust remains one of the biggest reasons investors pick their advisor.
June 15, 2016 by Shawn Preisler
How do you feel about your firm’s ability to comply with Department of Labor’s fiduciary rule change?
June 15, 2016 by Andrew King
When I was 16 years old, I remember going to a car dealer with a price range in mind and a vague idea of what car I wanted to walk away with. I was so excited to get my very own car and enjoy the freedom of owning one. Little did I know, buying a car—a used one at that—can be very overwhelming to a new buyer.
June 9, 2016 by Alex Peter
Why is digital attrition something which should concern you?
June 6, 2016 by Anthony Stich
The Narrator® line is the newest in the Advicent product suite. Originally, Narrator was part of Figlo® and was originally labeled as Figlo Studio. For the purpose of conciseness, this article will focus on the different products in the Narrator line, as well as how they fit in the market.
June 3, 2016 by Alex Peter
Financial planning software has a long-running history that is as extensive as any industry. However, few are aware of the significant impact that international innovations have had on this history and the effects that will be felt in the coming years.
May 25, 2016 by Don Breber
The process of starting a relationship with a financial advisor is often cumbersome and difficult. The client must organize their finances, and the advisor must manually enter a large amount of data.
May 19, 2016 by Katelyn Rattray
It is not news that digital technology has caused people to expect instant gratification to their needs and wants. This is also becoming increasingly true in the financial services industry.
May 17, 2016 by Katelyn Rattray
The digital movement of financial technology is disrupting the current market in more ways than imagined.
May 12, 2016 by Katelyn Rattray
NaviPlan® has long been considered the premier financial planning solution in North America. When it comes to comprehensive cash flow based planning, it has no equal. In financial planning circles, this a widely held and commonly accepted belief.
May 11, 2016 by Katelyn Rattray
It is never too early to let young clients know they must start creating good financial habits to help them achieve a successful retirement later in life.
May 4, 2016 by Adrian Moreno
Financial services is a pretty broad industry. The industry as a whole ranges from one-person firms that handle very holistic services to very large firms handling a very boutique niche, and vice versa.
May 4, 2016 by Zach Weidman
A lot of Millennials believe we can do our own financial planning as well or better than a professional advisor. Is this overconfidence? Almost certainly.
April 21, 2016 by Kyle Johnson
Download our whitepaper to learn more about the benefits of utilizing Monte Carlo to differentiate your business from the competition.
April 19, 2016 by Katelyn Rattray
Start creating an effective digital strategy today.
April 19, 2016 by Katelyn Rattray
If you are an independent financial planner, part of a team of financial planners, or even an enterprise organization, then listen up: the upcoming release of a web-based application programming interface (API) for NaviPlan® from Advicent will help companies and advisors to create a better financial planning experience for their clients, through technology customized for their specific company. So why is this solution right for you?
April 12, 2016 by Adeline Gerritts
With 47 years of experience, we have been able to develop and refine our suite of products to allow advisors to guide clients through the entire journey of the financial planning process.
April 8, 2016 by Katelyn Rattray
The sporadic weather in Wisconsin and the rest of the Midwest is no surprise to anyone this time of year. This past weekend, we had a snow storm in Milwaukee, and then I was wearing shorts and laying in my hammock two days later.
April 7, 2016 by Alex Peter
Working in the financial industry, there is a lot of pressure to meet the needs and expectations of all your clients. Sometimes, the gravity of the influence we have on the lives of clients is shocking to me.
March 28, 2016 by Kyria Branaugh
In a field where differentiation and first impressions are the driver of client relationship development and subsequent AUM, the future of the Narrator platform seems boundless.
March 24, 2016 by Katelyn Rattray
Download our whitepaper to learn more about utilizing APIs in your current workflows to improve client experience.
March 21, 2016 by Katelyn Rattray
Download our whitepaper to ensure you are thoroughly evaluating prospective FinTech vendors to meet all the needs of your bank and clients.
March 18, 2016 by Katelyn Rattray
March 16, 2016 by Matt Marcum
Download our free whitepaper to ensure you are thoroughly evaluating prospective FinTech vendors to meet all the needs of you and your clients.
March 15, 2016 by Katelyn Rattray
Download our free eBook today to learn the best practices you should be employing as either an exhibitor or an attendee to create business relationships that will lead to success in the constantly evolving FinTech industry.
March 15, 2016 by Adeline Gerritts
The Department of Labor (DOL) announced that it is planning to undertake a “long-term research study to develop a panel that will track U.S. households over several years in order to collect data and answer important research questions on how retirement planning strategies and decisions evolve over time.” In its request for comments published in the Federal Register, the DOL noted, “Relatively little is known about how people make planning and financial decisions before and during retirement.”
March 14, 2016 by Tom Burmeister
Robo-advice has dominated headlines in the financial industry, with some predicting that the online advice market could reach $500 billion by 2020. These headlines are catching the eye of both FINRA and the SEC as well.
February 19, 2016 by Tom Burmeister
Download our eBook today to learn more about how you can grow your existing client base, develop and nurture new prospects, and meet your 2016 objectives with six simple, actionable steps.
February 19, 2016 by Adeline Gerritts
What do you remember from 1974? Take a minute and think back, if you can.
February 11, 2016 by Patrick Hannon
Download our whitepaper today to learn more about how you can proactively prepare to serve consumer trends that have already begun and those that will be emerging in the near future.
February 3, 2016 by Katelyn Rattray
The January 2016 AICPA Advanced Personal Financial Planning Conference was a great opportunity to learn more about where the industry is headed and show off the financial planning solutions from Advicent at our new booth.
February 1, 2016 by Brian Sasaki
Advisors can help calm the storm of Millennials paying off their student loan debt. The first step is reaching that audience.
January 22, 2016 by Adeline Gerritts
In 2016, the digital advisor space will experience rapid growth with the release of many new proprietary technology solutions. According to Financial Planning, “one-third of financial advisors believe that technology will be the primary force that drives industry innovation.”
January 12, 2016 by Cory Olson
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