Technology
4 Ways to Apply the 80/20 Rule to Your Financial Pursuits
February 5, 2023
The "80/20 rule" suggests 80% of an outcome is often the result of just 20% of the effort you put into it. In that spirit, this piece offers 4 financial best practices where the 80/20 rule applies. These include staying invested across varied markets, emphasizing asset allocation over stock-picking, having a basic financial plan to guide the way, and freezing your credit report to minimize financial fraud.
Categories: Article, Evidence-based investing, Financial planning, General audience, Listicle, Security, Technology
Financial & Identity Theft Quick Reference – U.S. Version (UPDATED)
February 5, 2023
UPDATED FROM SEPTEMBER 2018: Use this quick-reference to help U.S. clients and prospective clients combat financial fraud and identity theft. Design into a front-and-back flyer or poster for rapid reading or to complement the similar, longer report on the same subject.
Categories: Advisor role/value, General audience, Quick reference, Security, Technology, Updated content
Financial & Identity Theft Quick Reference – Canadian Version (UPDATED)
February 5, 2023
UPDATED FROM SEPTEMBER 2018: Use this quick-reference to help CANADIAN clients and prospective clients combat financial fraud and identity theft. Design into a front-and-back flyer or poster for rapid reading or to complement the similar, longer report on the same subject.
Categories: Advisor role/value, General audience, Quick reference, Security, Technology, Updated content
SPACS, NFTs, and Other Jungle Creatures
March 11, 2021
Use this 1,117-word report to describe some of the latest trading trends to clients and prospects, put the activity in the context of similar historical runs, and explain why long-term investors should avoid the excitement of short-term speculation.
Categories: Alternative investments, Article, Evidence-based investing, General audience, Report, Technology
How To Be Positively Skeptical | Part 2: Understanding Your Emotions
April 29, 2020
Use this second, 844-word installment of a 4-part series to help clients and prospects strengthen their ability to differentiate solid evidence from bogus claims, especially during the coronavirus crisis. Part 1 described why the ability to be "positively skeptical" is important. This part 2 covers how to recognize when emotions are interfering with reason (and what to do about it). Parts 3 & 4 will help readers hone in on their fact-checking skills.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Behavioral finance, Breaking news, Evidence-based investing, Financial planning, General audience, How to be positively skeptical, Technology
How To Be Positively Skeptical | Part 1: The Benefits of Having a Doubt
February 27, 2020
Use this first, 600-word installment of a 4-part series to help clients and prospects strengthen their ability to differentiate solid evidence from bogus claims. Part 1 describes why the ability to be "positively skeptical" is important. Parts 2 - 4 will cover how to recognize when emotions are interfering with reason, and how to hone one's fact-checking skills.
Categories: Article, Behavioral finance, Evidence-based investing, General audience, How to be positively skeptical, Politics, Security, Technology
Protecting Your Child from Identity Theft (US Version) Free Sample (Click on title to download)
September 24, 2018
Use this 600-word piece to alert clients and prospects to the growing threat of child identity theft: what it is, why it's happening, how parents can spot and prevent it, and what to do if it happens.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Free samples, General audience, Security, Technology
Protecting Your Child from Identity Theft (Canadian Version) Free Sample (Click on title to download)
September 24, 2018
Use this 600-word piece to alert clients and prospects to the growing threat of child identity theft: what it is, why it's happening, how parents can spot and prevent it, and what to do if it happens.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Free samples, General audience, Security, Technology
Equifax Breach Commentary
September 18, 2017
Use this 785-word client communication to comment on the recently announced Equifax security breach, offer guidance, and remind them of the timeless "Avoiding Financial Scams and Identity Theft Slams" materials you can share with them (also available in the Content-Sharing Library, under Technology). You may also wish to modify this piece to share with additional audiences.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Breaking news, Client-focused, General audience, General letter/email, Security, Technology
Client Reach-Out on Microsoft Ransomware Alert
May 15, 2017
Use this 245-word email to reach out to clients and alert them to the current global Microsoft ransomware outbreak. The alert encourages them to install any outstanding Microsoft patches on their devices if they've not yet done so. It also references the new materials on financial fraud and identity theft just added to the Content-Sharing Library. These offer you additional ways to add value to your clients' financial well-being.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Breaking news, Client-focused, General letter/email, Security, Technology
October Q3 2015 Client Letter (Google Hits vs. Long-Term Investing)
October 3, 2015
This 470-word article looks at how popular Google results, similar to other forms of headline news, may distract investors from their long-term strategy. It provides salient recent quotes on the importance of remaining disciplined during market uncertainty.
Categories: Behavioral finance, Breaking news, Client-focused, Quarterly client letter, Technology
Reflections on Robo-Advice
April 22, 2015
This 1,200-word piece offers investors advice on how to assess the recent proliferation of robo-advisors -- differentiating the higher level of care available from dedicated human advisers, emphasizing the continued importance of an evidence-based investment strategy, and summarizing qualities to seek in any form of investment advice a family may be considering. Use the piece to inform clients or prospects or respond to their questions.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Client experience, General audience, Report, Technology
Heartbleed Security Reach-Out
April 10, 2014
This 280-word e-mail alerts your clients that you are aware of and following up on the Heartbleed Security bug announced this week and that you will be in touch promptly should they need to take any action at their end. A Mashable link is provided to help you inform your clients whether their specific account custodian appears to be affected by the breach. (Most of them appear not to be, since brokers/banks don't seem to be using OpenSSL where the breach occurred), The event also serves as a good reminder that they should routinely update their account passwords every 60-90 days.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Client-focused, General letter/email, Technology
April Q1 2014 Client Letter (Michael Lewis & HFT)
April 3, 2014
This 475-word client letter can be used as a cover letter to accompany your quarterly client reports or as a stand-alone communication. It addresses Michael Lewis' March 30th, 2014 "60 Minutes" discussion about his new book on high-frequency traders. The incident is a good lesson on why clients need to be aligned with a fiduciary advisor like you to look out for their interests in a market that is expected to reward patient investors, but that clearly has its dark side.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Client-focused, Quarterly client letter, Technology