Wealth management
Client question: I’ve got a lump sum in cash, should I invest it right away?
September 23, 2024
In this new series, we address common client questions, starting with how to invest a lump sum of cash. We examine the merits of investing all at once or little by little with dollar-cost averaging.
Categories: Article, Client-focused, Financial planning, General audience, Wealth management
What does it take to take on risk?
August 23, 2024
Figuring out a client’s risk tolerance is an important building block for any investment plan. This piece serves as a conversation starter to help clients understand their willingness to take on risk—including financial and behavioral factors—so they’re better positioned to meet their goals and manage their financial and emotional health.
Categories: Article, Client-focused, Financial planning, Risk management, Wealth management
Compound returns quick take
July 29, 2024
This piece serves as a quick primer on compounding returns and explores the levers investors may pull to make the most of this powerful tool, including saving early and putting more money to work inside tax-advantaged retirement accounts.
Categories: Article, Client-focused, Financial planning, General audience, Quick reference, Wealth management
Young investor’s guide to building a financial future
June 17, 2024
This piece combines into a single article our two-part series exploring the steps young clients may take as they begin investing for the first time. In it, we discuss the importance of avoiding high-interest credit card debt, embracing long-term investing and making the most of tax-advantaged retirement accounts such as 401(k)s and IRAs. We also cover the value of diversification, strategies to avoid speculative behaviors such as market timing and stock picking, and building a plan based on individual goals.
Categories: Article, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Wealth management, Young investor's guide
Young investor’s guide to building a financial future—part 2: Investing for your goals
June 17, 2024
Part 2 of a two-part series exploring the steps young clients may take as they begin investing for the first time. In the second and final article of this series, we cover the value of diversification, strategies to avoid speculative behaviors such as market timing and stock picking, and building a plan based on individual goals. The article is a follow-up to part 1, in which we discuss the importance of avoiding high-interest credit card debt, embracing long-term investing and making the most of tax-advantaged retirement accounts such as 401(k)s and IRAs.
Categories: Article, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Wealth management, Young investor's guide
Young investor’s guide to building a financial future—part 1: Where do you start?
May 30, 2024
Part 1 of a two-part series exploring the steps young clients may take as they begin investing for the first time. This first article discusses the importance of avoiding high-interest credit card debt, embracing long-term investing and making the most of tax-advantaged retirement accounts such as 401(k)s and IRAs. In part 2, we’ll cover the value of diversification, strategies to avoid speculative behaviors such as market timing and stock picking, and building a plan based on individual goals.
Categories: Article, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Wealth management, Young investor's guide
Protecting women’s wealth
March 16, 2024
This article describes some of the hurdles women face in protecting their wealth, including longevity and earning challenges, as well as ways to build greater financial stability through targeted financial planning.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Client experience, Estate planning, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Prospect-focused, Wealth management
4 financial best practices for year-end 2023
November 15, 2023
Share this piece with clients and prospects to offer four financial best practices for year-end 2023. This year's tips cover managing cash reserves, maintaining one's investment portfolio, tax strategies and time management.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Evidence-based investing, Financial planning, General audience, Listicle, Tax planning, Wealth management
Six Financial Best Practices for Year-End 2022
November 11, 2022
Share this piece with clients and prospects to offer six financial best practices for year-end 2022. This year's tips cover cash flow management, tax planning, healthcare coverage, and general financial planning in the context of 2022 events, including higher interest rates, inflation, and market volatility.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Economics, Estate planning, Family wealth, Financial planning, Fixed income, General audience, Listicle, Philanthropy/giving, Retirement planning, Risk management, Tax planning, Wealth management
Healing What Hurts: The Essential Role of a Financial Therapist
February 16, 2022
This 3-page report describes the value a financial therapist can add to someone’s wealth management team when their own or a family member’s mental health may be interfering with their financial well-being. Points include when and how financial therapy can help, and how to identify an appropriate fit (including how your firm can assist in the selection).
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Behavioral finance, Estate planning, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Report, Wealth management
Tax Planning Part 3: Tax-Wise Financial Planning
August 31, 2021
Part 3 of a 3-part series on tax-planning. Part 1 defined "the tools of the tax-planning trade," i.e., tax breaks for saving toward life goals such as retirement, healthcare, education, emergency spending, charitable giving, and wealth transfer. Part 2 explored reducing families' lifetime tax bills through tax-wise investment techniques. Part 3 explores integrating all of the above into broad financial planning.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Estate planning, Evidence-based investing, Family wealth, General audience, Philanthropy/giving, Retirement planning, Tax planning, Tax planning tools & techniques, Wealth management
Protecting What’s Yours (After You Pass) Part 2
May 17, 2021
Share this two-part piece on estate planning basics with clients and prospects. Part 1 is 464 words, and reminds readers how important it is to have a basic will or trust. This part 2, at 1,413 words, offers step-by-step guidance on creating and maintaining an effective estate plan. Both pieces pair well with a 2019 Library piece, "Protecting What's Yours (While You're Alive)."
Categories: Article, Estate planning, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Philanthropy/giving, Protecting what's yours, Tax planning, Wealth management
Protecting What’s Yours (After You Pass) Part 1
April 29, 2021
Share this two-part piece on estate planning basics with clients and prospects. Part 1 is 464 words, and reminds readers how important it is to have a basic will or trust. Part 2 (coming soon) will offer step-by-step guidance on creating and maintaining an effective estate plan. Both pieces pair well with a 2019 Library piece, "Protecting What's Yours (While You're Alive)."
Categories: Article, Estate planning, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Philanthropy/giving, Protecting what's yours, Tax planning, Wealth management
A Meaningful Message for Thanksgiving/Holiday Season (2020)
November 12, 2020
Use this 260-word message to be in touch with your clients for the U.S. Thanksgiving or the general 2020 holiday season. The message expresses gratitude for your client's business, and acknowledges the painful disruption the pandemic has brought to most families' holiday traditions.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Client experience, Client-focused, General letter/email, Holiday greetings, Wealth management
Finding Your Fiduciary Financial Advisor (UPDATED)
August 18, 2020
UPDATED FROM FEB. 2015: This six-page, three-part special report helps investors choose a fiduciary advisor, UPDATED for recent changes under Reg BI. Part 1 describes the broad financial environment and the importance of the fiduciary relationship. Part 2 covers additional qualities to seek, and Part 3 offers tips on how to review an advisor's credentials. Pairs well with the separate, July 2020 Library piece, “What Is Fiduciary Investment Advice?”
Categories: Advisor role/value, Client experience, Evidence-based investing, Financial planning, Finding a fiduciary advisor, General audience, Report, Updated content, Wealth management, White paper
What Is Fiduciary Investment Advice, and Why Does It Matter?
July 31, 2020
Fully independent, fee-only RIA firms can share this 1,500-word report with clients and prospective clients to differentiate comprehensive fiduciary client relationships, vs. "incidental" investment recommendations under Regulation Best Interest (as of June 30, 2020). Pairs well with the separate, August 2020 Library piece, “Finding Your Fiduciary Financial Advisor.”
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Client experience, Evidence-based investing, Finding a fiduciary advisor, General audience, Report, Wealth management
Eight “Best/Worst” Wealth Strategies During the Coronavirus Free Sample (Click on title to download)
June 28, 2020
Share this 833-word document with clients and prospects to cover eight of the most and least effective ways for they can spend their time and energy shoring up their financial well-being in the time of the coronavirus.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Alternative investments, Article, Evidence-based investing, Financial planning, Free samples, General audience, Listicle, Wealth management
Six Financial Best Practices for 2020
December 8, 2019
Share this 869-word piece with clients and prospects to offer six financial best practices for 2020. This year's selection is based on some of the changes that took place in 2019, including TCJA tax tips, zero-commission stock and ETF trading, and more.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Client experience, Economics, Evidence-based investing, Financial best practice lists, General audience, Listicle, Philanthropy/giving, Security, Wealth management
16 Things You Can Do To Prepare for the Next Recession
October 18, 2019
16 things investors can do to truly strengthen their financial well-being, instead of engaging in market-timing in reaction to a potential recession. Share this 783-word overview with clients and prospects.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Expenses, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Listicle, Retirement planning, Scary market insights, Wealth management
Protecting What’s Yours (While You’re Alive)
July 25, 2019
Use this 1,300-word article in its entirety or broken into three parts to cover three tools an individual can employ to protect their health and wealth care interests while they are alive: (1) the financial power of attorney, (2) the trusted contact, and (3) the healthcare advance directive (including a living will and healthcare power of attorney). Includes a summary, when each applies, common scenarios and additional tips for each.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Estate planning, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Protecting what's yours, Report, Wealth management
Good Advice (UPDATED)
May 27, 2019
UPDATED FROM 2016: This 605-word piece reminds your clients and informs prospective clients that the best-interest advice you offer goes well beyond stock-picking tips. It reinforces why a good financial adviser remains relevant even as low-cost funds, automated investing and simplified financial planning are on the rise.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Evidence-based investing, Financial planning, General audience, Updated content, Wealth management
What Is Liquidity?
May 14, 2019
This 768-word article is part of our ongoing "What Is ...?" series. It defines liquidity, offers some approachable examples of how it works, and considers it within the context of an overall investment portfolio. Share this piece with clients or prospects as an article, post, or video script, or for similar purposes.
Categories: Article, Evidence-based investing, Financial planning, General audience, Real estate investing, The "What Is ...?" series, Wealth management
Quarterly Client Letter — 2019 Q1
April 1, 2019
This 520-word quarterly client letter reflects on the differences between breaking news and timeless investment tenets, noting in particular the contrast between Q1 performance and recent volatile returns just prior.
Categories: Breaking news, Client-focused, Economics, Evidence-based investing, Quarterly client letter, Wealth management
A Second Opinion Reach-Out
February 25, 2019
Use this 525-word piece to reach out to prospects (or, with minor revisions, to clients), encouraging them to schedule a second opinion meeting with you. The piece describes what to expect as well as red flags to avoid when seeking an objective second opinion about their investment portfolio. It could also be re-purposed as a general article.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Client experience, General letter/email, Prospect-focused, Wealth management
Six Financial Best Practices for 2019
December 17, 2018
Six financial best practices encouraging investors to ignore market volatility and take practical steps toward enhancing their financial well-being. Use this piece as is to share with prospective clients, or modify it slightly for client use. This piece represents the second in an annual series, potentially pairing well with "Ten Financial Best Practices to Jump-Start Your New Year," published in December 2017.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Client experience, Estate planning, Financial best practice lists, Financial planning, Listicle, Prospect-focused, Scary market insights, Security, Wealth management
New client welcome letter/email and fact sheet
May 8, 2018
Customize these templates—a brief letter/email and fact sheet—to welcome new clients to your firm, remind them of their next scheduled meeting with you, and provide key contact information.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Client experience, Client-focused, General letter/email, Wealth management
Understanding the Donor-Advised Fund (DAF)
February 25, 2018
Use this 1,300-word white paper to describe to prospects and clients why they may want to consider a DAF for charitable giving under the new 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). The paper describes how tax-wise charitable giving has changed, where a DAF might fit in, how they work, and how to differentiate among them. The paper also emphasizes the value of working with a wealth advisor to assist in selection and set-up. This piece also pairs well with the April 2018 piece offering an overview of tax-wise giving under the TCJA.
Categories: Advisor role/value, General audience, Philanthropy/giving, Tax planning, Wealth management, White paper
Half of a Whole: When You Lose Your Spouse Free Sample (Click on title to download)
July 21, 2017
This 900-word piece can be used as an article, email or video script to share with clients and prospective clients. It encourages those experiencing grief to hold off on making financial decisions that can wait, and offers supportive guidance to consider. It also encourages couples to complete their estate and advance planning if they've not yet done so.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Client experience, Estate planning, Free samples, General audience, Wealth management
Good Advice
February 11, 2016
This 675-word piece reminds your clients and informs prospective clients that the best-interest advice you have to offer goes well beyond what is often thought of as "advice" (i.e., stock tips and little more). It reinforces why a good financial adviser remains relevant even as low-cost funds, automated investing and simplified financial planning is on the rise, and especially during the turbulent market times we are currently experiencing. As such, this piece can be used as a timely response to current market volatility or as a timeless article for all market climes.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Breaking news, Client experience, General audience, Scary market insights, Wealth management
A NEW Tradition: Family Wealth Planning Conversations
December 13, 2013
This 530-word article invites families to take a fresh look at their family wealth conversations, while encouraging them to think of your firm as a resource to assist them with this and other family wealth management needs. Use this piece as a newsletter article, or it could be readily converted into a direct mailing to clients or prospects.
Categories: Article, General audience, Wealth management