Communicating with Clients

WomenAdvisors forum – May 23, 2011
In her online column for the WomenAdvisors forum, Marie Swift broke down getting started in social media into manageable steps and discussed its value in an ongoing series.  Read Article #3: Rules of Engagement – Part One and be sure to check out her other columns for the WomenAdvisors forum.

Financial-Planning.com, Blog: The Marketing Maven – May 23, 2011
Echoing on the topics she discussed in her recent article in Financial Planning magazine, Marie Swift offers tips from Dr. Don Heilbuth on really addressing clients’ fears and deepening relationships. Read Seven Great Things to Add to Your Client Communications Tool Belt.

Financial-Planning.com, Blog: The Marketing Maven – May 16, 2011
Continuing with the theme of her recent article in Financial Planning magazine, Marie Swift discusses how the new clients are media savvy and they expect more contact and interaction with their advisor. Read her new post, Connecting with Clients in a Wired World.

Financial Planning magazine – May 11, 2011
Marie Swift, a regular columnist for Financial Planning magazine and author of The Marketing Maven blog on www.financial-planning.com spoke with several advisors to gather their tips on how to reach out and stay connected with their clients who are social media savvy.  Read these valuable ideas in Client Communications 2.0.

Financial-Planning.com, Blog: The Marketing Maven – May 2, 2011
In this blog, Marie Swift continues her series on how to grab your readers’ attention.  This time she talks about the visual elements that make will make people read your message.  Read more in The Eyes Have It.

RIAbiz – April 27, 2011
Marie Swift guest blogged for RIAbiz, “Eavesdropping on the Tiburon CEO Summit.” She gives an excellent rundown on the topics that were discussed.  Impact Communications handled the onsite logistics and media relations for this important conference.  Here are her observations of the Tiburon CEO Summit.

Financial-Planning.com, Blog: The Marketing Maven – April 25, 2011
In her blog, The Marketing Maven, Marie Swift addresses how advisors can best communicate with their clients in their marketing material.  She discusses the best way to grab your audience with good headlines and to engage with good content and your own personal tone.   Read her tips at Using the Right Words and Tone to Connect with People.

Financial-Planning.com, Blog: The Marketing Maven – April 18, 2011
In her blog for the Financial Planning Magazine, Marie Swift explains how every communication from an advisor’s office, whether written or spoken in person, is a form of marketing and should be treated as an important part of your personal brand.  Read more about Writing Successful Marketing Communications.

Forbes Advisor Magazine – April 11, 2011
Marie Swift comments on the pros and cons of advisors launching their own show either on the radio or television. Read Edelman Show to Reach 20 Million.

Financial-Planning.com, Blog: The Marketing Maven – April 11, 2011
In her ongoing series of blogs at Financial-Planning.com, Marie Swift discusses the many different types of social media—Blogs, Twitter, LinkedIn—and how advisors need to learn to write for each in their own way.   Find out How to Write Compelling Content for the Web.

Financial-Planning.com, Blog: The Marketing Maven – April 4, 2011
In her online column for Financial Planning Magazine, Marie Swift gives strong advice to advisors on how they can break through their writer’s block to write strong, compelling content.  Read her tips in How Advisors Can Break Up Writer’s Block.

RIA Central (page 6) – April 1, 2011
Every year, in conjunction with the FPA National Conference, Marie Swift invites select industry thought leaders to participate in a roundtable discussion. The topic varies from year to year, based on perceptions of what’s important for RIAs and other independent financial advisors to hear and think about. This year’s topic was Rebuilding Trust.  Find out what they had to say in the article Rebuilding Trust.

Financial-Planning.com, Blog: The Marketing Maven – March 28, 2011
Advisors often say that they worry about writing the content that they need to write to market themselves and communicate with their clients.  In her blog for Financial Planning Magazine, Marie Swift offers step-by-step tips on how to “Write Compelling Content in Half Time.”

Investment Executive – March 28, 2011
Fiona Collie of Investment Executive spoke to Marie Swift about how advisors can use webcasting to reach out to their clients and prospective clients, and some ways to get started.  Read about how to Embrace Webcasting in Five Steps.

Investment Executive – March 24, 2011
Marie Swift spoke with Fiona Collie of Investment Executive about how important and how easy it is for advisors to increase their SEO and online visibility.  Read how to Rev up the Search Engines.

Investment Executive – March 23, 2011
In its series on web presence Fiona Collie of Investment Executive spoke to Marie Swift about how to make sure that your website is showing up on the search engines in Getting Googled.

InvestmentExecutive.com — March 22, 2011
In "Six questions to ask before going online: Design a strategy that focuses on your ideal client," writer Fiona Collie provides insights from Marie Swift and other industry consultants. "Ask yourself: Am I using the right tone? If you know who your ideal clients are, anything you write for your website — or for publication in any medium — should be written with them in mind, says Marie Swift, president and CEO of Impact Communications Inc. in Leawood, KS. "Make your website your hub. It should look professional and include links to articles you’ve written," Swift says, "or news sites in which you have been quoted. The site should have video and the graphics should be professionally designed. Read more.

Financial-Planning.com — March 21, 2011
Marie Swift is now writing The Marketing Maven column for Financial Planning magazine's online portal. In her first of six installments on "How Advisors Can Use Client-Centered Communications to Build a Better Business," Marie provides a number of tips to help with client correspondence, content creation, and marketing communications. Read now.

FA-Mag.com – March 8, 2011
In "Become A Recognized Expert Online" writer Mike Byrnes detailed what experts at the 2011 FPA Business Solutions conference talked about, including why social media will continue to become more important and how advisors can capitalize on it. See what Impact Communications' CEO Marie Swift and other experts had to say. Read the article now.

FA-Mag.com – March 7, 2011
In "Six Technology Tips From The FPA Conference" writer Mike Byrnes provides a recap of some of the best ideas for advisors on integrating technology to improve their businesses. Hear what Marie Swift of Impact Communications had to saywhen she spoke at the FPA Business Solutions Conference in Boston, Marc 2-5, 2011.

Financial-Planning.com Thought Leader Blog – March 6, 2011
In "Using the Web to Land More Clients," Marie Swift provides great details from Sam Richter's presentation at FPA Business Solutions 2011 in Boston, March 2-4. Richter is the author of "Take the Cold Out of Cold Calling: Web Search Secrets" (www.samrichter.com) and a SVP with Actifi (www.actifi.com), a leading software and solutions provider in the financial services industry. "One of the most useful presentations I've seen in many years," Swift said. Read her report now.

InvestmentExecutive.com – March 4, 2011
In "Seven ways to get the most from social media", Investment Executive magazine's Grant McIntyre quotes Marie Swift from her presentation at the FPA Business Solutions Conference in Boston, March 2-4, 2011. At a minimum Swift says advisors should adhere to these best practices. Get her quick tips now.

Financial Planning – February 18, 2011
Marie Swift presented to a room full of advisors at the T3 Conference in Florida on how they can maximize their online presence by effectively using social media. The two main reasons to use social media are to deepen existing relationships and to acquire new clients. "Advisors who are not learning about and engaging targeted groups through social media will get left behind," she said. "Social networking online is a perfect complement to their traditional business networking and marketing efforts -- especially when coupled with a good PR and media relations strategy." Read How Advisors Can Better Utilize Social Media by Mike Byrnes.

RIAbiz – February 08, 2011
Impact Communications client Gordon Bernhardt was invited to be a guest blogger in RIAbiz’s feature, “Eavesdropping on the TD Ameritrade Conference.  He had high praise for Marie Swift’s session, “Building Your Online Presence,” which gave advisors valuable tips on using Web 2.0 and social media in building a business.   Swift provided dozens of valuable insights and ways to wrap our arms around using Web 2.0 and social media to build business.   Read his interesting posts in Eavesdropping on the TD Ameritrade Conference.

RIAbiz – February 08, 2011
Marie Swift moderated a breakout session at the TD Ameritrade Conference with three of the top journalists in the industry, “Get Exposed – Tips and Advice for Working with the Media.”  RIAbiz asked her to guest blog about some of the key points. The journalists included:

• Sydney LeBlanc, a 35-year financial services industry journalist, author, publisher and marketer who as founding editor helped establish Registered Rep magazine, the nation’s first trade magazine for stockbrokers in 1976
• Liz Weston, personal finance columnist for MSN Money and author of four books
• Joe Giannone, a senior correspondent for Reuters

They offered key tips on how to best work with journalists and keep them coming back to you as an expert resource.  Learn some of their tips at the blog, Eavesdropping on the TD Ameritrade Conference.

FOX Business – December 7, 2010
Impact Communications client Brett Ellen, a strong believer in teaching kids about money from an early age, offers tips that parents can use to educate their kids about the principles of sound money sense: save, spend, invest, donate. Get the tips in How to Teach Your Kids the Importance of Money, Volunteering.

Advisor TV – December 2010
Marie Swift’s Social Media Boot Camp for the FPA was a great success with its hands on approach that had advisors up and online by the end of the camp.Hear Marie and several attendees discuss social media in this video from Advisor TV.

Financial Advisor  – November 2010
Financial advisors are testing the waters of social media marketing. Whether or not you're interested or allowed to use social media, now's the time to learn the trends, tools and technology so you can know what your options and opportunities are, says Marie Swift, president and CEO of Impact Communications. Swift, who conducted Web 2.0 and Social Media Boot Camp at the Financial Planning Association's annual conference in October offers her advice for advisors thinking of joining a social network. Read Social Discretion Advised by Jerilyn Klein Bier.

RIA Biz – October, 2010
Marie Swift blogs for RIA Biz on her pre-conference event, ‘Managing and Leveraging Your Social Media Strategy.’  The event featured several notable speakers, including Marie herself, discussing the importance of the new Social Media and Web 2.0 technologies for the modern financial planner.  Find out some of the topics at Eavesdropping on the FPA Conference.

Advisor One – October 10, 2010
Marie Swift moderated a lively panel at the FPA annual conference on the impact of the new fiduciary standards on the industry and the individual practice.  Read what the experts had to say At FPA Denver, Defining Advisor Value and Rebuilding Trust.

RIABiz.com – September 21, 2010
The buy-local movement helps independent advisors, say experts -- if they are smart enough to market. Marie Swift, CEO of Impact Communications, says it’s important to emphasize being a local business, but also to emphasize the support and connection with a larger broker / dealer or custodian. “You want to show you have the bench strength to show you can serve the more sophisticated investor,” she says. Read Breakaway Story by Elizabeth McBride.

Research magazine – August 2010
In Adding Audio Files and Webinars to Your Online Presence, author Marie Swift shares how podcasts, webinars and videocasts can help advisors build relationships while saving time and money. Read more.

Financial Planning magazine – July 2010
In "What Have You Done for Me Lately?", one of the two featured articles in the July issue of Financial Planning magazine, Marie Swift of Impact Communications shares insights from industry thought leaders Bob Veres, Chip Roame, Steve Saenz, Andy Klausner, Mark Tibergien, George Kinder, Sue Stevens, Blaine Aiken and Peter Boland. "Articulating your value as a financial advisor is more complex after two years of market turmoil, and more necessary," Swift says. Read what these industry thought leaders have to say.

Research magazine – July 2010
In Blogging for Business, author Marie Swift tells you why you should add a blog and other digital media to your high-touch marketing plan. Read more.

Research magazine – June 2010
In How to Build Client Loyalty – Part 2, author Marie Swift shares easy (and inexpensive) ways advisors can sharpen their client communications and marketing programs. Read more.

Copernicus Radio – June 17, 2010
Nicole Coulter and Marie Swift talk about challenges and opportunities for advisors today in this fast, fun 30-minute recorded interview. Grab a sandwich and listen now.

Research magazine – May 2010
In How to Build Client Loyalty – Part 1, author Marie Swift provides easy and effective ways to stay in front of your clients, prospects and strategic partners. Read more.

Reuters – April 6, 2010
In an article discussing the pros and cons of blogging, in addition to the compliance regulations that advisors face, Marie Swift gives advice on what financial advisors should include in blogs and the benefits of blogging. Read the article Wealth Manager: To blog or not to blog.

InvestmentNews – March 7, 2010
In the article, “At Boot Camp, Advisers Learn Social-Media Tools”,  Davis Janowski reviews a social-media workshop held by Marie Swift the day prior to the FPA Business Solutions 2010 conference.  The hands-on session taught 20 advisers how to increase their exposure on the internet through media outlets such as setting up blogs, recording video posts and audio podcasts and effectively using Twitter. Read more now.

Advisor Perspectives – February 9, 2010
Marie Swift and some of Impact Communication’s clients are interviewed about valuable changes one can make to their website to make it a more effective marketing piece for their firm.  Read more of 6 Ways to Make the Most of your Web Site.

Financial Planning.com – February 5, 2010
Writer Stacy Schultz continues her 3-part series on Social Media, providing additional comments from Marie Swift and another PR practitioner. This piece focuses on building and maintaining a strong Google presence online. Read In The Game: New Rules for Social Media – Part 2.

Research magazine – February 2010
In Becoming a Social Butterfly Online, author Marie Swift talks about online networking and digital communication, and why they should supplement - not replace - your traditional means of networking. Read more.

Financial Planning.com – January 29, 2010
Marie Swift and other industry coaches provide tips on ways to incorporate social media into your practice while staying within the boundaries of FINRA’s new guidance. Read In thbe Game: New Rules for Social Media- Part 1 for insightful guidelines on social media outlets such as Twitter and LinkedIn. 

Research Magazine – December 15, 2009
Tom McCarthy, an FA affiliated with Commonwealth Financial, uses the LifeBio system to build rapport with current clients and special guests. It's a great “next generation” strategy for smart advisors nationwide. If you are looking for a new way to generate better conversations with your clients, read Marie Swift's article now: LifeBio Events: A New Way for FAs to Bond with Clients.

Financial Planning magazine – December 2009
Leslie Swid and Marie Swift of Impact Communications provide advice on how to use Web 2.0 and social media strategies online to build relationships and market your business. Written by social media expert, Chris Hall of Securities America (www.SecuritiesAmerica.com), this article contains dozens of great tips on how to think about - and use - the worldwide web to your advantage. Hall is also the creator of an innovative new practice management site - www.advisorpod.com. Read Socially Adept by Chris Hall now.

Researchmag.com – November 2009
In “Time for a Transition?” the third of a three-part series, Marie Swift writes about how marketing to a niche can increase momentum and growth. Sammie Gatti of Dallas-based Navigation Financial Group (www.navigationfinancial.com) is expanding her existing practice by targeting women working for Texas Instruments. Learn more in this final article in the series.

Morningstar Advisor – October 1, 2009
In a companion article, "Create a Five-Touch Marketing Campaign," Marie Swift provided five tips to improve an advisor's marketing plan. While PR and media placements can certainly play a part in your overall marketing plan, crafting a five-touch campaign is a good way to attract attention and build share of mind right now.

Researchmag.com – October 2009
In “Time for a Transition?” the second of a three-part series, Marie Swift writes about expanding through acquisition -- or, on the flip side, how prudent pruning of your client list can facilitate growth by freeing up time for you to focus on your best clients. Marie shares valuable insight through her interviews with Donald J. Patrick, CFP®, managing director of Integrated Financial Group in Atlanta, Ga. (www.integrated-financial-group.com) and Patricia Hinds, CFP®, Granite Financial, Saint Cloud, Minn (www.granitefinancial.net). Read more now.

Advisor Perspectives – September 13, 2009
In “Seven Ways to Reach Prospects in the New World,” writer Nancy Opiela stresses that advisors need to rethink their marketing programs to be consistent with the clients’ expectations in this “New Normal” market of lower returns from capital markets. Despite the current hubbub surrounding social media and the online world, it’s important to create opportunities to have face time with your clients, according to Marie Swift, who was interviewed for this article. Marie reminds advisors that they need to continue to make a personal connection with clients in less formal, interactive gatherings and town hall meetings, which are more appropriate for this unsettled market.

Financial Planning magazine – Sept. 2009
In her cover story What’s Next, Marie Swift takes a look at what successful advisors are doing to position themselves, now that the economic situation has stabilized somewhat. A follow-up to her article in the March, 2009 issue (What Works Now), this article explores a variety of approaches, including improved communications, dynamic Web content, strategic alliances, niche strategies, empowering staff, optimizing systems, etc.

Transitions Magazine – September 2009
Marie Swift writes about the importance of differentiating yourself from other advisors in her article, Stand Out with Purposeful Planning.  Marie interviews 30-year industry veteran, Barbara Culver and creator of the Purposeful Planning System to learn how she successfully carved a niche for herself, working with high net worth individuals and families.  Read more to learn how she differentiates herself by working with clients to ensure that the wealth creator’s legacy will survive for subsequent generations.

Research Magazine – August 2009
Recently stock market rallies have pushed the major indexes above key psychological levels. For the Nasdaq, that level is 2,000 and for the S&P 500, it’s 1,000. We’ve come a long way from the dark days of last year. Economic indicators suggest the global economy is stabilizing. The financial dark cloud of the Great Recession may indeed be lifting. It’s given investors some renewed optimism. In Marie Swift's article, "The Fundamentals Never Change," she writes that no matter how dynamic markets are, the core principles of providing quality client-centered financial advice never really change. Read more.

Transitions magazine – April 2009
Client Feedback & Survey Systems
Surveying your clients lets them know that you care, which in today’s economic climate, is one of the most important messages you can communicate. David Drucker and Marie Swift explore various methods of surveying clients, from do-it-yourself tools to high-end turnkey systems. Along the way they discover recent trends in feedback responses. For example, Julie Littlechild, President of Advisor Impact, (www.AdvisorImpact.com) notes that clients with plans who work with pro¬active advisors have disconnected the advisor’s value from the gyrations of the stock market.

Financial Planning magazine – March 2009
What Works Now – Cover Story
Marie Swift spoke to advisors around the country who are flourishing right now – despite the recession and endless stream of bad news. For the most part, it isn't special circumstances or luck that helps them thrive, but flexible business models that help them adjust quickly and take advantage of new opportunities. Read the best practices culled from talking with advisors who are managing to survive and even grow.

Morningstar Advisor – December 18, 2008
Dealing with Fear in Uncertain Times
When times get tough, third-party business advice can help us get a new perspective on our problems. But sometimes the advice we really need isn't the concrete or factual kind; it's something just a bit more insightful--more inclusive of the emotions that make these problems seem worse. Which is why writer Marie Swift consulted Deborah Price, founder of the Money Coaching Institute, to gain insight into how advisors and their clients can more effectively deal with the fear the present economy is causing. Price offers some great insights and advice.

Morningstar Advisor – November 2008
How to Reach Out to Clients in Times of Turmoil
Bankruptcies, bailouts, plunging indexes. What's next? From living rooms to water coolers, bus stops to the campaign trail, everyone is talking about the market, says writer Marie Swift in this article. For financial advisors, these tough and turbulent times mean it's even more important to communicate with clients. Sure, you might agree that you need to reach out, but what will comfort your clients? In a word, perspective. Marie asks four tenured advisors – Arthur Cooper, Don Patrick, Bill Glubiak and Clyde Wyatt – for their advice.

Financial Advisor magazine – August 7, 2008
Keeping the Lines Open
In this article by David Drucker, find out what Marie Swift, along with a panel of experts, have to say about the electronic communications world.  You can learn how to spend less time, communicating more with your clients.  The article provides an eye-opener for advisors to the possibilities inherent in the Internet.

Research magazine – April 2008
Talking Turbulence
How can you neutralize the harmful impact the media has on your clients and their confidence?  The importance of proactive client communication during times of volatility in the market is covered in Marie Swift’s article, “Talking Turbulence”. 

MorningStar Advisor – February 2008
A Grass-Roots Marketing Strategy Pays Off
Marie Swift shines the spotlight on a Grassroots Marketing Strategy that's paying off nicely for a mild-mannered CPA-turned-Advisor.

Research magazine – November 2007
A New Consultative Model
“A New Consultative Model” is uncovered as Marie Swift explores a methodology pioneered by Edward A. Jacobson, Ph.D.  Appreciative Financial Planning shifts clients’ and planners’ attention away from limitations, problems and “fixes,” toward a focus on the clients’ proven capacities.  

Research magazine – October 2007
Anatomy of a Niche
David E. Zumbusch, CFP®, discusses with Marie Swift how he found his niche by uncovering shared interests and beliefs with his clients.  The result has been the development of the business of his dreams, Sportsmen Dream Financial, a specialized extension of Zumbusch’s thriving practice in Buffalo, Minnesota. 

Financial Planning magazine – June 2007
Great Communicators
Marie Swift shares her thoughts on marketing communications.
Inside Information - June 2007 – Bob Veres gives Marie Swift's article called “Great Communicators” a high relevance rating.  Here is his review:

"The point here is that great communication is great marketing; that communication skills are a key differentiator in all aspects of growing and managing your business.  Swift says that the most powerful shift you can make is to focus on other people rather than on yourself, learning to be a good listener and making a consistent connection."

"To achieve greater clarity of thought and ease of expression, some advisors are writing every day. Doing the research and preparing the information makes it easier to communicate the subject verbally--and you'll have something to hand the client after you're finished talking."

"Swift cites the example of an advisor who makes it a practice to engage in conversation anybody he runs into: grocery clerks, waiters, tellers, janitors, receptionists, fellow dog walkers in the park.  It builds confidence, listening skills, quick thinking, humor and empathy--and it can brighten someone's day in the process."

Research magazine – April/May 2007
Incorporating the Value-Add
Beyond Investment Advice
In this two-part series, Marie Swift speaks with several financial advisors who are finding their client relationships extending beyond traditional investment management and planning into all aspects of their clients’ lives.  Instances where advisors have profitably reacted to various concerns are covered and the discussion deepens by examining ways that advisors are making these “above-and-beyond” services part of their core business model. 

Research magazine – March 2007
Retirement Conversations
Why are so many people in denial and uncertain about their futures?  Best selling author Lee Eisenberg claims that most people suffer from "IDD" or Inspiration Deficit Disorder, a condition characterized by inertia and fear.   In this article, writer Marie Swift goes on to detail how advisors are embracing various methods for helping their clients articulate their goals and focus on realizing their most cherished life dreams.  She talks about George Kinder and his famous "The Three Questions" and shares the questions used by long-time financial advisors Rick Junk and Rick Kent  to generate better conversations with clients.

Research magazine – December 2005
The Gift Giving Season
Marie Swift and co-writer Trudy Turner, CPA, CFP® explain how you can help your clients give the gift of a lifetime; passing on financial literacy.

FPA Solutions – July/August 2005
Writing Matters
 Advice to enhance your communication with clients, by Nancy Opiela who says your writing efforts may not produce the defining book on a financial planning topic, but client newsletters and personal letters have an enormous impact — for good or ill — on your practice.  One expert on honing those skills is Marie Swift, president of Impact Communications in Leawood, Kansas. “Consumers are bombarded daily with so much information that if you don’t have a clear benefit-driven message that appeals to the person you are trying to reach, then they just tune out,” says Swift.

MorningstarAdvisor.com – June 2005
How To Write Compelling Content in Half the Time
More than ever, financial advisors must be adept communicators – both in person and in print.  If you struggle with the written word, Marie Swift has a blueprint for success.  In this month’s article, Marie shares her formula for writing compelling content in half the time.

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