Technology

Financial Planning.com, Blog: The Marketing Maven – February 28, 2012
Here's a compilation of images from this month's T3 Technology Tools for Today Conference in Dallas. Latest Technology Tools for Today Conference in Pictures.

RIAbiz.com – February 23, 2012
Marie Swift and her video crew captured this interview of Ed O’Brien talking with RIAbiz at the T3 Conference. Read the article, As WealthCentral surpasses 2,000 users, Ed O'Brien responds to questions about Fidelity's technology system at T3.

Financial Planning.com, Blog: The Marketing Maven – February 13, 2012
Marketing expert Marie Swift says financial advisors who embrace videos, podcasts, recorded multimedia presentations and live online meetings can connect and build rapport with clients in a fraction of the time and more cost effectively than ever before. How Advisors Can Use Video, Multimedia to Connect With Clients.

Financial Planning.com, Blog: The Marketing Maven – January 30, 2012
Marketing expert Marie Swift says forward-thinking financial advisors are incorporating social media into their marketing plans. Are you doing enough online to remain competitive? Six Reasons Advisors Need to Include Social Media in Their Marketing Plans.

Financial Planning.com, Blog: The Marketing Maven – January 23, 2012
Marketing expert Marie Swift says some advisors are realizing success using today’s interactive, real-time web to amplify their voice and position themselves not just as thought leaders but as social creatures on a mission to educate the public on all things financial. Using a Social Media Strategy to Build Relationships Online.

Dow Jones / Financial Adviser, Blog – December 23, 2011
Marie Swift is quoted as a subject matter expert in Social Skills for Social Media.

Financial Advisor magazine – December 2, 2011
Following the Tiburon CEO Summit XXI in San Francisco in October 2011, seven financial services executives presented their views in a round table discussion. The 60-minute conversation was a spirited debate. In this excerpt, the participants talk about technology and the client of the future. The entire transcript along with a photo essay and seven corresponding video interviews are available on FA in the video library. Read it here: Executive Roundtable.

Financial Planning.com, Blog: The Marketing Maven – October 11, 2011
Among financial planners’ greatest concerns in this turbulent environment is retaining valued clients. In this high-tech era, marketing expert Marie Swift says planners should balance high-tech communications with truly “high-touch” communications. Learn how at Retaining Valued Clients in Tough Times.

Investment Executive.com – October 3, 2011
Thoughts from Marketing guru Marie Swift on keeping your website up to date and making your best online impression. Find out how to Keep Your Website Fresh.

Investment Executive.com – August 16, 2011
In this 3-part series, Marie Swift offers her tips on improving your website. Read more at: Most Common Website Mistakes.

Financial Planning.com – August 1, 2011
Read Bob Veres’ impressions of Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter and his description of how Marie Swift envisions Facebook as a way to stay on top of changes in clients’ lives. Adventures in Twitterland.

ResearchMagDigital.com – August 2011
Marie Swift gives her advice for protecting your online reputation and using your time wisely. Learn more at: Mastering Social Media.

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.

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.

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 say when 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Advisor Perspectives – February 2010
What happens at your firm when a client calls? Marie Swift looks at the typical activities that are kicked-off from a common client interaction and compares that to an office that's using an integrated software and services solution. Her findings call out dramatic gains in efficiencies for those firms that are ready for change. Read Transforming Your Business with an Integrated Solution.

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 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 – September 2009
In “Time for a Transition?” the first of a three-part series, Marie Swift writes that now might be the perfect time for advisors to consider making a change in business affiliations. Her article offers solid advice on either switching broker/dealers or going independent. Marie shares valuable insight through her interviews with Securities America’s Gregg Johnson, senior vice president and director of branch development, training and support (www.securitiesamerica.com) and Daniel G. Gensler, CFP®, owner of San Diego-based RIA The Gensler Group, branch manager for LPL Financial (www.genslergroup.com). Read article now.

Financial Advisor magazine – March, 12, 2009
Conquer Market Woes with Technology
This year's Technology Tools for Today (“T3”) Conference, put on by Virtual Office News in February, offered advisors guidance on how to use technology to deal with the economic crisis. Marie Swift attended the conference and in this article for Financial Advisor magazine shares insights and advice from leading technology providers in the industry.

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.

Financial Planning magazine – April 2008
Website Tuneup
Marie Swift tells the story of advisor, Elizabeth Potts Weinstein, who added Web 2.0 technologies to her marketing plan -- and benefitted handsomely from her efforts. Swift provides a number of good ideas on how other advisors can improve their online presence and client communications strategy.

Morningstar Advisor – November 2007
Use Web 2.0 to Build Trust with Clients
Learn how to use the World Wide Web as a tool to build visibility and trust with clients in this eye-opening article by Marie Swift.

MorningstarAdvisor.com – February 2007
Looking Good in Print – Part Two
While today's technology gives you lots of ways to do your own design and output right in the comfort of your own office, steer clear of the deadly "amateur mistakes" some unwitting firms make if you want to build and maintain strong public perceptions. Read part two of "Looking Good in Print": 7 Essential Steps to good Layout and Document Design.

Financial Planning magazine – September 2005
Getting on Google
There's an art to having your Web site rank high on various search engines. Mastering it will help you draw more potential clients to your Web site. “While nothing can replace a long-term strategic approach and good old-fashioned marketing and PR, you also need to optimize your search-engine presence so your site will turn up fairly high among those listed when people scan the Web for your services,” says writer Marie Swift. Of course, “you must have a compelling Web site if you want those click-throughs to turn into inquiries,” she adds.

Inside Information – September 2005
It’s always great when industry guru Bob Veres gives a column “high” marks. Marie Swift’s article on “Getting on Google” in the September issue of Financial Planning magazine rates this mark. The article offers tips on how to increase your search engine ratings by doing things like using certain key words, adding links to strategic partners and related Web sites, naming images after keywords and more.

Career Adviser – July 7, 2005
Improving Your Web Site
Writer David Evanson interviews Marie Swift, who provides tips for improving your Web site. Not too long ago, if you had a Web site, you were out ahead. But the warp speed at which the financial planning industry and Internet are evolving means that, if you don’t have a Web site today, you and or your practice are behind the eight ball.

Financial Planning magazine – July 1, 2005
Lively Up Your Site
Like it or not, prospective clients expect you to have a good Web site. Just like a business card or brochure, a top-notch Web site shows that you're a serious professional. Nevertheless, it's surprising how many advisers resist creating a Web site because it costs too much or they don't know where to start. Read this article for Marie Swift’s advice.

Inside Information – June 2005
Industry guru Bob Veres says that Marie Swift’s article on how to build a good Web site is one of the most relevant articles in the July issue of Financial Planning magazine. "Lively Up Your Web Site" gets a “high” rating and a decent media review from one of the industry’s toughest critics.

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