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Best Practices Blog

The State of Business Travel, Fall 2021 Outlook

7/27/2021

 
What's the state of business travel, you ask? This article from Associated Press writer David Koenig quotes Impact Communications' CEO Marie Swift. 

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Swift Chat with Ariel Acuna, Creator of The Aqueduct Strategy

6/29/2021

 
In this Swift Chat video conversation, Marie Swift of Impact Communications, Inc., speaks with Ariel Acuna, creator of The Aqueduct Strategy. This top-performing investment strategy is available to RIAs on the Fidelity Separate Account Network.
​
Ariel, who has worked with his own clientele as a financial advisor for nearly 30 years, created The Aqueduct Strategy -- which has, according to the Informa Zephyr data available via the Fidelity Separate Account Network, outperformed the past 10 years.

RIAs on the Fidelity platform can access The Aqueduct Strategy data by logging in here: www.TinyURL.com/AqueductStrategybyLTGCapital

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Impact Communications, Inc. Recognized by DesignRush for Digital Marketing Expertise

6/28/2021

 
Impact Communications, Inc., a full-service marketing and PR firm that works exclusively with independent financial advisors and allied institutions such as custodians, independent broker/dealers, consulting companies and fintech firms, today announced that they have been recognized as a Top Digital Marketing Agency in Kansas City by DesignRush, a B2B marketplace that connects brands with professional full-service agencies, web design companies, digital marketing firms, and top technology companies.

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Swift Chat: Marwa Zakharia of  AssetBook & Matt Sonnen of PFI Advisors

6/15/2021

 
In this Swift Chat video conversation, I speak with Marwa Zakharia, CEO of AssetBook, and Matt Sonnen, CEO of PFI Advisors. Marwa, Matt and I have so many common interests -- and you'll learn all about them and pick up some golden nuggets to help you run a better financial advisory business in this 3-person Swift Chat.

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Dr. Preston Cherry on ... household hysterics, story listening, Statements and more

6/1/2021

 
In this Swift Chat video conversation, Marie Swift of Impact Communications, Inc., speaks with Preston D. Cherry, Ph.D., CFP®, of Concurrent Financial Planning, LLC. Dr. Cherry is also Assistant Professor of Finance & Personal Financial Planning in the School of Business at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay. Preston shares his backstory and why he chose to establish Concurrent as an independent, virtual financial planning firm that serves individuals, families, and business owners nationwide. They are guided by the core principle of the fiduciary standard, which is to always put client interests first. 

He also talks about his work at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay and how he is a product of the Texas Tech (Lubbock, Texas) PFP curriculum made famous by industry luminaries Deena Katz and Harold Evensky. 

Preston is also working on a book so we learn more about Statements and story listening, household hysterics, and other fun facts about Preston and his life, mission, and focus.

Learn more about Dr. Cherry: ​www.ConcurrentFP.com

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Impact Communications - CEO Message and Fall Outlook 2021

5/29/2021

 
​2020 was certainly a tough year, for so many people. No one was immune. Everyone had concerns. But here at Impact Communications, the firm I founded 28 years ago, we are grateful for the lessons learned, the problems solved, and the families we fed.  We are tighter as a team, stronger as individuals, and more grounded than ever before. At Impact Communications, one of our hallmark phrases is "dedicated, discerning, driven." That certainly was the case for Team Impact, only doubly so in 2020 right up til now, May 2021. 

Now that the vaccines are working and travel is more safe, we are excited about the prospect of seeing old friends and new at industry conferences this fall. Please look for us, say hello, and let's compare notes. 

So far we are slated to be at:​

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Swift Chat with Sam Brownell and Jonny Swift: Top Tips for Independent Business Owners

5/18/2021

 
​In this Swift Chat video interview, Jonny Swift of Impact Communications speaks with Sam Brownell, CVA, CFA, Founder of Stratus Wealth Advisors, a financial planning and wealth management firm that specializes in succession planning and helping independent business owners maximize the value of their business.

​Watch this 20:23 minute video, recorded in May of 2021, to learn about how successful business owners have actually survived and thrived throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and how they've had to pivot to meet new challenges.

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John Enright and Michael Palumbos Reveal Their Business Secrets in Swift Chat Video Interview

4/9/2021

 
In this Swift Chat video conversation, Marie Swift speaks with John Enright and Michael Palumbos of Custom Wealth Advisor Network (CWAN). The topic: How John and Mike use a proven process to be more productive, profitable, and powerful when it comes to attracting the right kinds of clients. John had his best year yet in 2020 and Mike also had one of his best years ever. This video reveals their secrets. 

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Swift Chat with Tim Wyman and Matt Trujillo: Succession Planning Tips for Financial Advisors

4/6/2021

 
Impact Communications, speaks with Tim Wyman, CFP, JD, and Matt Trujillo, CFP, partners, Center for Financial Planning, Inc. They talk about internal succession planning for financial advisors and how the 35-year-old firm creates career paths and partnership opportunities for next generation talent. They also offer "tuck-in" opportunities for advisors with an established book of business who are tired of working on their own and would like to be a part of something bigger.

Watch this 25:38 minute video to learn about this client-centered financial planning firm.

​To learn more about the firm, please visit: CenterFinPlan.com

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Swift Chat with Mark Pearson, CIO of Nepsis, Inc. on Investing with Clarity

3/14/2021

 
In this Swift Chat video interview, Marie Swift of Impact Communications, speaks with Mark Pearson, Founder, President and Chief Investment Officer of Nepsis, Inc., a financial services firm driven to provide the power of clarity to the individual investor so that they can accomplish their investment and planning goals.

Watch this 13:07 minute video, recorded January 28, 2021, to learn about the Nepsis investment philosophy and how Mark and his team manage money for their clients.

​To learn more about Mark Pearson and Nepsis, Inc. please visit, InvestWithClarity.com

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Swift Chat with Meredith Moore: Overcoming Adversity, Creating Community and Serving Women Breadwinners in Atlanta

2/24/2021

 
Financial advisor Meredith Moore of Artisan Financial Strategies shares her backstory -- and how she has built a successful financial advisory firm that serves a loyal clientele in Atlanta. It hasn't always been easy but her grit and determination, coupled with a strong support system and good mental framework, have helped her navigate the waters, weather the storms and reach new shores. Meredith provides an array of tips and insights that any business owner can use to leapfrog the competition. Her story of overcoming adversity -- and not just surviving but thriving -- is inspiring.

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Content is King (and Queen) - Here's How to Do It Right: Swift Chat with Veriday's Chris Lamoureux

1/28/2021

 
In this Swift Chat video conversation, I speak with Veriday's CCO Chris Lamoureux. The topic: Content and how producing good content builds trust and leads to business growth.

Chris and I share a formula for getting started if you haven't already jumped on the Content bandwagon. We also discuss how to produce a steady stream of good content that can help financial advisors and financial services brands stand out from the competition -- and ways to scale content creation when the advisor or firm is ready to ramp up.

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Dr. Daniel Crosby Provides Tips on How to Manage through Challenging Times: Video Interview with Marie Swift

1/17/2021

 
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To say the nation is on pins and needles right now might actually be an understatement. This is why I asked Dr. Daniel Crosby to give us some quick tips on understanding why people act as they do -- and why we may be feeling such a swing of emotions right now.

With the Presidential inauguration set for Wednesday this upcoming week, January 20th, and given the disturbing violence on Capitol Hill last week -- plus everything else going on with the ongoing pandemic and challenges/concerns -- it is sometimes hard for even the most stoic of us (that would be me) to focus on family and business as usual.  What can we do? How can we cope with all the uncertainty and concerns swirling around and amplified by the availability of 24/7 news coverage and the endless stream of upsetting content on social media ?


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Strategic Marketing Plans and Goal-Setting for Independent Financial Advisors

1/4/2021

 
As business owners, we start another New Year full of possibility and hope. Most of us have probably already hit the ground running, focusing on accomplishing great things. We can increase our chances of success and growth, by setting our objectives and creating measurable goals to develop a robust plan that attracts the right clients and brings in new business. Peg your success in 2021 to the 3M’s and a robust marketing plan.

Here are some of the objectives many top financial advisors have included in their 2021 marketing plan:

Read More

Understanding the SEC's New Marketing Rules for Financial Advisors: Marie Swift, Robert Sofia and Sam Brownell Weigh In

12/30/2020

 
Financial advisors everywhere are celebrating the new SEC guidelines related to marketing communications. Ho, ho, ho and Happy New Year to all who have been asking for these updates - myself included. Sneaking in right after Christmas and just before a change of administration, the SEC has announced an important rule change that affects all financial advisors. In particular, the SEC has updated a rule that has not been touched in decades and was increasingly out of touch with reality.  The change has to do with marketing communications, particularly those through Internet channels.

Sam Brownell, CFA, of Stratus Wealth Advisors, Robert Sofia of Snappy Kraken, and I (Marie Swift) provided comments for Ryan Neal, a reporter at Financial Planning magazine, but not all of them made it into that article so I am including the full comments from the three of us here on my blog because I think these are important distinctions. I'll also include a summary of the new rules below.

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Conversations That Matter Survey Reveals Stories and Insights from 342 Financial Advisors: Download Available Now

12/21/2020

 
Good news: The Special Report and Webinar Replay from the "Conversations That Matter" project are finally available.  A PDF of the Special Report is available below. In addition to the official survey results (in the field in September/October, 2020), I added a page with the Live Poll results from the November 12, 2020 webinar that was hosted by RIA Channel, which I think is helpful in seeing how the landscape has changed for independent advisors.

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Best Practices for Writing a Business Plan ... with Joe Lukacs and Marie Swift

12/7/2020

 
On November 11, 2020, Coach Joe Lukacs of the Magellan Mastermind & Network joined Marketing Maven Marie Swift to discuss Best Practices for Writing a Business Plan. The webinar gave a sneak peek into some of the topics that will be covered during Joe's December multi-day virtual conference. This webinar provides great value and is provided without cost to friends of Impact Communications. 

GOOD NEWS: 
Joe has WAIVED the timeframe in which you need to sign up for his multi-day Business Planning Workshop (happening virtually Tuesday Dec. 15, Wednesday Dec. 16, Thursday Dec. 17 and Friday Dec. 18, 2020).

Friends of Impact can sign up without a hard deadline and still get the special price of $495 (full-price is $895).

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Summary of "Conversations That Matter" Survey and Live Audience Poll Conducted 11/20/20 via RIA Channel Webinar

11/21/2020

 
Did you miss yesterday's webinar where I shared an overview of the Conversations That Matter project? The replay and paper will be available soon, but meanwhile, here is a really nice recap from Lee Barney at PLANADVISER Magazine. Thank you, Lee, for joining us and for this excellent summary.

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The Sketch Guy, Carl Richards, CFP, Speaks with Marie Swift: On Being a Guide in a Changing Landscape

11/18/2020

 
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In this Swift Chat video conversation, I speak with author / speaker / thought leader Carl Richards. The topic: Why advisors should think of themselves as a guide in a changing landscape, not a seller of certainty or a defender of an outdated map.

Carl is a Certified Financial Planner™ and creator of the Sketch Guy column, appearing weekly in The New York Times since 2010. Carl has also been featured on Marketplace Money, Oprah.com, and Forbes.com. In addition, Carl has become a frequent keynote speaker at financial planning conferences and visual learning events around the world.

In this blog post, you will find an excerpt  from the forthcoming  paper, Conversations That Matter, a video interview with  Carl Richards, and an invitation to the webinar via RIA Channel where I'll be joined by  Bob Veres, Shannon Stone, and Heather  Kelly.


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Conversations That Matter: Heather Kelly and Marie Swift Discuss and Advisor / Client Realities During Crisis – Video Chat

11/6/2020

 
In this Swift Chat video conversation, I speak with Heather Kelly of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America.

We discuss:
  • How advisors and their clients have adjusted to the challenges posed by 2020
  • Heather's role at United Capital and other financial services firms prior to  joining Allianz
  • Ideas for bridging communication gaps with clients
  • Risk mitigation products and how Allianz is stepping up to help independent financial advisors with new and innovative solutions for their clients

Impact Communications is writing a Special Report called “Conversations That Matter: Addressing Client Concerns, Hopes and Dreams During Uncertain Times.”

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Josh Cutler of Bluestem Financial Advisors on the ACP Annual Conference for Fiduciary Advisors - Video Chat with Marie Swift

10/10/2020

 
In this Swift Chat video conversation, Josh Cutler of Bluestem Financial Advisors, LLC tells us why he is proud to be a member of the Alliance of Comprehensive Planners (ACP) and how he and the ACP annual conference task force planned for and shifted to a virtual event once the pandemic became a reality in 2020.

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Conversations That Matter: Invitation to Participate in Survey for Independent Financial Advisors

9/29/2020

 
Impact Communications is writing a Special Report called “Conversations That Matter: Addressing Client Concerns, Hopes and Dreams During Uncertain Times.”  This is an opportunity for independent financial advisors to weigh in on 2020's pandemic and economic realities.

We are especially interested in hearing your stories:
  • How did you adjust when the COVID-19 lockdowns, market turbulence, and business realities became apparent?
  • Where have you gone the extra mile? What have your clients valued most? 
  • Are you getting new business? Why do you think that is (or is not)?

Don't miss this opportunity to share your opinions. The survey will close October 13, 2020 at 10:00 am CT.

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Financial Advisor Mark Clure Launches True Wealth Network of Advisors, Shares Insights in New True Wealth Book - Video Chat with Marie Swift

9/22/2020

 
Mark Clure, CFP, True Wealth
Do you feel called to a greater purpose? Is there something you, like me, feel you were born to do, something that would make a positive impact on those around you?
 
So many of us wrestle with this feeling, yet we never get the clarity we need to move forward. Or we try to fill that void with financial success, only to discover that money doesn’t bring us fulfillment. Either way, we’re stuck wanting more for our lives.

Mark Clure, CFP®, knows that feeling. It’s what set him on a journey that ultimately led him to create The GUIDE Process for identifying and then financing your ideal lifestyle.

I asked Mark to visit with me via a video conference service and have included both the transcript and the video recording of our Swift Chat below.


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Panel discussion hosted by NAPFA to focus on Marketing Strategies for Fiduciary Advisors

8/27/2020

 
Every single one of us has had to adjust as the realities of the global pandemic became apparent this spring. But while these have been challenging times for us individually and as a nation, not every advisor is struggling. In fact, some advisors are thriving. You’ll meet three such advisors during this important webinar: 

  • Haleh Moddasser, CPA, of Stearns Financial Group (www.StearnsFinancial.com)
  • Tony D’Amico, CFP®, of Fidato Wealth (www.FidatoWealth.com)
  • Nicole Strbich, CFP®, CPWA, EA, of Buckingham Advisors (www.MyBuckingham.com)

These accomplished fiduciary advisors will join me for the September webcast in the NAPFA Playbook 2020 series to share what’s working – and what’s not – when it comes to client communications and building your business as a fthrough thick and thin.

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John Bowen of CEG Worldwide Tells Advisors How to Get an Unfair Advantage - Video Chat with Marie Swift

8/9/2020

 
In this Swift Chat video conversation, Marie Swift of Impact Communications speaks with John Bowen of CEG Worldwide. The topic: How advisors who have positioned themselves as pandemic experts are getting an unfair, competitive advantage + how the opportunity to capture additional assets now has never been greater.

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    About
    This Blog

    Welcome to the “Best Practices in the Financial Services Industry” blog, where you will find ideas and tips from Marie Swift, a nationally-recognized marketing communications consultant who's worked with some of the top financial services and financial advisory firms in the nation over the course of her career. The "Swift Chat" series. which is available in both a video and a podcast format, is co-hosted by Impact Communications Vice President Jonny Swift, who selects his own guests and brings a Millennial perspective to the show. This blog spotlights financial services firms and allied institutions that the Swifts deem as adopting "Best Practices" in the industry. You will find numerous posts with tools and ideas aimed at helping independent financial advisors communicate better, scale, and grow.

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  • Home
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Our Clients
    • Unique Approach
    • Out and About
    • VIdeos
    • Recognition
    • Join Our Team
  • Advisors
    • Marketing & PR >
      • Media Placements
      • Examples of Impact Communications news releases
    • Branding and Websites >
      • Logo Gallery
      • Office Signage
      • Brochures and Campaigns
      • Websites >
        • Website Case Study
    • Advisor Coaching
    • How We Work
  • Institutions
    • Marketing Strategy
    • Public Relations >
      • Media Placements
      • Examples of Impact Communications news releases
    • Website Strategy >
      • Case Study: Website Makeover
    • Speaking Engagements >
      • Speaking Appearences
    • Video Production
    • Group Programs
  • Journalists
  • News
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