solutions that work

Last month, Interactive Brokers Group, Inc., announced the October launch of IBKR Lite, a new offering that would provide commission-free trades on U.S. exchange-listed stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs). Not to be outdone, three days later, Charles Schwab, the largest publicly traded online broker, followed suit similarly eliminating all commissions on online stock trades. Later the same day TD Ameritrade

Client experience. Relationship building. Client-centric service—all standard in wealth management. You work hard every day, and sometimes into the night, to give your clients what they want and need. No doubt you communicate through email and possibly texting. These are great methods for client communication, but when was the last time you sent a handwritten

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM), an initiative spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Cyber Security Alliance. The effort includes extensive media coverage and industry collaboration, which means your clients may be hearing a lot about this in the next few weeks. This year’s theme, Own IT. Secure IT.

Another trend toward the digitalization of financial services can be found by what is known as “buy-now, pay-later” firms, the most well-known of which is Australian fintech company Afterpay. This model competing with traditional bank and credit card “lending” allows consumers to pay over time, without revolving debt, interest payments or other fees. Average outstanding balances on Afterpay

As expected, passive U.S. equity funds this past month officially surpassed active U.S. equity funds in assets under management. By the end of August, passive U.S. funds had total net assets of $4.27 trillion, compared with $4.25 trillion in active U.S. equity funds, according to data provided by Morningstar. At the end of the day, performance

If you ask someone in your office or on the street what some of the strongest brands are, you will probably hear names like Apple, Starbucks, McDonald’s and Nike. While these brands are well-recognized and respected, there are many others that provide a brand experience worth mentioning. One such company is Public Storage. From a

The most effective “advertising” is word of mouth. It comes from a reliable, often trusted, source, and it’s free. Millennials are no exception to this rule. Like preceding generations, they’re most likely to heed a trusted source. However, word of mouth has evolved to the words, pictures, videos, etc. of social platforms.  Here are some

There are many reasons to conduct client research. You may want strategic insights before rebranding, a targeting strategy for the launch of a new product or an assessment of the client experience. Even for business as usual, a periodic check in with clients can reveal important action items and reassure them that you listen. It’s