If climbing the corporate ladder is a game, the game gets clearer with a performance shares rule book, according to a new white paper developed by Charles “Chuck” Steege, CFP^®, Executive Financial Coach, with assistance from writer, John Drachman of the Advisolocity staff.

Capture contacts, expand orbit

While the structure (and even the definition) of performance share grants can vary, the common feature is a specified goal or metric that must be achieved before one can profit from the grant.

“We are seeing that the performance share discussion with our prospects moves faster once they register for, download and read our white paper  Five Reasons to Like Performance Shares (And One Reason to Think Twice),” said Mr. Steege.

White papers establish thought leadership

“We’re seeing solid interest for more information from executives looking to make a high-level change, yet are hesitant about transitioning to a new position without all of the facts about their compensation,” Mr. Steege continued.

As clients download Mr. Steege’s white paper, they leave their name and e-mail address.

“It’s important to treat captured contact information with a great deal of respect,” Mr. Drachman added.

“We make sure that all of our clients know that every email or post they send must provide an opt-out feature if the prospect chooses not to receive more information,” he continued.

“Still,” Mr. Drachman concluded, “There are few value-added materials that can offer as much educational benefit — with the least intrusion — as a well-crafted white paper.”

There is a new research forum in town that is dedicated to investigating a method for predicting mutual fund performance.

According to Neil Anderson, of MutualFundWire.com, “Fundsters may repeat the required-by-law ‘past performance does not guarantee future results’ mantra, but a pair of Fidelity alumni are taking a stab at anticipating outperformance.”

Quadrant power: Can FundReveal make performance predictable?

The two ‘fundsters’ are Ani Chitaley and Anthony DuBon, co-developers of Fund Reveal, a  fund performance system.

The purpose of their blog, Mutual Fund Performance Forum, according to Mr. Chitaley, is to engage advisors and investors in a conversation about  mutual fund measurement best practices.

The Power of the Quadrant

At the heart of the duo’s research efforts is a quadrant analysis that employs risk, return and persistence measures to offer a predictive approach to mutual fund performance.

When investors enter fund names or symbols, FundReveal charts each fund in comparison with the S&P 500.

“We aren’t looking for the funds that hit home runs last quarter or last year.  We’re looking for those that provide solid best quadrant performance quarter after quarter and year after year.”  Mr. DuBon concluded.

To develop their new blog and integrate it with their web site, Mr. Chitaley and Mr. Dubon turned to Advisolocity’s John Drachman and Zach Hedges to implement their digital content strategy.

There is a new research forum in town that is dedicated to investigating a method for predicting mutual fund performance.

According to Neil Anderson, of MutualFundWire.com, “Fundsters may repeat the required-by-law ‘past performance does not guarantee future results’ mantra, but a pair of Fidelity alumni are taking a stab at anticipating outperformance.”

Quadrant power: Can FundReveal make performance predictable?

The two ‘fundsters’ are Ani Chitaley and Anthony DuBon, co-developers of Fund Reveal, a  fund performance system.

The purpose of their blog, Mutual Fund Performance Forum, according to Mr. Chitaley, is to engage advisors and investors in a conversation about  mutual fund measurement best practices.

The Power of the Quadrant

At the heart of the duo’s research efforts is a quadrant analysis that employs risk, return and persistence measures to offer a predictive approach to mutual fund performance.

When investors enter fund names or symbols, FundReveal charts each fund in comparison with the S&P 500.

“We aren’t looking for the funds that hit home runs last quarter or last year.  We’re looking for those that provide solid best quadrant performance quarter after quarter and year after year.”  Mr. DuBon concluded.

To develop their new blog and integrate it with their web site, Mr. Chitaley and Mr. Dubon turned to Advisolocity’s John Drachman and Zach Hedges to implement their digital content strategy.

By John C. Drachman, Advisolocity

Will low budgets prevent marketers from taking advantage of  the Internet’s free bandwidth?

Taking advantage of free bandwidth

“Not likely,” says Advisolocity’s D. Bruce Johnston in his his recent post on Blackberry Blogosphere.

Social media types are taking heart from a study quoted by Marketing Pilgrim that while 40% of marketers report budgets down for the year, 70% plan to redeploy their resources from traditional print and advertising to Twitter and Facebook marketing.

“This resource shift is sure to accelerate as marketers and compliance officers now find common agreement,” Mr. Johnston said.

The release of FINRA’s 10-06 ruling has removed the last impediment to utilizing the cost-efficiencies and creativity of social media programs, he added.

Download your copy of FINRA 10-06 at the Advisolocity Resource Center

Can we expect a new social media marketing compliance lore to come into existence? Mr. Johnston thinks so: “Responsible, spontaneous, transparent communication can do a lot to put back the heart in this troubled (securities) industry.”

He pointed out three simple steps any marketer can take to heart as she undertakes a social media effort:

Archiving makes it easier to network.

1. Build a social media policy and follow it. If FINRA comes knocking hand them a copy
2. File product-related postings as usual
3. Treat blog and web site as connected, yet independent; with the blog focusing on thought leadership themes and the site offering products and services

“Simultaneously FINRA 10-06 has managed to strike a blow for common sense, fiduciary responsibility and freedom of speech,” he added.

While compliance officers  and investment marketers decode FINRA 10-06, financial advisors are embracing the new regulatory clarification.  According  to a Rydex AdvisorBenchmarking survey, advisors are looking to primarily use social media tools for “securing new clients (46%), enhancing communication with current clients (35%), and advertising or promoting their firms (30%).”

Over at financial research firm Nemertes, the social media cat is happily out of the compliance bag. “The new guidelines bring clarity,” a recent report stated, “but remove excuses for delay.”

Without delay, full speed ahead is required: Nemertes cautions the tidal wave of consultants, archivists, communications specialists, compliance firms and social media strategists, however, to get busy carefully: “Plan to converge or add social media features and capabilities with security solutions for communications media like email and IM.”

By D. Bruce Johnston, President and CEO, Advisolocity

We are pleased to offer our readers an on-demand link to the popular webinar: “Social Media: Can Advisors Afford to Miss It?”

To hear the latest thinking from the industry leaders in financial services social media marketing — Fidelity, American Century, Socialware and Advisolocity — please click the accompanying thumbnail link.

Hear Jennifer Sussman, Director of Online Marketing for American Century provide highlights from her firm’s recently completed “Financial Professionals Social Media Adoption Study.”

Next, benefit from Ross Ozer’s insights. As Vice President of Marketing for Fidelity Institutional Wealth Services, Mr. Ozer comments on how social media can help advisors generate more referrals, greater marketplace awareness and extend their reach.

Do you consider compliance to be a major barrier to adopting social media in your practice? If  so, you are not alone.

Eighty percent of webinar attendees saw compliance risk as a key obstacle — until they listened to Chad Bockius, CEO of Socialware, who had much to contribute to understanding how to overcome social media’s compliance risks.

I was pleased to be able to deliver the results of one of our case studies as an example of how social media can work effectively in advisors’ day-to-day practice to raise AUM and revenue.

Also, if you missed out on the opportunity yesterday to download a FREE copy of Advisolocity’s white paper: “One-2-One: How to have 1000 client conversations at once,” please do so on the link provided.

Topics covered during the 45-minute Q&A session ran the gamut from:

• What are the implications of FINRA Notice 10-06 for financial advisors and are there solution sets available to comply with the archiving requirements?
• Are clients really using social networks for financial advice and, more importantly, for advisor selection?
• Will social media overload the compliance department?
• What are the nuances of the compliance demands social media poses that make it so difficult for firms to understand?
• Why are some firms staking a claim to social media applications while the vast majority sit back and watch?
• What about advisors who have primarily older clients? Should they consider social media tools as strictly suited for Gen Y and X, and not baby boomers?

If you have questions that were left unanswered after you listen to the discussion, please contact Bruce Johnston at bruce@advisolocity.com. I will get your question answered for you in short order. In the meantime, enjoy!