Rich Ralston • Pensacola, FL
Parkway Financial Group • ProEquities Inc.
I think it is important to take advantage of any edge that technology can provide, especially with younger clients who are tech-savvy. This can cover virtually all areas of the practice.
We completed a website redesign and are using the developer’s suggestions on how to move higher in local Google rankings. I also partner with a third-party endorser for prospecting leads through an Internet-based program. I use another provider for market commentary for my newsletter—pushed out electronically to clients and prospects. There are other relatively simple technologies to use with clients, like virtual meeting platforms for presentations or webinars, or web-based CRMs that can integrate with financial-planning software. I have started using the voice-recognition feature on my smartphone to record quick notes right after client review meetings.
We have access to a very robust technology that can help with many things, including more streamlined portfolio or strategy comparisons, single e-signatures for multiple documents, and customizing financial-planning software with enhanced client access. Small things like eliminating steps in data entry can add up to many hours saved across our entire client base.
I plan to get more active with social media, with compliant-friendly broad Twitter messaging that can then be tailored to our practice. There is also a data-mining program to scan social media “news” of clients or prospects to create timely CRM messaging. For example, if the system alerts me that a client just announced a new grandchild on Facebook, I will be able to personally follow that up with an email or phone call.
Disclosure: Advisory services offered through Investment Advisors, a division of ProEquities Inc., a registered investment advisor. Securities offered through ProEquities Inc., a registered broker-dealer, and member FINRA and SIPC. Parkway Financial Group is independent of ProEquities Inc.
Photography by Todd Douglas
