Industry Knowledge by Mindy Diamond Archives

Getting “Unstuck”: What is it Worth to You?

By Mindy Diamond – There’s no doubt we have seen a dramatic shift in the industry – the transference of power from the firm to the advisor – yet many advisors still complain of feeling “stuck”. Their concern: facing unforgiven retention deals or recruiting packages that have not yet fully amortized. After all, many advisors jumped from one firm to another some 7 or 8 years ago when the industry was in free fall and the landscape looked very, very different.

What Moves the Needle

By Mindy Diamond – “I am incredibly frustrated about my firm’s change in advisor compensation and the fact that it will cost me $XXX a year in take home pay.” Sound familiar? It does to us because the beginning of the year is a time when we see a significant rise in the number of conversations we have with FAs about this topic.

7 Trends That Financial Advisors Need to Watch for in 2015

By Mindy Diamond – With 2014 almost in the bag – and 2015 only days away – it’s that time again to reflect on what’s behind us and project about the year that lies ahead. 2014 was a good year in a lot of ways. The markets cooperated and are up just over 7% as of this writing. The price of oil dropped significantly, and retail and housing sales are up. And, while there weren’t a great number of financial advisors that changed jerseys this year, the ones who did were paid huge premiums to do so, signaling the beginning of a real “seller’s market.”

The Energy of Independence: It’s Invigorating!

By Mindy Diamond – Last week’s MSUM14 brought together some of the biggest names and brightest minds in the independent financial advisor world – and many that you will recognize from outside of our space – to share knowledge and insights on the future. The energy was greater than I have ever seen, and – unfortunately – an energy that is rarely experienced in the broker dealer world.

From Wirehouses to Acquisitions, Robos, Next Gen Planning, and back to Wirehouses

By Mindy Diamond – The day began with the battle between custodians as Dynasty Financial Partners CEO, Shirl Penney, engaged Fidelity’s Mike Durbin, Pershing’s Mark Tibergien, and Schwab’s Bernie Clark.

MarketCounsel Summit (MSUM) – It’s not just for Independents

By Mindy Diamond – One very important point I want to convey – especially to the wirehouse audience – is that the vibe, energy and caliber of attendee that exists at a conference like MarketCounsel Summit (MSUM) also exists at custodian conferences like Schwab IMPACT, Pershing INSITE, Fidelity’s Executive Forum…or any of the others.

The momentum for independence: real, sustainable and accelerating!

By Mindy Diamond – Day 2 at MSUM14 proved that the momentum we are sensing around independence for financial advisors is real, sustainable and will likely accelerate based on a burgeoning number of options available and a new breed of young investors ready to fuel them.

The only time the thought of independence was greater: 1776

By Mindy Diamond – The MarketCounsel Summit kicked off with the shot heard ‘round the financial advisor world. Rarely do you find such a fortune of financial wisdom gathered together in one place.

Finding Love in the Arms of a New Firm: Why Some Top Producers Move On

By Deborah Aronson – You’re a successful advisor working hard to grow your business and your clients appreciate the high level of service you provide. You’re earning a good living and the firm you work for is also reaping the rewards of your hard work. While there are challenges, you may chalk it up to the price of doing business in an industry that has changed dramatically. But, are you happy and do you feel valued by your firm?

Regional Firms Are Killing It On The Recruiting Front…Why?

By Mindy Diamond – As we wrapped up at the Raymond James Recruiting Partners Forum held at their corporate headquarters in St. Petersburg, FL on November 22, I found myself considering what accounts for the firm’s extraordinary success in recruiting. RayJay reports that 2014 has been the second best recruiting year in its history (second only to the outlier year of 2008-2009 when all firms saw huge increases in their recruiting numbers).

Industry Knowledge by Mindy Diamond