Roger Ibbotson attacks asset allocation "folklore"

“The time has come for folklore to be replaced with reality” says Roger Ibbotson in “The Importance of Asset Allocation” in CFA Institute’s Financial Analysts Journal (March/April). Folklore means “the idea that asset allocation policy explains more than 90 percent of performance,” which is a misinterpretation of the classic 1986 article, “Determinants of Portfolio Performance” […]

Financial advisor poll: How do you sign your business emails?

Email communications with clients, prospects, and referral sources are an essential part of  your private wealth management or investment business. Handle them well, and you deepen your relationships. In How to Instantly Connect with Anyone, author Leil Lowndes suggests an email closing technique that may boost your effectiveness. Even something as small as your email […]

Your customers, your inspiration

“Customer comments can contain pure gold. Many of my most in-demand services came about from a suggestion made by someone who wanted to do business with me.” —Marcia Yudkin’s Marketing Minute What suggestions have your clients made to you? Have they suggested new services? Different ways to deliver your services?  Listen to what they say. […]

Whoa, insurance = spam?

Insurance can get your email tagged as spam. I never would have guessed. I saw the following message after I ran one of my e-newsletters through a spam checker. It looks like there are some words in this email that might send your email to a Spam folder. To make sure your email is delivered […]

Setting myself a challenge: A May Blogathon

Am I crazy? I’ve signed up for the 2010 WordCount Blogathon in which bloggers commit to post every day during the month of May. Yes, that means at least 31 blog posts during the month of May. I typically post 11 to 15 times a month. So I’ve got to double or triple my output. […]