The Financial Documents Binder http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com financialdocumentsbinder.com posterous.com Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:22:00 -0800 Death Stinks. http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/death-stinks http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/death-stinks

She went into hospice on Christmas Day.
My Grandma, she was an amazing woman.  No grass grew under her feet. In her lifetime, she saw: electricity, radio, television, rotary and digital phones, computers, horse drawn carts, cars.... In 1968, her husband died.  She retired from teaching 8th grade music and math in 1979. She paid off her mortgage. She traveled all over.  She sang in choirs until 3 months before she passed. She spent 2 months in California every year taking care of/visiting her Aunt. She moved her body and stretched every day. She did puzzles every day (crossword, acrostics, you name it she did it.)  She told me to move it or lose it. She prayed daily. She so had her stuff together. Everything had a place and everything was in its place. She actually said that. (Doesn't everyone's grandma say that?) She was never, ever old. 

September 16th

Grandma had what the doctors called "mini strokes" and from which she was recovering. And recovering well and fast. She moved from living alone (since 1968) to her daughters house in New Hampshire after coming out of 100 days in rehab.

The paperwork was crazy.  

My Aunt and Dad (on separate coasts) were trying to figure out Medicare, insurance, life insurance, how to buy her a bed, how to make sure she had the daily nursing care she needed (there is insurance for that, by the way).  For a woman who had all her stuff totally together, it was tough to piece together without being inside her head. It was working out though.  I talked with her on Saturday December 12th. She said she was frustrated since she knew the words in her head, they just wouldn't come out of her mouth. Can you imagine that? A teacher not being able to communicate? She told me she loved me.

December 16th

Grandma had a major stroke. 

Christmas Day

Grandma went into hospice. It wasn't long before she said goodbye. On January 4th at midnight eastern time, she passed on to the next life. She would have been 96 in April.

What's left behind.

We who were left without her on this earth grieve still.  And we got flights and hotels and trekked out to Connecticut for the biggest party we could think of. We laughed and cried and people who we never ever met before told us how amazing and kind and happy she was.  

Then came the paperwork.  The insurance, the death certificates, the attorney, the banking, the itemizing, the funeral, the life insurance. Honestly, my Aunt, who just watched her mother pass away, was barely hanging on.  As the main person on the East Coast, she knew where most of the stuff was. Grandma had her stuff together.  Emotionally, though, my aunt was just so overwhelmed, it was hard, and still is hard, to make decisions and take care of details.

And this is the reason I created this binder for financial documents.  

I created this binder because of my relationship with several amazing people, chiefly my financial advisor, Amanda Johnson. I'm pretty organized anyway, and she inspired me to create this binder.  Until this moment, I never personally knew it's true value. Grandma taught me that everything has a place and everything is in its place. In this amazingly emotional time, my Aunt and Dad are able to take care of her wishes because the stuff was where she said it was, all in one place.  Yes, there is still some sorting to do, but not too much.  This binder is meant for us when the unthinkable and inevitable happens. Midst the heavy emotions, we can still take care of what needs to happen.

Can you imagine what would have happened if everything was scattered all over the place?   

I can. You can bet that I'm on my mom, dad, and aunt's respective cases to get their paperwork in order.  I already know the emotions will be hard when they pass. I don't think I could take it if I had to figure out who paid for what and when and then make decisions on top of that.

I know this binder helps people.  

I know it firsthand. Please get one for your mom, dad, or grandparents. I promise you, if they use it, it will make it easier down the road.

financialdocumentsbinder.com

 

 

 

 

 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1670573/Square_Jessica_Utah_Oct_2011_with_Alaqueen.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36K9ZutCvZyF Jessica Clark Jessica D Chapman Jessica Clark Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:12:00 -0800 The FDB Terms http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/terms-55 http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/terms-55

Shipping and Delivery Policy

When ordering an item from Room To Breathe™ Professional Organizers, we can ship to virtually any address in the world. When you place an order, we will contact you and estimate shipping and delivery dates for you based on the availability of your items and the shipping options you choose. After placing your order, you will see both shipping and delivery date estimates in the order confirmation e-mail.

For most of our products we use UPS Ground Service. If you require a different service, you may choose it when ordering online. Shipping costs for orders depend upon the method and option you choose and are calculated automatically via the UPS website. Please note that the shipping rates for many items we sell are weight-based. To reflect the policies of the shipping companies we use, all weights are rounded up to the next full pound.

Product Returns

You may return most new, unopened items sold and fulfilled by Room To Breathe™ Professional Organizers within 15 days of delivery for a full refund. We'll also pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item).

If you have a return, please email returns@roomtobreathe.org to begin the process.

You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days). We'll notify you via e-mail of your refund once we've received and processed the returned item.

Refunds will be returned to the account used to make the initial purchase.

Items that are opened or returned more than 15 days after delivery will receive a partial refund. Partial Refunds will be issued for the following items:

  • Any CD or DVD is 50% of item's price
  • Any item not returned in the condition it was received will be refunded up to 50% of item's price.

Product Exchanges

If you received a faulty item and need to exchange it for the same item, please email exchange@roomtobreathe.org with you product information, name, and address and date of sale. We will contact you to arrange an exchange.

If you would like to exchange an item for a different one, please return the original item by contacting exchange@roomtobreathe.org with the product information, your name, address and date of sale. We will arrange an exchange. You will be refunded your original purchase price once we receive the item and we will guide you through placing another order for the item you wish to purchase.

Third Party Sellers

As the RoomToBreathe.org Web site offers items for sale both by Room To Breathe™ Professional Organizers and by third-party sellers, it is important in the returns process to know from whom the item was purchased. If the item to be returned was not sold by Room To Breathe™ Professional Organizers, you will need to contact the seller directly. Room To Breathe™ Professional Organizers does not warrant or guarantee any products purchased from Third Party Sellers listed on the Room To Breathe™ Professional Organizers Web Site.

Product Payment Terms

Payment for products must be made in advance using a valid credit card through our secure merchant account on the Room To Breathe™ Professional Organizers website. In the event a credit card is not available, please contact theRoom To Breathe™ Professional Organizers office at 916.444.7666.

Privacy Policy

Your Use of this Website is Governed by these Terms and Conditions

Please take a few minutes to review these Terms and Conditions. Your use of this website constitutes your agreement to follow these rules and to be bound by them. If you do not agree with any of these Terms and Conditions, please do not use the Room To Breathe™ or Financial Document Binder website.

These Terms and Conditions May Change.

Room To Breathe™ reserves the right to update or modify these Terms and Conditions at any time without prior notice. Your use of this website following any such change constitutes your agreement to follow and be bound by the Terms and Conditions as changed. For this reason, we encourage you to review these Terms and Conditions whenever you use this website.

Your Privacy at Room To Breathe™ Professional Organizers

We are committed to protecting your privacy. We use the information we collect about you to process orders and to provide a more personalized experience. Please read on for more details about our privacy policy.

What Information Do We Collect? How Do We Use It?

When you sign up for our newsletter, we need to know your name and e-mail address. This allows us to send to you the newsletter and any updates that there may be.

When you enter a contest or other promotional feature, we may ask for your name, address, phone number and e-mail address, so we can administer the contest and notify winners.

Your Consent

By using our website, you consent to the collection and use of this information by Room To Breathe™ Professional Organizers. If we decide to change our privacy policy, we will post those changes on this page, so you are always aware of what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances we disclose it.

How Does Room To Breathe™ Professional Organizers Protect Customer Information?

We have physical, electronic and procedural security safeguards to protect and secure the information we collect. Our online transactions are securely handled through PayPal. Our newsletter list is administered through aweber.com. Please visit their websites for more information about their security policies.

Will Room To Breathe™ Disclose the Information it collects to outside parties?

Room To Breathe™ does not sell, trade or rent your personal information to others.

Tell Us What You Think

We welcome your comments regarding this website. However, any comments, feedback, notes, messages, ideas, suggestions or other communications (collectively, "Comments") sent to Room To Breathe™ Professional Organizers shall be and remain the exclusive property of Room To Breathe™ Professional Organizers. Your submission of any such Comments shall constitute an assignment to Room To Breathe™ Professional Organizers of all worldwide rights, titles and interests in all copyrights and other intellectual property rights in the Comments. Room To Breathe™ Professional Organizers will be entitled to use, reproduce, disclose, publish and distribute any material you submit for any purpose whatsoever, without restriction and without compensating you in any way. For this reason, we ask that you not send us any comments that you do not wish to assign to us, including any confidential information or any original creative materials such as stories, product ideas, computer code or original artwork.

Copyright Notice

All of the Content you see and hear on the Room To Breathe™ Professional Organizers websites, including, for example, all of the page headers, images, illustrations, graphics, audio clips, video clips and text, and including products solely developed by Room To Breathe™ Professional Organizers are subject to trademark, service mark, trade dress, copyright and/or other intellectual property rights or licenses held by Room To Breathe™ Professional Organizers. The entire Content of this website is copyrighted as a collective work under U.S. copyright laws, and Room To Breathe™ Professional Organizers owns a copyright in the selection, coordination, arrangement and enhancement of the Content.

The Content of this website, and the site as a whole, is intended solely for personal, noncommercial use by the users of our site. You may download, print and store selected portions of the Content, provided you (1) only use these copies of the Content for your own personal, non—commercial use, (2) do not copy or post the Content on any network computer or broadcast the Content in any media, and (3) do not modify or alter the Content in any way, or delete or change any copyright or trademark notice.

No right, title or interest in any downloaded, printed, copied, or ordered materials is transferred to you as a result of any such downloading, printing, copying and/or ordering. Room To Breathe™ Professional Organizers reserves complete title and full intellectual property rights in any Content you download, print, copy, and/or order from this website.

Except as noted above, you may not copy, download, reproduce, modify, publish, distribute, transmit, transfer or create derivative works from the Content without first obtaining express and separate written permission for each occasion from Room To Breathe™ Professional Organizers.  The copyright for the Financial Documents Binder is solely held by Room To Breathe™ Professional Organizers and its owners and the content of the Binder may not be reproduced in any way without express permission.  Any infringement upon the copyright and trademarks will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/16649/crackedfeets.jpg http://posterous.com/users/10BFe2x2E93 thinman thinman Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:59:00 -0800 Click-simple Content: The FDB Widgets http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/the-fdb-widget http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/the-fdb-widget

Have a site, blog, Facebook page, email newsletter, or Twitter account where you'd like to automagically get fresh content from your friendly neighborhood Financial Docs Binder? You're in luck! In keeping with our "click-simple" motto of making our great content easy to get and share, here are a couple of widgets that you can grab and share online wherever you'd like, just click the Get Widget button at the bottom of whichever one you'd like to have:

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/16649/crackedfeets.jpg http://posterous.com/users/10BFe2x2E93 thinman thinman Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:00:00 -0800 Getting Your Financial Documents Binder http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/getting-your-financial-documents-binder http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/getting-your-financial-documents-binder

Peace of mind for families and individuals.  Support for financial professionals.
A comprehensive holistic tool for everyone.

Give your clients, family members and yourself the gift of peace of mind and security. As parents and spouses age, and personal identity information becomes increasingly accessible and prevalent online, gathering, organizing and managing the pertinent financial information  - while still healthy, and before any unforseen occurences - is absolutely vital. The Financial Documents Binder is easy to use, easy to fill in, and easy to get to in times of need, and in times of distress.

Especially for Financial Professionals

The Financial Documents Binder is a one stop, holistic view of all areas of a client's financial life. Using the binder your professional finance consulting practice shows great care for a client's entire financial picture, creates longer lasting relationships, and builds a stronger practice.

Only need one?  Get it now by clicking the button below:

Buy Now

 

Select Quantity

 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/16649/crackedfeets.jpg http://posterous.com/users/10BFe2x2E93 thinman thinman Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:57:00 -0800 About Us http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/about-us-48 http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/about-us-48

With over 12 years in Customers Service experience (retail and corporate customer service marketing), Jessica Chapman founded Room To Breathe Professional Organizers in 2002. Her mission: to train micro and small business owners about the importance of and true value of outstanding customer service. "The only way to maintain a thriving business is through high quality, consistent customer service, " says Ms. Chapman. "And the only way you get that consistency is by systematic and organized implementation of business practices." In 2005, she decided to put her innate skill and learned knowledge of customer service programs to work by creating products that give a two-fer return to her clients. The Financial Documents Binder (FDB) was created especially for Financial Advisors, Investment Managers, Estate Planning Attorneys and other financial professionals interested in having a more holistic, productive and positive relationship with their clients. The FDB provides a neutral talking point for client meetings and ensures the client is working on improving their financial status in all areas, not just investments. The two-fer? Not only does this product provide the client with the warm fuzzy feeling of customer service from the advisor, it also supports conversations and improving the time management of the advisor meetings. More time focused on exactly what the customer needs means higher value placed on the relationship. For more information about improving your business bottom line through consistent customer service, visit the Room To Breathe Professsional Organizers main website.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/16649/crackedfeets.jpg http://posterous.com/users/10BFe2x2E93 thinman thinman Fri, 05 Jun 2009 02:05:00 -0700 Financial Fear: Advisors and Managers Call your Clients http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/financial-fear-advisors-and-managers-call-you http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/financial-fear-advisors-and-managers-call-you I recognized a cycle I see frequently with Financial Advisors and Investment Managers.  More often than not, they are only looking at their customers as numbers.  And that vision leads to advisors and managers closing their eyes off to opportunities. It goes with the territory.  My personal observation is that when a human is very good with numbers and calculations, usually, the same brain does not lean to the interpersonal relationship building side. Well, that's all fine and good.  Except it's not really all fine and good.  And especially right now in our economy,  it is bad and doesn't serve anyone. Every talking head on TV and on the radio spouts on and on about the "financial woes" of the nation.  And people are scared.  The last thing they need or want is a financial human who doesn't want to talk with them about the numbers, or who can only talk with them in numbers speak. The only thing holding our country, region, county, city, community together is our relationships (in good times and bad.)  When we feel supported, we make better decisions and continue using our advisors and managers.  When fear is pervasive, we retract - and that means one day you're in business, the next day you're not. You may be technically the best financial advisor or investment manager on the face of this earth.  If you don't communicate with your clients on a level they understand, they will leave you to find someone who will communicate with them.  There is no getting around it, you, personally, as the service provider, need to make contact with them. If you are a highly numbers focused human, here are some comfortable ways to talk with your clients so they feel how good you are and the value you provide:
  • Send out a newsletter: there are services that will create this for you so you don't even have to touch it.
  • Set aside 15 minutes a day and write a hand written note to 3 clients.
  • Take 10 minutes a day and call a client to ask, "Got any questions? I'm here if you do."
  • Present them with a gift they see value in at their next face to face appointment
Investing a little bit of time in talking with your clients right now will keep you in the black and bring in the referrals.  Everyone remembers the person that supported them during the crisis.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/16649/crackedfeets.jpg http://posterous.com/users/10BFe2x2E93 thinman thinman Thu, 28 May 2009 02:08:30 -0700 Are you a Baby Boomer? Or are you a Boomer's kid? http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/are-you-a-baby-boomer-or-are-you-a-boomers-ki http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/are-you-a-baby-boomer-or-are-you-a-boomers-ki It was so exciting when the troops came back after World War II that you could practically hear the babies being conceived for at least 2 years!  And now, that amazing generation is around 60 years old. What's the big deal?  So they are sixty. So what? Well, traditionally, people "retired" from hard labor jobs in their sixties. They stopped working the hard job, and rested, traveled, puttered around the house until they died.  Which was not far off for folks only 30 years ago. With the advancement of science, medical technology, and a pile of other factors, humans are living longer.  So while you could retire at 60 and probably live to 70/75, now people are living until 90, 95, 100+.  This is amazing!  This is wonderful!  And it also brings up the answer to the "what's the big deal?" question. If you're a boomer, there is high probablility you're going to live longer.
  • Do you have enough money to keep you in the manner to which you've been accustomed?
  • Are you going to keep working? Do you want to keep working?
  • What kind of health care do you need now as you age? what will you need later?
  • Who is going to take care of you as you get older? Your kids? Your family? Friends?
  • Where are you going to live? Stay in the big house? Downsize? Live with the kids?
If you're a boomer's kid, in general your parents are going to live longer. Society in the past has seen families live close together. Now, our society and culture has changed so that families are spread to the four courners of the country and earth.  What expectations do you have for taking care of your parents? Do they expect you to take care of them? Will you stop what you're doing to take care of them?
  • Have they been supporting you physically? Financially? Do you expect that to continue?
  • If something happens to them, how will you know what to do to help them?
  • Are you going to be the one to help them?
  • What happens to them if they can't live alone anymore? Where will they live?
  • Who is going to pay for it all? You? Them? The government?
I highly suggest that both boomers and boomer's children have a very blunt and open conversation about aging and what expectations  are as both groups age.  Start by asking and answering the above questions.  And if you're not sure what other questions you need to ask, use a tool like the Financial Documents Binder to provoke questions and answers.  Find a financial advisor, an accountant, an insurance agent to talk with you about what is available and what you need to care for yourself and loved ones as you age.  Having the conversation is the starting point to ensuring you get exactly what you want as you get older.  And if you don't know what you want, now is the time to figure it out.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/16649/crackedfeets.jpg http://posterous.com/users/10BFe2x2E93 thinman thinman Tue, 26 May 2009 07:45:14 -0700 Insurance and Financial Advisors - people vote with their feet http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/insurance-and-financial-advisors-people-vote http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/insurance-and-financial-advisors-people-vote

In industries where there are a lot of competitors, every one starts to look the same.  One Insurance Agent is the same as another.  Each Financial Advisor I talk with swears their firm has "the best advising products and tools, bar none." Here's the big secret: they all have amazing products and client management tools. They'd be out of business if they didn't.

You can be a representative from State Farm, Prudential, Met Life, Allstate, Ameriprise, Merrill Lynch, Edward Jones, Smith Barney  et al. and frankly, you are all the same.  There is even a uniform: navy blue or black suit with a white shirt and a striped tie for men. Women, navy blue or black suit with a cream colored blouse and navy or black shoes. Even corporate from IBM doesn't wear  that uniform anymore (okay, that depends on where you live in the country.)

What are you doing differently that is going to keep me with you?  Like many people, I vote with my feet.  You'll never know I'm upset or frustrated, I'll just be gone.  And I'll take all of my referrals and friends with me.  So what is special about you that will keep me 1) loyal and 2) referring you?

Here are some ideas:

  • casual office environment - Hawaiian shirt Fridays
  • regular newsletter/email updates
  • special gifts sent on birthdays and major family occasions
  • regular calls "just because"
  • hand written notecards "just because"
  • buy me lunch "just because"
  • crazy themed client appreciation parties
  • use of new technology in the practice - video, twitter, facebook - for keeping in touch.
  • invitations to volunteer together at local charitable events (not attend - volunteer!)
  • you know exactly where everything is in your office?

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/16649/crackedfeets.jpg http://posterous.com/users/10BFe2x2E93 thinman thinman Fri, 22 May 2009 02:54:28 -0700 GREAT example of Financial Advisors with Awesome Customer Service http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/great-example-of-financial-advisors-with-awes http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/great-example-of-financial-advisors-with-awes This is an example of a Financial Advisory firm with outstanding consistent customer service. Are you currently doing this type of outreach?

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/16649/crackedfeets.jpg http://posterous.com/users/10BFe2x2E93 thinman thinman Thu, 21 May 2009 03:52:34 -0700 It's all about me. Please stop telling me all about you. http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/its-all-about-me-please-stop-telling-me-all-a http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/its-all-about-me-please-stop-telling-me-all-a We have open houses at our office suites once a month on a Friday.  It is an amazing way for the office building to bring folks in to see what the suites have to offer and to show off the community of tenants and businesses. It is also a way for me, as a business owner, to prospect my tribe market of small business owners. How I prospect is simple: I ask questions.  I ask a lot of them.  I ask only open ended questions.  I ask about people's business, how it's going, what they need in the next 30 days, if they want more customers, what kind of customers are they looking for, what their hours are, do they have family, are they enjoying the weather outside, if they had a million dollars what would they do with it, et cetera.  And then, when I've asked a ton of questions, I ask for their business card and ask if I can give them free tips through my electronic newsletter with them. If I feel they are a true fit with my tribe, I ask for permission to contact them again by phone. What is entertaining and delightful to me about this scenario is that time and time again, these suspects/prospects love hearing from me.  They love getting the newsletter, because it's full of free and valuable assistance/support. They know very little about me personally or my company, because they were doing most of the talking.  It was all about them. I wanted to know as much as I could about them to see if they were a fit with my business and company.  I interviewed them.  I'd say 30% are a fit for our services, mainly because I have a clearly developed niche and know the value and can tell if you "get it" about customer service and how consistency plays into building a business. The other 70% I still offer to bring into the fold of my marketing by offering the newsletter.  Down the road, they may become clients, and if so, great! If not, that's okay too. When I see folks "networking" pushing business cards at one another talking only about what they can do, what service they provide, and how good they are at it. They are missing a key ingredient.  Their message is lost on the listener because they don't know how to connect what they provide to what the listener needs. And why not? Because they themselves didn't stop to ask questions and find out.  This is a vital lesson for every service based professional to learn, especially those in financial industries.  The only thing separating one financial advisor, or insurance agent, or CPA from another is their customer service. What are your key questions that you need to know of someone to see if what you provide will connect with their needs? Here are some of my questions I ask, factual and reflective - use them as a jumping off point for your own.
  • So, how long have you been in business?
  • How's business working for you these days?
  • If you had a magic wand and could transform your company into anything you wanted, what would it look like? How would it feel?
  • Have you ever thought about expanding?
  • What made you decide to go into that line of work?
  • What a unique idea, how did you come up with it?
When prospecting, it's all about me, the prospect.  So please, stop telling me all about you.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/16649/crackedfeets.jpg http://posterous.com/users/10BFe2x2E93 thinman thinman Tue, 19 May 2009 07:49:39 -0700 In the financial clique or not? Why belonging is important http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/in-the-financial-clique-or-not-why-belonging http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/in-the-financial-clique-or-not-why-belonging Remember in high school,when there were lots of different groups? The smart kids, the jocks, the cheerleaders, the preps, the nerds, the sharks, the jets... Well us humans get really used to belonging.  We like to define ourselves by who we spend time with, where we go, our religion, our financial status, et cetera. Type in "how we define ourselves" into any search engine and you'll see a myriad of articles and blogs about it. Smart business owners and advisors have a very clearly defined tribe market.  They invoke a feeling of belonging from those people in that tribe market.  It makes people want to stay closer.  Be a part. Not be separated. So when I see financial advisors and estate planning attorneys deliberately creating a chasm between them and their clients, it is beyond me. Kind of like being told "sure we're friends in class, but I don't want to have anything to do with you after school." If all you want is a transaction, you're going to be spending a hard long journey making hundreds and hundreds of transactions in your career.  Where, with only a little bit more effort on your part, you have a relationship and I am loyal. I am part of your clan, your tribe, and I tell all my fellow folks about you.  It must appear effortless on your part. The minute I feel like you're faking it, I'll leave. Here are some ways to get people to be a part of your tribe:
  • Send birthday cards
  • Keep an EXCELLENT database with spouse names, children's names, other family members, and for the single folk if they date the last person they were dating.
  • Mention and ask after my spouse/boyfriend/girlfriend by name when you call
  • Call me "just to check in" not for sales (this may be a scheduled call, but don't tell me that!)
  • Take me to lunch and tell me I can bring a friend.
  • Create a newsletter and give me information to join and keep in touch with me
It really does not take much for us humans to be loyal and brag. It only takes a little bit of care and kindness.  The more Mr. Business Owner shows me small steps of care about my whole life, not just the money I bring you, the more I am inculcated into your tribe.  The more I'm with you forever (like the sharks and the jets...)

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/16649/crackedfeets.jpg http://posterous.com/users/10BFe2x2E93 thinman thinman Tue, 19 May 2009 06:40:59 -0700 Baby Boomers, Gen X, Gen Y: What do we do now? http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/baby-boomers-gen-x-gen-y-what-do-we-do-now http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/baby-boomers-gen-x-gen-y-what-do-we-do-now Some of my previous posts have been all about, well, death. And while death is inevitable, it is life that this blog is mostly about.  And living it to its fullest. With medical advances,  our family members from the Greatest Generation are still with us.  Baby Boomers now coming to the age of "retirement" are looking at the word retirement and re-defining it.  Generation X and the Millenials are taking over the running of our world.  No longer does "retirement" mean sitting on a rocker in the house. (In my family, it never really meant that at all) So what are you going to do Baby Boomers? Where are you going to go? Will you keep working? Will you live where you've always lived? How are you going to pay for it?  And Generation X and Millenials, what are your expectations?  Are you working hard? Where do you want to go? The largest generation we've ever had in the United States will be leaving jobs and doing the next thing that sets their heart on fire.  How are we going to manage? We've

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/16649/crackedfeets.jpg http://posterous.com/users/10BFe2x2E93 thinman thinman Fri, 15 May 2009 08:46:00 -0700 Single? Live alone? What's your plan in case of emergency? http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/single-live-alone-whats-your-plan-in-case-of http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/single-live-alone-whats-your-plan-in-case-of

A couple of years ago, we lived in a small apartment complex (16 units) and everyone pretty much knew everyone, at least to say good morning to or wave hello at. One week, I noticed my downstairs neighbor had a package outside his door for about 5 days.  The mailman had left it there since it was too big to fit in the mailbox.  My neighbor had pretty much kept to himself.  He seemed to be in his 50s or 60s, lived alone and was friendly enough.  It was odd that the package would stay so long outside the door. I thought he was on vacation. Come the next week though, there was a pay or quit notice: he didn't pay his rent. Then there was an eviction notice with the county seal on the door. Then we all found out the truth. He had passed away in his apartment of a heart attack and no one knew. Living alone has its benefits and its drawbacks.  Delightful solitude also means preparing for eventualities.  Sure, once you're dead, what do you care (excuse the crassness of that statement.) But, what happens if you get sick? What happens if you get hurt? Do you have a social net to help you? If you don't have family or a social net, what services do you have set up to support you? Here are some good ideas to put into place if you live alone:

  • Write down an "in case of emergency" list and keep it in your wallet. This should include who to call, their relationship to you, and their numbers.
  • People you may want on your call list: Family (siblings, parents), Estate Planning Attorney, Financial Advisor, Family, Neighbor, Insurance Agent.
  • Tell your relatives where your important documents are. Even if they are shoved in a box, or binder, they should know where those documents are.
  • If you don't have a formal estate plan (you should) write down somewhere on a piece of paper what is important to you and get it notarized.  Family and friends need to know you want your organs donated (or not) or what is important to you if you cannot speak for yourself.
  • Set up a regular call schedule with friends.  So if you don't hear from them, or they don't hear from you, you know it's time to swing by and visit.

While I don't know if our neighbor had these things in place, I can only imagine he did not. I think every once in a while what would have happend if he did.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/16649/crackedfeets.jpg http://posterous.com/users/10BFe2x2E93 thinman thinman Thu, 14 May 2009 11:50:39 -0700 Women: how to organize personal financial documents http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/women-how-to-organize-personal-financial-docu http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/women-how-to-organize-personal-financial-docu

Please listen to this interview. Marcia Brixley with Money Wise Women offers courses to empower women in business growth. We talked about how to best support their education and learning.

How to Organize Personal Financial Documents

You can also find it on the side bar of our website: www.financialdocumentsbinder.com

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/16649/crackedfeets.jpg http://posterous.com/users/10BFe2x2E93 thinman thinman Wed, 13 May 2009 06:07:28 -0700 Financial Advice: Getting a second opinion http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/financial-advice-getting-a-second-opinion http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/financial-advice-getting-a-second-opinion If your doctor said to you, "There is only one remedy and it is surgery." What would you do?  Would you take what they said on face value and proceed? When you wrote research papers in high school or college, how many sources did you have to quote or research before you believed it to be true? Two? Three? So why do we not get a second opinion with our finances when we work with an Advisor/CPA/Mortgage Rep. Sure, I trust my doctor as much as I trust my Advisor because I have built trust and loyalty with them.  I trust their education and knowledge base and willingness to learn. Still, with all of the change in the world and my portfolio, as the customer, it behooves me to see what other options are out there.  Ultimately, I, and I alone, am responsible for my life and my finances.  A second opinion can only provide me with more information from which I make better decisions. If your Financial Advisor gets bent out of shape because you sought out a second opinion, why is that? If they are worth their salt, so to speak, a second opinion from an outside source is an opportunity to educate you even more and maintain the trust and loyalty they have built with you.  That's assuming they have built loyalty and trust. Now is the time for customers and Advisors to embrace the second opinion and take responsibility for our own finances.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/16649/crackedfeets.jpg http://posterous.com/users/10BFe2x2E93 thinman thinman Tue, 12 May 2009 03:09:48 -0700 Advisor Client Gifts: Is your business obviously cheap? http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/advisor-client-gifts-is-your-business-obvious http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/advisor-client-gifts-is-your-business-obvious Everyone can see cheap and tacky.  It's obvious to all of us. While I'll concede tacky is in the eye of the beholder, we can all see cheap immediately. And cheap is okay if that's your business model.  If you're the diner on the corner, I expect you to give me a coupon photocopied from Kinko's. If you're the Dollar Store, I expect you to have bare basic shelves and bins and place ads in the free section of the paper.  If you are a financial advisor or other professional that deals with lots of numbers and money, I expect you to portray lots of money in your image especially what you give away: brochures, business cards, and client gifts. How do you categorize your business?  Are you cheap? Are you expensive? Folks in financial industries especially, are you high quality? Are you portraying high quality everywhere? So why are you giving clients cheap (and/or tacky) client gifts? Turn the cards around for a second: if YOU had $500,000 (that's half a MILLION dollars) with a financial advisor would you expect to get a coffee mug as a gift for transferring more assets to him/her?  Or how about a $5 Starbucks card for a referral of their friend who also brings $1 million of assets with them? If you answered, "I wouldn't expect anything as a thank you." You're lying. And naive. If you think that a $5 Starbucks card is enough of a thank you for your lead of the best friend the millionaire, you're cheap. Hey, cheap is okay.  If your practice is cheap, that's okay. Just don't pretend to be high value when you are really cheap. Be what you are everywhere. Keep this in mind: Client gifts need to be unique and tailored to the individual and the practice.  Ask yourself these questions
  • How much time would it take me to cultivate a new high worth client on my own? What's my hourly rate? Do the math.
  • How much cash in marketing and networking events would it take me to cultivate a new high net worth client on my own?
  • What salary/fees am I willing to pay a sales person or marketing company for qualified leads?
Now you have those numbers: invest the same amount in your current clients.  Your current clients know your work. A testimonial from them to their friends is easier than a mailer, and guaranteed to have 100% more potency. Stop buying cheap, crappy gifts and tools to give your clients when you say you are high worth. p.s. If you're not giving client gifts for referrals, for transferring assets, for birthdays, for changes in life (births, graduations), we'll talk about that in another post.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/16649/crackedfeets.jpg http://posterous.com/users/10BFe2x2E93 thinman thinman Thu, 07 May 2009 10:09:59 -0700 Thank You Cards and Financial Advisors, please sign your name http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/thank-you-cards-and-financial-advisors-please http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/thank-you-cards-and-financial-advisors-please

The devil is in the details when it comes to customer service.  And you better invest in the details.

I just got off the phone with a friend that shared she gets thank you cards from her advisor for referrals with a rubber stamped signature. She gets, and I quote her directly, "cheesy birthday cards that aren't even signed from some service." After moving to a new city, she was referred to him by another advisor in her old city that had excellent customer service and expected the same from the new guy.  It clearly didn't work out.

My friend has significant assets with this Financial Advisor.  In fact, she would be and Advisors dream client - low key, pays attention, learns and listens, and is thoughtful about taking action on growing assets.

So why is this guy treating her like she's some schlump that isn't worth his time?  She's noticed. And, she's talking about leaving and taking her significant assets to someone who cares about it. And by the time she makes her decision, there is no winning her back. He digs his own grave every time they meet and he sends her something.

Advisors, when you send out a thank you card, please sign it yourself.  In fact, please, for the love of your business, take the two minutes to handwrite it out. If you have lousy handwriting, get an assistant to do write it and you sign it.  If you use a birthday card service, like sendout cards, make sure you spend to get the personalized handwriting.

People notice how you treat them and vote with their feet.  Now is not the time to slack off.  Now is the time to be even more sure of the details.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/16649/crackedfeets.jpg http://posterous.com/users/10BFe2x2E93 thinman thinman Tue, 05 May 2009 09:57:06 -0700 "It has to be easier than this." How to prepare for the death of a relative. http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/it-has-to-be-easier-than-this-how-to-prepare http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/it-has-to-be-easier-than-this-how-to-prepare Jane sat there with a glass of wine and said with sincere frustration, "This is f*$D!@d! It has to be easier than this. I never knew how much work it would be to deal with all the paperwork.  My dad was so organized." My neighbor and I sat out on the porch and she recounted to me although her dad knew he was dying, he never showed his wife, nor his children, where all of the financial paperwork was in the house.  Sure, his records were meticulous, and there was a room full of them.  Unfortunately, the system for those records was in his head and he was now gone. "He was laying in the bed, at home, and he could barely talk, " Jane said. "I was on the phone with the bank and the other institutions and they kept asking me for passwords and other information he knew. He physically could not speak anymore.  And the institutions we not helpful." Jane understands the policies of the financial institutions.  She's a CFO herself.  No way would she give out personal information without a power of attorney or written form proving incapacitation.  She explained the whole experience was just "hard", even for her, a woman who is used to dotting 'i's and crossing 't's and making sure everything is well ordered.  She found was there was no one resource that she could find online to tell her all the things she needed to think about as she managed through the hospice process. Never mind what happened after her dad died. Jane's parents were your stereotypical 1950's nuclear family: Dad had a business and Mom took care of the house and kids. Jane's mom had no idea how bills got paid and what bills there were. That was Dad's job.  Jane was managing multiple big projects: her dad dying, figuring our how her mom was going to continue on without him, running her own business, and grieving the loss of a parent. And it continues to this day, two months later.  I called Jane last week and she said exasperated, "I have done absolutely no billable work today at all. I've got piles of papers all over my office floor dealing with Dad." "Oh look," she then said with sarcasm, "there's the power of attorney form that isn't signed, and now he's dead. Well a lot of good that's going to do us now." If you have not thought about all of the work that goes into managing illness and death, you should, no matter what your age.  Baby boomers are growing older. We have the largest generation coming to a point of both being around longer (thanks medical technology!) and also needing larges amounts of medical care (thanks medical technology!) Their caretaking in illness will fall on the shoulders of the spouse, children and/or the state. Ultimately, what Jane is handling has nothing to do with the paper and the stuff.  The paperwork and stuff is getting in the way of Jane grieving and moving on.  The best possible scenario would have been Jane and her mom knowing where all the important papers were well before her Dad went into hospice. If this happened, when he did pass, they  would have known how to easily manage the stuff and grieve at the same time.  Without a clear plan and a knowledge of where the "paperwork" was to implement the plan, Jane suffered needless anxiety during a highly emotional time. Here are some talking points everyone should have with their spouse, parents and loved ones to ensure their desires are carried out and their legacy, whatever that may be, carries on:
  • What do you want us to do if you can no longer care for yourself?
  • Do you have one central place where the important documents are kept? Where?
  • Are your original documents in a fire and flood proof location?
  • What would you like us to do with your assets?
  • How do you want to be supported as you age?
  • Do you have written wishes? A will? Estate plan? How will we know what to do?
  • Who do want to take the lead in making sure your wishes are carried out?
  • How are you going to pay for your support/care if you are ill?
  • What do you want to have happen to your business?
  • What do you want to have happen to your pets?
Everyone has some type of idea what they want to have happen if they get seriously ill. And everyone has some type of idea of what they want to have happen when they die.  Getting all of the questions answered now, and knowing where all the pertinent documents are in the healthy times reduces unnecessary stress during the hard emotional times. "I wish I was more forceful with him, getting him to the Estate Planning Attorney and the Financial Advisor, and making him tell me where it all was when he was healthy" Jane said. "I'm spending so much time now supporting my mom.  I'm ready for it to be done."

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/16649/crackedfeets.jpg http://posterous.com/users/10BFe2x2E93 thinman thinman Tue, 05 May 2009 06:05:51 -0700 Personal Finance Classes in our K-14 schools http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/personal-finance-classes-in-our-k-14-schools http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/personal-finance-classes-in-our-k-14-schools A friend of mine LOVES numbers.  In fact, she even has "Numbers equals fun squared" stenciled on her office wall. She is a math geek. Not for me. I was never the best in mathematics at school. I always had a lot of questions that you would think the structure of math could answer.  Not so. But math class was not where I  learned about balancing my checking account.  Or credit cards. Or figuring out how much I could afford on rent.  Or the importance of keeping my commitments and paying my bills. It wasn't taught in math class.  We were lucky to get a little bit of it in the required economics class before graduation. Do you remember what the last semester of senior year in high school was like.  How many of you checked your brain at the door starting in abut February/March?  And two weeks of how to balance a checkbook did nothing to prepare me of the realities of credit cards and payments. (Aside: it has not changed. I taught a Junior Achievement breakout at a local high school economics class to seniors - brains checked out at about March.) What are we teaching our youth about personal finances? Who is responsible for teaching this skill set?  Can we please add some relevance to our mathematics classes?  Not everyone is going to be a computer programmer or a rocket scientist.  Math classes need to show the practical relevance algebra (word problems and percentages) and geometry (measuring spaces, if/then theories).  I use these all the time and, like I said, I was not very good at math. At the least our youth should walk out of school knowing:
  • how to balance a checkbook
  • how to use credit cards, and the consequences of using them
  • how to set up a personal budget/spending plan
  • the end benefits to knowing what's happening with the money in their life
There are plenty of ways to get involved at your local school.  And schools are looking for more business volunteers to show relevance.  Doesn't matter if you have children or not. Please let us find a way to make ourselves and out youth smarter about money. Junior Achievement Resolvable: Workgroup for the California Governor's Conference on Small Business and Education - Workforce Development and Education Group

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/16649/crackedfeets.jpg http://posterous.com/users/10BFe2x2E93 thinman thinman Mon, 04 May 2009 05:41:43 -0700 Client Type: A, B, C, D - don't kill my potential Mr./Ms. Financial Advisor http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/client-type-a-b-c-d-dont-kill-my-potential-mr http://blog.financialdocumentsbinder.com/client-type-a-b-c-d-dont-kill-my-potential-mr

This weekend, I had an occasion to talk with a financial advisor about the binders. They said: "I would only give these to my best clients. Why would I waste a binder on a 'D' client who doesn't have any assets or money with me?" Valid question.

My questions: How long have they been 'D' clients? What have you done to move them from D to C, B, or A? Why are they still your client?

I've been around financial advisors enough to know how it works: you put in your dues working for the mother ship, taking on anyone that can fog a mirror by working at conventions, trade shows, and those "it-really-is-a-sales-pitch-there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-free-lunch" lunches that people drop their cards in a fishbowl for at restaurants.

So you've got a few folks that wanted the free lunch. And you've got people that just aren't going to do anything right now with their money. What about the clients you've had who take a long time to make decisions? Are all these people 'D' Clients because of inactivity? Because they don't have a lot of assets? Are you tarring everyone with the same brush? What's your responsibility on your side of the relationship? Maybe I don't know HOW to make different financial decisions to get more assets? You know, they don't teach personal finances in school. Are you writing me off instead of helping me grow?

Before I get drawn and quartered by the financial community, let me say I understand the predicament.  You've got clients you took out of desperation when you were first starting out.  Understand, though, that isn't fair or right anymore to ignore the ones that are not your ideal client or treat them less-than now you've started categorizing them.  You know better.

I'm really clear on who is and who isn't my client. People who aren't going to make a decision or take action aren't my clients.  I don't take them on in the first place.  Although, once I do have the client on the books, I know they aren't born knowing how or when or even why to call me. I have to teach them how to work with me. That's my job as the service provider.  And that education continues through the life of me having the project/client.

When I don't know about a topic, it takes me a while to figure out how I want to proceed and to see value in hiring someone. I look to the professionals I hire to give me extra support I need while I'm getting started in that relationship. I wasn't born with knowing how to work with a financial advisor, bookkeeper, CPA, mortgage broker, real estate agent, et cetera built into my head.

Mr or Ms Financial Professional, YOU need to teach me how to work with you. And you need to keep on doing it throughout our relationship.  If you're not willing to take the time to teach me how to work with you, how to call you, show me the ways I'm getting value from the relationship, long term or short term, then you bet I'm going to fall into your C or D category during the course of our relationship.

And beware:  If I'm just a transaction for you and your end goals, please don't let on. Blow smoke. Fake it. Pretend. And use the Golden Rule and treat me like you would expect to be treated, whatever category you put me into. Because if all I am is a transaction to you, and I do find out that's all I am, then I can promise you, you will receive the customer service kiss of death. I don't know anyone wanting to be treated like a transaction. And usually, when folks are treated like a transaction, in the poorest sense of the word, they tell ALL OF THEIR FRIENDS to steer clear.

Finances are scary right now; for ALL of us. Please remember, even in the best of financial times, just because finances are easily worked out in your head, doesn't mean they are worked out in ours.  For the sake of your business practice and the improvement of our economy be teach me how to work with you and don't count me out because I take longer to make a decision.  You'll see when you educate me and maintain contact, I'm probably going to blossom into one of your best clients and promoters.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/16649/crackedfeets.jpg http://posterous.com/users/10BFe2x2E93 thinman thinman