John Craig

Advisor Forum update: Veteran advisor shares little tips for big success

“Training up” support staff so they are, at a minimum, insurance- and securities-licensed (and therefore able to handle a larger range of client questions that would normally be forwarded to you); Checking out the office environments of major legal and accounting firms; Listing in your brochure (in point form) all the services you provide; Keeping […]

By John Craig |December 9, 2004

3 min read

Industry

Advocis conference update: Advisors must get emotional when repositioning for future

Advocis conference update: Membership drive main focus for new chair Advocis conference update: Executive orders Advocis conference update: Overcoming insurance “urban legends” Advocis conference update: Advocis announces in-house E&O program Advocis conference update: Opportunity, professionalism buzzwords at opening session Towill wrapped up his presentation with the story of a 47-year-old “rookie” advisor he helped train […]

By John Craig |June 4, 2004

4 min read

Industry

Advocis conference update: Expert offers tips to send CI sales through roof

Advocis conference update: Membership drive main focus for new chair Advocis conference update: Executive orders Advocis conference update: Overcoming insurance “urban legends” Advocis conference update: Advocis announces in-house E&O program Advocis conference update: Opportunity, professionalism buzzwords at opening session 3. Make it real simple. Thorne says that some advisors cut right to the chase and […]

By John Craig |June 1, 2004

4 min read

Industry

Advocis conference update: Membership drive main focus for new chair

(May 31, 2004) Freshly minted Advocis chair Randy Reynolds wasted no time in identifying his biggest challenge for the next year following the association’s annual general meeting in Calgary late Friday. “Right now, we represent the only voice for independent-minded financial advisors in Canada, yet we only have 16,000 members, and 16,000 members drive a […]

By John Craig |May 31, 2004

3 min read

Industry

Advocis conference update: Overcoming insurance

(May 28, 2004) Maybe it’s the story of the man who blew himself off his own toilet when he dropped a lit cigarette into its turpentine-saturated waters or perhaps it’s the tale of the couple whose car went missing and was returned a day later along with an appreciative note and some free concert tickets […]

By John Craig |May 28, 2004

4 min read

Industry

Advocis conference update: Opportunity, professionalism buzzwords at opening session

(May 27, 2004) The Advocis 2004 national conference officially kicked off in Calgary today, with one industry insider stressing the importance of striving for professionalism and highlighting opportunities that the informed advisor can capitalize on. “There’s a lot of uncertainty out there and there’s a lot of change in product and distribution, mergers and acquisitions […]

By John Craig |May 27, 2004

3 min read

Industry

To Clients/Prospects: The federal budget and your financial plan

(March 23, 2004) Demonstrate your added value and deepen your relationships with clients and prospects by sending them this customizable letter highlighting a few of the noteworthy measures from the 2004 federal budget. For a general budget overview story, please click here. Dear [Client/Prospect name here], As you are no doubt aware, Finance Minister Ralph […]

By John Craig |March 18, 2004

2 min read

Planning and Advice

Prospect generation: Survey shows seminars more appealing for female advisors

Survey finds advisors favour equities, trusts Prospecting: Your greatest single day-to-day challenge solved! Painless prospecting — Marketing through “advocacy” clients Prospect marketing is more likely among insurance specialists (40%) than brokers (18%) and financial planners (19%) Networking and alliances with referrals from colleagues or COIs is a more common strategy among those with 5 to […]

By John Craig |March 17, 2004

2 min read

Industry

CPP Investment Board chief discusses

The federal finance minister appoints directors from the nominating committee’s list after consulting the provincial finance ministers. Once a year, directors evaluate the effectiveness of the board of directors, including assessing that “there has been no inappropriate pressure brought to bear on the board, any director or management in the investment, procurement or recruitment decisions […]

By John Craig |March 11, 2004

3 min read