4 Ways to Apply the 80/20 Rule to Your Financial Pursuits  

Created: February 5, 2023

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Description: The "80/20 rule" suggests 80% of an outcome is often the result of just 20% of the effort you put into it. In that spirit, this piece offers 4 financial best practices where the 80/20 rule applies. These include staying invested across varied markets, emphasizing asset allocation over stock-picking, having a basic financial plan to guide the way, and freezing your credit report to minimize financial fraud.

Financial & Identity Theft Quick Reference – U.S. Version (UPDATED)  

Created: February 5, 2023

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Description: UPDATED FROM SEPTEMBER 2018: Use this quick-reference to help U.S. clients and prospective clients combat financial fraud and identity theft. Design into a front-and-back flyer or poster for rapid reading or to complement the similar, longer report on the same subject.

Financial & Identity Theft Quick Reference – Canadian Version (UPDATED)  

Created: February 5, 2023

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Description: UPDATED FROM SEPTEMBER 2018: Use this quick-reference to help CANADIAN clients and prospective clients combat financial fraud and identity theft. Design into a front-and-back flyer or poster for rapid reading or to complement the similar, longer report on the same subject.

SPACS, NFTs, and Other Jungle Creatures  

Created: March 11, 2021

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Description: Use this 1,117-word report to describe some of the latest trading trends to clients and prospects, put the activity in the context of similar historical runs, and explain why long-term investors should avoid the excitement of short-term speculation.

Cryptocurrency: What’s It All About – Part 3  

Created: February 21, 2021

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Description: Share this three-part series on cryptocurrency (and related blockchain technology) with clients or prospects to describe the terminology, the risks and benefits of using it, and why trading in it is currently closer to speculating than investing. Part 1 covered understanding cryptocurrency. Part 2 covered the risks and benefits of earning/spending cryptocurrency. This part 3 explores trading in it. Share as a series of articles or videos, or combine all three into a single report.

Cryptocurrency: What’s It All About – Part 2  

Created: February 9, 2021

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Description: Share this three-part series on cryptocurrency (and related blockchain technology) with clients or prospects to describe the terminology, the risks and benefits of using it, and why trading in it is currently closer to speculating than investing. Part 1 covered understanding cryptocurrency. This part 2 covers the risks and benefits of earning/spending cryptocurrency. Part 3 will explore trading in it. Share as a series of articles or videos, or combine all three into a single report.

Cryptocurrency: What’s It All About – Part 1  

Created: January 27, 2021

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Description: Share this three-part series on cryptocurrency (and related blockchain technology) with clients or prospects to describe the terminology, the risks and benefits of using it, and why trading in it is currently closer to speculating than investing. This part 1 covers understanding cryptocurrency. Forthcoming parts cover the risks and benefits of earning/spending cryptocurrency (part 2), and trading in it (part 3). Share as a series of articles or videos, or combine all three into a single report.

How To Be Positively Skeptical | Part 2: Understanding Your Emotions  

Created: April 29, 2020

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Description: Use this second, 844-word installment of a 4-part series to help clients and prospects strengthen their ability to differentiate solid evidence from bogus claims, especially during the coronavirus crisis. Part 1 described why the ability to be "positively skeptical" is important. This part 2 covers how to recognize when emotions are interfering with reason (and what to do about it). Parts 3 & 4 will help readers hone in on their fact-checking skills.

How To Be Positively Skeptical | Part 1: The Benefits of Having a Doubt  

Created: February 27, 2020

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Description: Use this first, 600-word installment of a 4-part series to help clients and prospects strengthen their ability to differentiate solid evidence from bogus claims. Part 1 describes why the ability to be "positively skeptical" is important. Parts 2 - 4 will cover how to recognize when emotions are interfering with reason, and how to hone one's fact-checking skills.

Protecting Your Child from Identity Theft (US Version)   Free Sample (Click on title to download)

Created: September 24, 2018

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Description: Use this 600-word piece to alert clients and prospects to the growing threat of child identity theft: what it is, why it's happening, how parents can spot and prevent it, and what to do if it happens.

Protecting Your Child from Identity Theft (Canadian Version)   Free Sample (Click on title to download)

Created: September 24, 2018

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Description: Use this 600-word piece to alert clients and prospects to the growing threat of child identity theft: what it is, why it's happening, how parents can spot and prevent it, and what to do if it happens.

Equifax Breach Commentary  

Created: September 18, 2017

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Description: Use this 785-word client communication to comment on the recently announced Equifax security breach, offer guidance, and remind them of the timeless "Avoiding Financial Scams and Identity Theft Slams" materials you can share with them (also available in the Content-Sharing Library, under Technology). You may also wish to modify this piece to share with additional audiences.

Client Reach-Out on Microsoft Ransomware Alert  

Created: May 15, 2017

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Description: Use this 245-word email to reach out to clients and alert them to the current global Microsoft ransomware outbreak. The alert encourages them to install any outstanding Microsoft patches on their devices if they've not yet done so. It also references the new materials on financial fraud and identity theft just added to the Content-Sharing Library. These offer you additional ways to add value to your clients' financial well-being.

October Q3 2015 Client Letter (Google Hits vs. Long-Term Investing)  

Created: October 3, 2015

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Description: This 470-word article looks at how popular Google results, similar to other forms of headline news, may distract investors from their long-term strategy. It provides salient recent quotes on the importance of remaining disciplined during market uncertainty.

Reflections on Robo-Advice  

Created: April 22, 2015

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Description: This 1,200-word piece offers investors advice on how to assess the recent proliferation of robo-advisors -- differentiating the higher level of care available from dedicated human advisers, emphasizing the continued importance of an evidence-based investment strategy, and summarizing qualities to seek in any form of investment advice a family may be considering. Use the piece to inform clients or prospects or respond to their questions.

Heartbleed Security Reach-Out  

Created: April 10, 2014

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Description: This 280-word e-mail alerts your clients that you are aware of and following up on the Heartbleed Security bug announced this week and that you will be in touch promptly should they need to take any action at their end. A Mashable link is provided to help you inform your clients whether their specific account custodian appears to be affected by the breach. (Most of them appear not to be, since brokers/banks don't seem to be using OpenSSL where the breach occurred), The event also serves as a good reminder that they should routinely update their account passwords every 60-90 days.

April Q1 2014 Client Letter (Michael Lewis & HFT)  

Created: April 3, 2014

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Description: This 475-word client letter can be used as a cover letter to accompany your quarterly client reports or as a stand-alone communication. It addresses Michael Lewis' March 30th, 2014 "60 Minutes" discussion about his new book on high-frequency traders. The incident is a good lesson on why clients need to be aligned with a fiduciary advisor like you to look out for their interests in a market that is expected to reward patient investors, but that clearly has its dark side.

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