The Efficient Practice Transform and Optimize Your Financial Advisory Practice for Greater Profits Wiley Finance Series

As a profession, financial advisors have been very well educated on how to be a financial advisor, but the industry does a poor job of preparing financial advisors to be great business owners. This book presents the Profit-Driven Architecture, a visual way of viewing the operational structure of a financial practice.

• Provides a concrete way of understanding and improving the interrelationship of different parts of the operations of a financial practice firm
• Explains how to increase the efficiency, productivity, and profitability of the firm, recognizing the interrelationships with one another
• Reveals how to increase the capacity and value of the practice

Given an aging population of financial advisors and increased focus on succession planning, increasing the value of a financial practice is a key deliverable of efficiency and this book showcases the best ways to do so.

Introduction xi

Part One Management Efficiency

Chapter 1 The Efficient Management Philosophy 3

Communication Is Key 4

The Irony of Micromanaging 7

Delegate, Don’t Dominate 10

Summary 18

Chapter 2 Managing Resources 21

Efficiency versus Efficacy 21

Outsourcing 26

Downsizing 29

Managing Change: A Process of Inclusion 31

Summary 34

Chapter 3 Managing People and Communications 37

Step One: Pre-hire Preparation 37

Step Two: Background Information 38

Step Three: The Interview 39

Developing a Compensation Plan 40

Handling Confidential Information 45

Two Examples 46

The Holistic Approach 47

The Right Job Done by the Right People 53

Summary 56

Part Two Technology Efficiency

Chapter 4 Client Relationship Management 61

Leveraging Technology 61

Summary 71

Chapter 5 Other Software Issues 73

Evernote 73

Digital Note-Taking Tools 74

Tablets and Storage Solutions 75

Rebalancing Software 79

Summary 82

Chapter 6 Systems Integration 85

Software Integration and Communication 85

Protecting Client Data 88

Summary 91

Part Three Process Efficiency

Chapter 7 Building Procedures 95

Financial Plan Production Procedure 97

Flowcharts 100

Business Continuity Plans 102

Social Media Policies 105

Using Technology to Standardize Client Service Procedures 108

Summary 112

Chapter 8 Workflow Management Systems 115

Project Management Workflows 122

Workflow Systems: Efficient Methods for Tracking

Tasks in the Office 125

Summary 127

Part Four Design Efficiency

Chapter 9 Office Space Utilization 131

Creating a Paperless Office 132

Communications in the Office 135

Auditory and Visual Distractions 135

Outsourcing 138

Improving First Impressions 138

Feng Shui Tips for Your Business and Office 140

Summary 142

Chapter 10 Efficient Branding 145

Blue Ocean Strategy 145

Marketing Services 152

Efficient Websites 152

Summary 156

Afterword 159

Impact on Productivity, Profitability, Time Management, and Firm Capacity 161

Impact on Business Valuation 161

First Case Study 162

Second Case Study 165

About the Companion Website 171

About the Author 173

Index 175

David L. Lawrence, AIF®, has over thirty-six years of experience in leadership and management. He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War, having spent over 4 years on active duty as a non-commissioned officer, and later as a commissioned officer in the Naval Reserves. His service in two war zones, first in South Vietnam near the end of the Vietnam War, and later in the Middle East, provide a courageous backdrop to his leadership experiences. His compelling story of military leadership during a time of domestic political unrest is truly inspirational.

Following his military career, David used the GI Bill to send himself through 7 years of college. David then spent 18 years with a major financial planning firm as a Senior Financial Advisor, Training Manager and District Manager. He has also worked for two large independent financial planning and asset management companies in senior management positions. His responsibilities have included managing large numbers of employees as well as setting up employee hiring, training, evaluation and compensation systems. His background and experience in integrating technological systems with management needs has given him a unique perspective on the use of technology as a leadership tool.

David has spent the past several years writing and speaking. He founded EfficientPractice.com, a consulting company devoted to growth efficiency ­solutions for professional businesses and in the ­financial services industry. His speaking engagements have taken him all across the United States, Canada and the Far East.