Whitepapers

Marketing Methods: Planner Best Practices (PDF | 336KB)
FPA Research Center whitepaper, October 2010

This whitepaper identifies both common and uncommon marketing strategies and highlights the most successful methods.

Online Marketing Methods (PDF | 333KB)
FPA Research Center whitepaper, May 2009

A whitepaper from the FPA Research Center on online marketing methods utilized by planners.

Articles

Consumer Spending Provides Keys to Client Service (PDF | 521KB)
Research Spotlight, pages 1-5, Q3 2010

Discover how spending differs across income levels and how much retirees can expect to spend on healthcare and other expenses in retirement. Use these insights to help your clients set budgets, plan expenditures in retirement, better understand your prospective clients, and more.

National Survey Shows Access Levels, Participation Rates for Retirement Benefits (PDF | 521KB)
Research Spotlight, pages 6-7, Q3 2010

Learn about retirement plan participation - including who offers benefits and who participates in them. This information can help you target seminar presentations to appropriate groups and increase your understanding of what types of plans are most likely to be offered to your clients.

Communication Styles and Business Growth (PDF | 521KB)
Research Spotlight, pages 8-11, Q3 2010

In this article you will find key ways to leverage your client communications to help increase your client base. This article covers everything from how much time you should plan to spend each week to the content of the communication.

Where Consumers Turn for Financial Advice and Why (PDF | 891KB)
Research Spotlight, pages 4-6, Q2 2010

Learn more about where consumers turn for financial advice and how that varies for different demographics. Use this information to ensure consumers will find you when they are looking for advice.

Consumers Still Unsure About What Financial Planners Do (PDF | 891KB)
Research Spotlight, pages 4-6, Q2 2010

This article explores consumer perceptions about financial planning and financial planners. Did you know that 25 percent of consumers aged 18-24 don't know what financial planning is? Learn more about this and other consumer perceptions in this article.

Planners Like Blend of Traditional and Unconventional Marketing (PDF | 891KB)
Research Spotlight, pages 10-12, Q2 2010

How do fellow planners market their practice and what have they found to be most successful? Discover the answer to these questions and identify ways you can increase the success of your marketing in this article.

Looking For Leads? Try These Marketing Methods
Practice Management Solutions, May/June 2010

When it comes to generating leads, some marketing methods shine while others falter.

Attracting Your Ideal Client by Focusing on Topics of Interest (PDF | 385KB)
Research Spotlight, pages 1-3, Q1 2010

Learn about the financial planning topics that are most appealing to consumers in various investable asset categories. Then, use the members-only interactive marketing tool to craft a marketing plan and identify applicable resources on marketing or areas of expertise.

What Do Financial Planning Services Consumers Look Like Now? (PDF | 385KB)
Research Spotlight, pages 4-7, Q1 2010

Explore consumer confidence and likelihood to pursue professional financial planning services. This article demonstrates that consumers who work with a financial planner are more confident than those who do not and the types of consumers most likely to seek professional assistance.

Consumers and Financial Information: Media Usage by Net Worth (PDF | 737KB)
Research Spotlight, pages 14-16, Q4 2009

Have you ever wondered what your prospective clients are reading? This research will show you where your prospective clients may be getting their financial information by their net worth category.

Gaining and Maintaining Clients in Your Target Asset Category  (PDF | 1.5MB)
Research Spotlight, pages 10-13, Q3 2009

Discover differences in how individuals in different assets categories want to engage in the planning relationship. This article considers the preferred sources of financial information, primary financial goals, compensation models, and drivers to professional advice by consumer asset group. This information can help you more clearly define and target your ideal client.

Effectively Reaching High Net Worth Women (PDF | 1.5MB)
Research Spotlight, pages 6-7, Q3 2009

Discover characteristics of high net worth women that can help you more effectively reach this demographic with your marketing messages.

Making the Most of Your Time (PDF | 2MB)
Research Spotlight, pages 12-13, Q2 2009

Some time-saving methods for marketing to consumers and ways to maximize the impact of your marketing efforts.

Reaching New Clients (PDF | 2.7MB)
Research Spotlight, pages 8-9, Q1 2009

Some consumers have a stronger interest in pursuing professional financial planning than others. Learn how to identify and communicate with those individuals who intend to seek professional help with their finances.

Serving the Next Generation (PDF | 2.7MB)
Research Spotlight, pages 1-7, Q1 2009

Learn more about Generation X's financial behaviors, attitudes toward financial planning, goals, and ways to leverage this information to effectively communicate with prospective Gen X clients.

Making the Case (PDF | 1MB)
Research Spotlight, pages 6 & 12, Q4 2008

Discover key messages you can use to demonstrate the value of professional financial planning and a comprehensive financial plan to prospective clients.

Consumers and Financial Planning (PDF | 1.5MB)
Research Spotlight, pages 1-5, Q3 2008

Learn more from FPA's consumer research on how consumers perceive financial planning, what action(s) they are currently taking to manage their financial, and how they look for professional advice.

Defining the Consumer Market (PDF | 4.1MB)
Research Spotlight, pages 5-7, Q2 2008

This article examines segmentation methods by net worth and information on which advisers are currently serving various markets.