Consulting Services -- The Advantage of Experts

Enhance your business with comprehensive training programs, coaching, tools, and curriculum from Securities America. Called a "vanguard in practice management" by Cerulli Associates In their 1Q08 Newsletter,  Securities America's proven programs and services provide you with ideas, solutions, and consultations that will help you manage a more effective, profitable and satisfying practice.

Consulting services typically include follow-up coaching, teleconferencing and online dialogue. All of our consulting programs include a confidential analysis of your business, and each is designed to provide customized, personal advice and coaching on how to better organize and manage your business to meet your specific goals. Recommendations and tools are then presented to help you maximize your business' efficiency and productivity.

• Custom On-Site Consulting -- Our on-site consulting service provides you with an expert to help you assess your business through a detailed, comprehensive, personalized process which includes:
  • Extensive, targeted discovery analysis including team assessments, plus representative and staff interviews.
  • One to three days of on-site consultation with your business' key team members.
  • One-on-one coaching via teleconference, working personally with you and staff who are critical to your business' success.
  • Recommendations delivered in the form of an action checklist with tools and resources to help you implement changes.
  • Up to 10 months of suport including consulting, coaching and other personalized suppport.
  • Coaching for you and your staff to best manage the change process.
    
    
• On-Site Technology Consulting -- You can take advantage of our Tech Check-Ups to know if you're making the most of the technology tools available to you. A Tech Check-Up involves a half-day or a full-day visit to your office where we perform a full analysis of your technology systems and how you use them. We provide on-site training and coaching on how to best apply Securities America's e*Office technology resources alongside your other applications. Then, a written customized action-item list is provided and our technology consultants remain available for post-visit coaching.
  
  
• Individual and Team Assessments -- Three core components of an effective and efficient office are communication, collaboration and decision making. Our certified coaches will administer, interpret and coach you and your team based on the ProScan© and TeamScan© assessments. These are non-threatening, quick, easy and effective survey tools designed to produce reliable results to accurately assess each staff member's basic and preferred work styles.

AdvisorPod.com website -- Easy-to-Implement Information

This dynamic website provides both actionable advice on how to run a more effective and efficient practice, as well as insight into the business practices of the industry's elite financial advisors.

Provided in easily-digestible audio tracks of 10 minutes or less, each podcast features a downloadable tool to help you implement the ideas, strategies and tactices presented. Register, listen and download today!

Securities America provides a number of publications to help you manage your office efficiently and effectively. Each of these publications provides detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to manage a successful financial services business.

• Business Mastery Series -- A library of practical workbooks covering all parts of running a successful business, the Business Mastery Series will help you step to a higher level of efficiency and productivity. The workbooks are designed with the busy office in mind, and are concise and written for implementation. The library includes popular topics like time management, getting the most out of coaching, turning vision into reality, mining for referrals and workflow analysis.
  
  
• Hiring to Grow - A Practical Workbook -- The title says it all! Perform detailed analysis, learn about compensation structures, better understand various legal parameters and issues, create job descriptions, and the hiring process. This book takes you through all of the steps from finding and hiring the best talent, to the first day on the job for your new employees.
  
  
• Managing for Performance - The Cycle of Success -- The performance management cycle creates awareness and accountability within your team. We'll show you how to lower employee turnover, increase employee satisfaction, reduce work stress, speed decision making, heighten client satisfaction and much more! Worksheets, sample forms and helpful articles give you everything you need to mobilize your staff and translate your business strategies into action!
  
  
• Prosper Newsletter -- Each issue of this practice management newsletter focuses on specific topics to improve your practice. It includes articles and a practical activity or tool that you can implement. This electronic newsletter is a great tool for office improvement and is often used as material for discussion during office staff meetings and training.

Professional Development -- Being Your Best

Take advantage of the wide variety of learning and growth opportunities presented throughout the year and across the country.

• National Conference -- A highlight on the calendar every year, the Securities America National Conference brings together representatives from around the nation, key Securities America home office staff and top industry leaders, speakers and presenters. From advanced concepts to hands-on, in-depth training, these three days of valuable workshops cover practice management, marketing, financial planning, investments, technology and compliance. The National Conference is hosted in a variety of exciting locations around the country and is your opportunity to network with peers and share best practices with other top producers. As a bonus, you will be able to earn valuable continuing education credits and state insurance credits through the presentations.
  
  
  
  
  
• Professional Associate University -- Effective office support staff is important to any successful business. Professional Associate University is a two-day workshop for assistants and support staff. Both new and experienced assistants and staff will enhance their skills in marketing, technology, compliance, office efficiency, client service and much more.
  
  
• Business Development Conferences -- Hosted regionally for your convenience, these conferences provide an opportunity to learn about and view Securities America's latest innovations in business growth resources available to you. These two-day events feature advanced sessions on foundational topics like securing your practice and expanding your product knowledge, along with the latest industry practice management knowledge.
  
  
  
  
  
• Masters Forum -- This meeting, held in luxurious locations nationwide, brings together highly successful Securities America representatives. Advanced concept presentations, peer-to-peer discussion groups and dialogue with executive leadership help our representatives share their experiences, insights and expertise. 
  
  
• Peer Learning Groups -- At each conference, our practice management professionals facilitate advisor peer-learning opportunities where we bring together successful representatives to participate in a structured expert study group. The groups are committed to helping members better manage their businesses and serve their clients with peer input.
  
  
• Group Coaching Opportunities -- To meet your needs for coaching and knowledge in a specific area of business, Securities America provides a number of group coaching opportunities where you can network with other successful advisors within the framework of a topic-specific coaching program. Current programs include:
  
  • JumpStart Marketing Coaching
  • Maximize the Value of Your Practice
  • Growth Through Acquisition
  • Branch Leader Training
  These programs typically consist of six webcasts with session-specific homework and one-on-one coaching calls.
  
  
• Your EduCenter and Online Resources -- We know the value of productive, proficient associates, and we understand the time and resources required to help new associates in your office learn industry and firm policies, procedures, rules and regulations. In Securities America's EduCenter we have assembled an exhaustive curriculum that's structured to meet your unique needs at every stage of your career, and lets you focus your training on knowledge and skills specific to your office.
  
  You can also take advantage of our ever-growing library of pre-recorded sessions on technology best practices. These professionally created web sessions are available 24/7 for your convenience, and the list of courses continues to grow as the resources we provide evolve to meet your needs.
  
  The interactive e*Certification program is specifically designed for assistants. QuickCards guide you through our technology applications and procedures. The Financial Training Library includes wealth management and sales and product webcasts. Our Learning Management System delivers and tracks your Firm Element Continuing Education requirements. The PC Support Center is an online resource for all of your technology needs. And the Training Calendar is an interactive source for all live training webcasts and conference calls held weekly and open to advisors and their staff free of charge.
  
  Much like your business itself, Securities America's Practice Management Department is continually evolving to enhance current products and services, as well as introduce innovations in the industry.
  
  
• Assistant Fast Track -- As you hire new assistants, you can submit a form to our Transition Team and a one-on-one training schedule is built for the new assistant. That way, you can focus on your business while Securities America works to get your new staff up to speed quickly.
   
• HR Advantage -- Developed by Securities America specifically for our representatives, this program saves you valuable time and helps you avoid the enormous costs associated with a bad hire or rapid employee turnover. The program includes written and placed newspaper and online help-wanted advertisements, resume screening, applicant pre-screening through his or her initial interview, and assessments. The top applicants are identified for on-site interviews by the advisor. The program also includes applicant background checks. Our award-winning Hiring to Grow workbook is provided to help guide you through the entire process of hiring the right staff to grow your practice.
  
  
• Client Surveys -- Your clients can offer a wealth of information to help you expand your business -- if you can find time to ask! Conducting a client survey has never been easier than with Securities America's support and our strategic partnerships with industry-leading turn-key client survey and analysis systems. You can learn from your clients what they value in your relationship and what services they want and need. You can also learn which clients are willing to make those ultra-valuable referrals, and are able to seek your clients' feedback on marketing and desired services before you embark on new initiatives.
  
  
• Assistant Certification -- Our Assistant Certification program includes 12 web-based training modules for assistants via the EduCenter. Each module concludes with a certification quiz on the material presented. Assistants also have access to a Tutor Line to call for advice and help on the materials they're studying. 
  
  
• Assistant Advisory Board -- The Assistant Advisory Board generates front-line feedback on a wide variety of company issues, policies, procedures, services and quality while also providing insight on industry issues and trends. Comprised of professional assistants, the Board contributes a day-to-day front-line operational perspective to Securities America's strategies and a client-side audit function for our activities.
  
  
• Practice Acquisition, Continuity and Succession Planning -- Through in-house experts, a unique relationship with FP Transitions and the support of our parent firm Ameriprise Financial, Securities America is an industry leader in financial representative practice acquisition, continuity and succession planning.
  
  We will actively help you identify acquisition opportunities, coach buyers and sellers through the various stages of the sale or acquisition process, provide sample agreements and client communication pieces, and coach advisors through their continuity planning needs.
  
  When the time comes to retire, we can help you seek out potential buyers and then facilitate the entire re-assignment and client integration process.
  
  We have two hands-on coaching programs designed to help our advisors prepare for either a practice acquisition or prepare for his or her own succession. Securities America can also provide financial assistance under certain circumstances to help you acquire a practice.
  
  
• The Star Newsletter -- Securities America’s bi-monthly newsletter The Star goes to all our representatives, covering a full range of topics from practical marketing ideas to explaining the latest product innovation. We discuss new compliance guidelines and share ideas on practice management. And, of course, we also introduce new services, products and technological innovations. You'll find yourself reading and referring back to the Star Newsletter again and again.
  
  
  
  
  
• Monthly Perspectives Interviews -- Our monthly educational audio series focuses on business development ideas and features interviews with top producers and industry experts. Advisors using Securities America Advisor's fee-based programs receive this monthly interview series at no charge. Additionally, the entire audio library is online and available to download to your computer, iPod or other portable MP3 player.
  
  
• Practice Management Guides -- We have a large variety of guides that provide step-by-step instructions on the "how-tos" of managing a successful financial services practice. Just a sampling of the topics include:
  
  • Hiring to Grow - A Practical Workbook
  • Managing for Performance - The Cycle of Success
  • Daily Office Guide
  • Business Planning Guide
  • Seminar & Event Planning Guide
  • New Assistant Orientation Guide
  • Succession & Continuity of Practice
  
  
  
  
• Practice Management Tools -- We’re continually adding to the library of worksheets, reports and surveys designed to help you improve efficiency and productivity. Some of these tools include:
  • Practice Assessments
  • Building Client Trust Worksheet
  • Activity Management Report
  • How to Survey Clients
  • Financial Profile Worksheet
  • Business Contingencies - Problems, Prevention & Recovery