Plasma TV...$400. New leather chairs...$700. Positive first impression....priceless!

Commentary January 19, 2009 at 05:07 AM
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After much waiting, permits, and connection of utilities, I am finally in my new office. Even though the move was only next door, it took about 18 hours to complete. The new place is very, very nice. There's an executive office with French doors, a conference room, and a separate office where I'll keep my printers, fax machine, etc. There is also a full kitchen, a private bathroom, and a roomy reception area. The conference room is where I'll put my plasma TV. I'll use it to project from my laptop to the TV. Financial planning in hi def, now that's a novel idea.

I will also mount a 22-inch LCD TV on the wall in my office to give some presentations to clients, again from my computer. Eventually, I may mount another TV in the reception area, subscribe to a satellite provider and have CNBC playing. I currently subscribe to CNBC TV on my computer. I find it provides me with a great way to stay current with the financial markets.

Now that the move's behind me, I have another project on the near-term horizon. This project will help create a more definable competitive edge between myself and the competition.

The idea began years ago when I attended a presentation given by a fairly well known individual. He was very surprised that more advisors weren't employing this particular value added service. This service, as he described it, was to create a central location where clients' important documents could be stored. You might call it a "client binder." I've seen this in a three-ringed binder format with divider tabs for estate, taxes, etc. I've also seen an expensive box with the same type of dividers. I know there are a few Web-based services which provide this as well.

In any event, mine will be incorporated into a new Web site. Clients will have the ability to enter a secure portal using a specific password. They will be able to scan or upload any document for safe keeping. I will be able to post performance reports, portfolio analysis, review notices, etc. For example, when I post a performance report, an e-mail will be automatically sent to the client notifying them of that they have a report waiting. This new Web site will allow me to do much more and with greater efficiency than at present. It should be up and running within a few weeks.

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