Page 33 - Investment Advisor September 2021

BNY Mellon’s Pershing’s piled a holiday-giving guide showcasing the work and missions
Next Leadership Forum of several local organizations for interested donors. Each quar-
is a two-year personal and professional development program ter, AM’s client newsletter includes an interview with a non-
for rising leaders at Pershing’s client firms that successfully profit to share its current capital campaigns, mission drives
elevates and equips next generation leaders in the financial and projects.
services industry. It was developed for the next gen, by the
next gen. The mission is to create a community of like-minded Ed Slott and Co., dubbed
leaders and give the next generation a voice in their firms and “America’s IRA experts,” has
the industry. Rising leaders are nominated by Pershing or their been quick to pivot to provide
firms to participate at no cost to attract the most diverse can- the latest on how to navigate the pandemic as well as legisla-
didates. Due to COVID-19, the program pivoted to virtual tion — namely the Secure Act and CARES Act — that have
delivery to ensure the community’s momentum. upended long-standing retirement rules over the last two
years. During the pandemic, the firm launched its 2-Day IRA
Carver Financial Services’ goal is Workshop for professionals in a state-of-the-art virtual for-
to be one of the highest educated mat. In April, the company collaborated with The American
independent offices within College of Financial Services to modularize its popular 2-Day
Raymond James. The firm created the Elite Wealth Advisors IRA Workshop and create “IRA Success” with the college’s
Symposium to support students and provide financial assis- on-demand education capabilities.
tance with undergraduate degrees. Associates are encouraged
to pursue advanced certifications and given dedicated time, FiComm Partners in 2020 launched Advisor
mentoring, and accountability to help them achieve their goals. Education, a series of workshops designed for the
Team members develop a career vision plan and determine modern advisor with a focus on implementing a
what certifications they need to get there. Each team member video-first approach across the client experience,
is provided mentoring and the opportunity to review their launching a podcast, and all things digital market-
goals, set benchmarks and stay accountable. Weekly meetings ing. In addition to launching Advisor Education, the firm also
encourage advisors and associates to share their knowledge. introduced The New Skool podcast in September 2020 to show
advisors real case examples of how leading with authenticity
NaviPlan, a company that provides and taking a digital first approach are not just aspirational or
financial planning software, created utopic constructs, but ones that actually drive business out-
how-to guides for advisors on engag- comes. FiComm launched these initiatives to provide examples
ing virtually with clients and growing their practice in the and actionable steps to create change within the industry.
pandemic environment. The firm offered advisors access to
more than 500 pieces of content and marketing materials in its The Financial Planning Association, in
Advisor Briefcase collection. It also delivered educational response to students losing internships
content for advisors on its blog and published two e-books to because of the pandemic, created the FPA
help transition advisors to remote work and advise on the Virtual Externship. This program wel-
importance of solid practice management. NaviPlan also pub- comed more than 1,100 active students for an experience where
lished a series of articles surrounding financial planning and students worked for many different firms, instead of just one.
the pandemic and made its client portal free to advisors in This program introduced the industry to people who would
light of the pandemic. have never had the opportunity to see what a career in financial
planning would look like. Stay-at-home parents, students who
could not afford an internship, career changers and those new
FIRMS – PARTNERSHIPS AND CONSULTING to the profession were able to engage in a learning experience
that gave them insights into a financial planning career.
Arnerich Massena, an advi-
sory firm, in the past 12 RDCL + FlexShares ETFs have partnered to help
months has provided phil- advisors stay ahead of business and cultural
anthropic educational resources to clients that highlight the trends with a research-based thought leader-
work being done by nonprofits in the community during a time ship program on topics such as changing gender norms among
of historic need. Philanthropic advisor Katherine Fox inter- HNW consumers, issues of psychological stress and wellness
viewed individuals at nonprofits, spotlighting their work, and among advisors, and the implementation of diversity, equity
included the articles in AM’s wealth management newsletter, and inclusion initiatives. RDCL is a social science-based
on its blog and on social media. In November, the firm com- research firm dedicated to the most forward-thinking financial

SEPTEMBER 2021 INVESTMENT ADVISOR 31