Let’s say that five years ago, you developed an investment strategy and built an algorithm to execute it. Since then, your robo-adviser has managed several client accounts using that algorithm. Much to your delight, the strategy weathered the ups and downs of the market and to date, has produced very favorable returns. Now, you want
You’re ready to advertise. You know the basics, you can handle the complexities of including past specific recommendations, and even understand how to appropriately include client testimonials. Let the advertising campaign commence! Well, not so fast. Even if you’ve successfully managed all of the potential pitfalls we’ve discussed so far, you must
For businesses of all types, posting positive reviews can be one of the most powerful means of attracting new customers. Before individuals hire a company for a job, they want to know that others before them have had a good experience, and companies that have failed to get a sufficient number of good reviews are
You want to attract clients. You need to advertise to attract clients. You might think that a great way to attract new clients is to advertise how past recommendations or security selections have worked for current clients. You may want to explain on your website or app how your model works by giving examples of
The investment advisory industry is extremely competitive. And while robo-advisory firms often are able to set themselves apart from the industry as a whole, attracting clients still remains a foundational aspect of their business.
Last time, Josh discussed building a strong referral base. This week, I want to kick off a series of posts
The saying goes, referrals are the lifeblood of any business. Indeed, all business owners, robo-advisory firms included, strive to provide a level of value and service to their customers such that those customers in turn become advocates and solicitors of the business. Unfortunately, word of mouth referrals alone are not usually enough. Your firm may
If you’re a robo-adviser, chances are you want to create a fully “digital” experience for clients that doesn’t involve sending paper documents. For example, you may want to email clients or communicate with them directly through your firm’s online platform. If you’re going to ditch the paper, the SEC expects you to follow its guidance
So, you’ve decided to launch a robo-advisory firm? Understandably, your first considerations are likely tied to the functionality of your product. Perhaps the final testing of your algorithm is complete, and your attention has turned to how clients will use your product. What will your client interface look like? How will client information be collected?
Even though your firm may be registered with the SEC, a state can impose licensing requirements on individuals associated with your firm who (i) have a “place of business” within the state and (ii) fall within the state’s definition of “investment adviser representative” (or “IA Rep”). These requirements should be met before any individuals begin
No matter what form of investment advisory firm you have, completing Form ADV is a necessity. As a reminder, Form ADV is the form used by investment advisers to register with both the SEC and state securities regulators (see our June 12, 2019 post for more detail). Today’s post deals with the particularities