{"id":7029,"date":"2019-10-22T11:21:40","date_gmt":"2019-10-22T16:21:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.figmarketing.com\/blog\/?p=7029"},"modified":"2023-12-01T16:13:07","modified_gmt":"2023-12-01T21:13:07","slug":"12-easy-to-use-tech-tools-for-financial-professionals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.figmarketing.com\/blog\/12-easy-to-use-tech-tools-for-financial-professionals\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Easy-To-Use Tech Tools for Financial Professionals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>Updated on December 1, 2023, at 2:58 PM<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Independent financial professionals have complex jobs. In a single day, financial professionals could juggle between marketing, financial planning, website management, client meetings, and data gathering\u2014to name a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Luckily, technology and financial technology (fintech) have created solutions that make life easier, while satisfying the changing needs of your clientele. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To take full advantage of the tech boom happening in the industry right now, here are 12 easy-to-use tech tools for financial professionals to use in their day-to-day operations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. A powerful and mobile-friendly website.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We had to start somewhere, right? It should come as no surprise that you need to have a great website to thrive today. Well-designed websites can do wonders for a business. With a useful website, you\u2019ll increase your brand\u2019s visibility, make great first impressions, position yourself as the expert, and even collect valuable leads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Important features your website should have:<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Clearly answer \u201cwhat we do\u201d<\/li><li>Offer a responsive design for all devices<\/li><li>Create and communicate a compelling value proposition<\/li><li>Include calls-to-action on your homepage<\/li><li>A blog to publish new and fresh content <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. <strong>A social media automation tool.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019re not alone if you gave a\nslight eye roll after reading \u201csocial media,\u201d but the reality is it\u2019s an important\naspect for any business and it\u2019s here to stay. Social media channels have\nbecome valuable marketing tools for financial professionals who utilize them properly,\nbut they can be hard to manage when you\u2019re dealing with multiple posts per week\nacross various channels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Enter social media automation tools. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Stop wasting time and start getting the most out of your social media marketing by utilizing an automation tool like <a href=\"https:\/\/hootsuite.com\/\"><strong>Hootsuite<\/strong><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/buffer.com\/\"><strong>Buffer<\/strong><\/a>, or our personal favorite, <a href=\"https:\/\/sproutsocial.com\"><strong>Sprout Social<\/strong><\/a>. These tools make scheduling your posts a breeze and deliver valuable insights and analytics so you can learn what\u2019s working and what\u2019s not, adjusting your strategy as you learn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.figmarketing.com\/blog\/7-tips-for-protecting-client-information-infographic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"7 Tips for Protecting Client Information [Infographic] (opens in a new tab)\">7 Tips for Protecting Client Information [Infographic]<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. <strong>Email marketing automation.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019re running a successful business. You don\u2019t have time to send emails all day. That\u2019s where an email marketing automation software with autoresponder comes in. With an email service like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.constantcontact.com\/index.jsp\"><strong>Constant Contact<\/strong><\/a>, you can better market your business by using valuable content to engage existing clients and prospects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can regularly send new whitepapers, newsletters, event invites, and more to get your audience engaged with your brand. For example, you can nurture leads captured on your website by creating a sequence of emails\u2014or workflow\u2014packed with valuable content to help convert them to clients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Here\u2019s an example of a potential email autoresponder workflow:<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Day 1: <\/strong>Someone opts into your mailing list, and you send them an email introducing yourself and your business, along with the content they were promised in your lead capture form.<br><strong>Day 4: <\/strong>Send them a new piece of related content, such as a client guide or a new blog post.<br><strong>Day 9: <\/strong>You send an email inviting the recipient to your next seminar or event and include a guide or whitepaper related to the event\u2019s topic.<br><strong>Day 12: <\/strong>Check back in and include a new piece of relevant content.<br><strong>Day 16: <\/strong>This final email could include a \u201cwhy us\u201d piece of content and urge them to set an appointment for a complimentary financial review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. <strong>Cloud-based back-up, storage, and transfer system.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A.K.A. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/?landing=dbv2\"><strong>Dropbox<\/strong><\/a> or a similar service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These online services allow you to store and share your important business documents in the cloud, bringing all your business files into one easy-to-use interface. With continuous upgrades in accessibility and security, cloud-based storage systems have improved financial professionals\u2019 efficiency by allowing you and your clients to easily access and share important information from anywhere in the world.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These easy-to-use platforms are great for your business needs and deliver a value-add for busy clients, or for those who prefer access to their documents. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5. Paladin Research and Registry.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paladinregistry.com\/\"><strong>Paladin Research and Registry<\/strong><\/a><strong> <\/strong>is an investor watch dog organization who has an online directory to match people seeking financial planning to a financial planner. It\u2019s free for consumers, but as a financial professional, you\u2019ll have to pay a small fee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Here\u2019s how it works:<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>You\u2019ll work with Paladin to vet your background<\/li><li>They\u2019ll document your credentials, business practices, and ethics<\/li><li>Once you\u2019ve passed the screening, you\u2019ll be placed in their registry, boosting your professional profile<\/li><li>Then, people using the service will be able to find you using the directory service<\/li><li>OR, people can use their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.paladinregistry.com\/landing\/find-financial-advisors\"><strong>Financial Advisor Match Service<\/strong><\/a><strong> <\/strong>that\u2019ll use an algorithm to match you with prospective clients<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you receive a match, you\u2019ll contact the prospect to conduct a simple pre-interview. If they like your offerings and service, they\u2019ll select you for another in-depth interview. From there, the rest may just be history\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.figmarketing.com\/blog\/why-financial-professionals-and-fintech-can-thrive-together-infographic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Why Financial Professionals and Fintech Can Thrive Together (opens in a new tab)\">Why Financial Professionals and Fintech Can Thrive Together<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. <strong>The NestEgg Estimator.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A $0.99 Google app, the <a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.jennitron.nestegg&amp;feature=search_result\"><strong>NestEgg Estimator<\/strong><\/a><strong> <\/strong>is a user-friendly app that packs a ton of great planning features for you and your clients alike. You can put in as much or as little information as you\u2019d like to get the financial picture you\u2019re looking for, and the app also allows you to play out different scenarios such as job loss, spending, and expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Here are just a few things you can do with the NestEgg Estimator:<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>View year-by-year financial simulations of income, expenses, assets, taxes, and debt<\/li><li>View year-by-year breakdown of expenses<\/li><li>Calculate savings at retirement<\/li><li>Determine if clients will outlive their savings<\/li><li>Maximize their 401(k), IRA, or Roth contributions<\/li><li>Customize income, expenses, assets by time horizon, change rate, and taxable status <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. <strong>iPad or Android tablet.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Prospects and clients want their financial planners to embrace the latest tech offerings to assist in their planning. And carrying a tablet to your meetings will give you that preferable tech-savvy impression. Purchasing a \u201cprofessional tablet\u201d to use around the office and in meetings will make life easier on-the-go. In fact, you can basically run your entire office through a<strong> <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/surface\"><strong>Microsoft Surface<\/strong><\/a><strong> <\/strong>or<strong> <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/ipad-pro\/\"><strong>iPad Pro<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Using a tablet not only conveys you\u2019re on\ntop of your tech, but it also makes sharing information easier during meetings.\nThe large display screens make for an excellent presentation tool, and their\nlightweight build leaves your laptop feeling like a dumbbell. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can even opt for LTC connectivity, so you won\u2019t have to worry about finding a Wi-Fi connection to get your points across.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. <strong>Precise FP.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Tired of gathering data on your clients and prospects, wasting precious hours each year? So were the founders behind<strong> <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/precisefp.com\/\"><strong>Precise FP<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With Precise FP, you can outsource your tedious data-gathering by utilizing their interactive and user-friendly experience. Your clients and prospects can input their information and attach any appropriate materials, and <em>voil\u00e0\u2014<\/em>their information is aggregated into consistent, visually-appealing forms to use in your planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Here\u2019s how it works:<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>Customize your data-gathering templates to your preferences<\/li><li>Add your client and prospects accounts<\/li><li>Engage your clients and prospects in one click<\/li><li>Review and export data to your CRM or financial planning tool<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9. <strong>Online meeting scheduler.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As fun as phone tag may be (it\u2019s not), online schedulers are an easy way to eliminate the frustrating back-and-forth that can come with client meetings. Easily inserted into your webpage or email footer, online schedulers like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timetrade.com\/\"><strong>TimeTrade<\/strong><\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/calendly.com\/\"><strong>Calendly<\/strong><\/a> allow your clients and prospects to schedule a meeting time with you without all the back-and-forth phone calls or emails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not to mention, the scheduler will automatically adjust your calendar when an appointment is made. So, if you get an appointment for 1:00 PM, it\u2019ll automatically block off the time slot for future appointments, eliminating the possibility of the dreaded \u201cdouble book.\u201d You can eliminate a lot of unneeded headaches by using an online scheduler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.figmarketing.com\/blog\/what-disruption-in-tech-means-for-the-financial-professional\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"What Disruption in Tech Means for Financial Professionals (opens in a new tab)\">What Disruption in Tech Means for Financial Professionals<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">10. Virtual meeting support.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your client demographic is only\ngoing to get younger. Because of that, it\u2019s important to accommodate virtual\nmeetings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The days of clients walking into your office to sit down are dwindling, becoming less popular among millennials and other younger generations. Video conferencing tools like Zoom or Skype are user-friendly and provide free ways to effectively communicate with clients and prospects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All you\u2019ll need is a computer or mobile device with a good camera, a quiet place to hold your virtual meeting, and an account with whichever service you choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">11. Google Alerts.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Whatever your professional interests, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/alerts\"><strong>Google Alerts<\/strong><\/a><strong> <\/strong>is the perfect tool to keep up-to-date on all the latest industry happenings. Google Alerts provides a simple way to set up alerts for keywords, so you can get a daily recap of media mentions online. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can get alert for industry terms like annuities or life insurance; as well as alerts for your name or business name. With Google Alerts, you\u2019ll always be aware of what\u2019s going on in the industry\u2014and who\u2019s talking about your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>12. A robust customer relationship management (CRM) software.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>No matter the industry, every professional\nwho works with people should have a solid CRM system that goes far and beyond\nstoring their clients\u2019 information. Independent financial professionals are no\ndifferent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With a robust CRM, you can build files, generate task and appointment reminders, record meeting details, check in on your pipeline, and more. If you\u2019re looking for a better CRM experience, check out our Force CRM in the<strong> <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/portal.figmarketing.com\"><strong>FIG Agent Portal<\/strong><\/a>. It\u2019s a new way to do business and connects seamlessly with all things FIG.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What you get with Force CRM:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Record and track all client and account information<\/li><li>Built-in marketing tracker for prospecting, mentoring, and client engagement<\/li><li>Track prospects, goals, and more in a visually appealing pipeline<\/li><li>Access from any mobile device<\/li><li>Unlimited file storage and real-time data feeds<\/li><li>And more!<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>With Force, you can manage your entire office in one easy-to-use interface.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In a Nutshell\u2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether it\u2019s embraced or not, technology is redefining the way independent financial professionals do their jobs each day. By finding and utilizing the tools that provide value to your clients and your business, you\u2019ll build better relationships and maximize your firm\u2019s bottom line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Keep Reading: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.figmarketing.com\/blog\/the-future-that-is-now-the-impact-of-technology-aging-economic-disparity\/\">The Future That is Now: The Impact of Technology, Aging, &amp; Economic Disparity<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.figmarketing.com\/#!\/Landing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"152\" src=\"https:\/\/www.figmarketing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/FIG-Logo-Red-Triangle.png\" alt=\"financial independence group logo\" class=\"wp-image-8736\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><em>For Financial Professional and Internal Use Only \u2013 Not for Customer Use<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>This article is for educational purposes only. Financial Independence Group, LLC and its affiliates cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any third-party software or technology. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Updated on December 1, 2023, at 2:58 PM Independent financial professionals have complex jobs. In a single day, financial professionals could juggle between marketing, financial planning, website management, client meetings, and data&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":57,"featured_media":13356,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[364],"tags":[250,345,350,413,117],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.figmarketing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7029"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.figmarketing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.figmarketing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.figmarketing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/57"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.figmarketing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7029"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.figmarketing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7029\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13359,"href":"https:\/\/www.figmarketing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7029\/revisions\/13359"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.figmarketing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13356"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.figmarketing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7029"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.figmarketing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7029"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.figmarketing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7029"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}