Category: Brandpoint Business & Finance

2023-09-13T14:07:00

(BPT) – With the boom in retail trading over the last few years, one area may be new to a lot of investors: investing in an Initial Public Offering (IPO). IPOs have been fairly scarce the last several years and traditionally have not been available for everyday investors, so many may not know what is involved in investing in them.

Here are things every investor should know about investing in IPOs:

What is an IPO?

An IPO, or initial public offering, refers to privately owned companies selling shares of the business to the general public for the first time. Companies choose to do this for a mix of reasons, including to boost a company’s profile, bring prestige to the management team, and raise cash that can be used for expanding the business.

Once a company has completed their IPO, their company will trade company shares on a stock exchange for any investor to invest in, and the stock price will be subject to market forces driving it up or down.

Deciding if an IPO Investment Is Right For You

If you have the option to invest in an IPO, you should do so only after having conducted your own due diligence and considering whether or not this fits in your investment strategy. The SEC states that “being well informed is critical in deciding whether to invest. Therefore, it is important to review the prospectus and ask questions when researching an IPO.”

SoFi, for instance, offers robust educational resources available to any investors to better understand different investment vehicles, including IPO investing, and how you can best determine your personal investment strategy.

Understanding IPO Investing vs. Buying Shares on Listing Day

The IPO price is the price at which shares of a company are set before they are sold on a stock exchange. As soon as markets open and the stock is actively traded, that price begins to go up or down depending on consumer demand, which is known as the opening price.

Investing in an IPO means you are buying in at the IPO price versus buying the opening price or any other price the day or days after the stock debuts on a stock exchange.

Indication of Interest & Share Allocation

If you are interested in IPO investing, you will have to go through a few steps before being able to buy into the pre-listing price. When a company is preparing their IPO, there will be an indication of interest period for investors where you will request the number of shares you would like to buy. An indication of interest is similar to making a reservation – you are holding your place in line and will be contacted by the brokerage firm you invest with to confirm your intent once the deal is live and firm orders can be received.

Oftentimes there is a lot of pent-up interest to invest in private companies, so usually you may receive fewer shares than you originally requested, and depending on that level of interest, the IPO price per share could go up or down.

Either way, once your allocation has been made, your brokerage firm will communicate how many shares you will receive and what the final price per share will be to ensure you’d still like to purchase the shares you requested before executing any trades.

Where to Invest in IPOs

Traditionally, IPOs have been primarily for institutional investors and high-net worth individuals, but increasingly companies are considering everyday investors a part of their IPO strategy and setting aside shares to be allocated to these traders.

SoFi Invest¹ offers IPO trading² to those with SoFi Active Invest accounts, and there are no account minimums required to participate plus no commissions or fees on IPO trades. As a SoFi Invest member, you simply need to view your Invest account, look to see what IPOs are available and answer a few questions to see if this investment is right for you. From there, you only need to indicate how many shares you’re interested in and keep an eye out for updates and alerts on your share allocation.

Learn more about SoFi IPO and see what IPOs may be available to invest in here: https://www.sofi.com/invest/ipo-investing/

DISCLOSURES

1. SoFi Invest refers to the three investment and trading platforms operated by Social Finance, Inc. and its affiliates (described below). Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of the platforms below.

1) Automated Investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“SoFi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC.

2) Active Investing and brokerage services are provided by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA(www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org). Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.

3) SoFi Crypto is offered by SoFi Digital Assets, LLC, a FinCEN registered Money Service Business.

For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above, including state licensure of SoFi Digital Assets, LLC, please visit SoFi.com/legal.

Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform. Information related to lending products contained herein should not be construed as an offer or pre-qualification for any loan product offered by SoFi Bank, N.A.

2. Investing in an Initial Public Offering (IPO) involves substantial risk, including the risk of loss. Further, there are a variety of risk factors to consider when investing in an IPO, including but not limited to, unproven management, significant debt, and lack of operating history. For a comprehensive discussion of these risks please refer to SoFi Securities’ IPO Risk Disclosure Statement. This should not be considered a recommendation to participate in IPOs and investors should carefully read the offering prospectus to determine whether an offering is consistent with their investment objectives, risk tolerance, and financial situation. New offerings generally have high demand and there are a limited number of shares available for distribution to participants. Many customers may not be allocated shares and share allocations may be significantly smaller than the shares requested in the customer’s initial offer (Indication of Interest). For more information on the allocation process please visit IPO Allocation.

Please review the Customer Relationship Summary (Form CRS) which contains important information about the product, services, fees, and conflicts of interest of SoFi Securities LLC.

2023-08-24T11:01:00

(BPT) – Back-to-school season is right around the corner and with that comes more hectic schedules and opportunities for things to go awry. We chatted with Latroy Tillery, who knows the struggle of keeping everything on track with your family while managing his own business. “Being a dad of 3 kids, I know how busy schedules can make it difficult to manage not only your kids’ plans, but also your own. I wanted to share my favorite tips that my family has implemented to help make the back-to-school season easier for parents to have more energy and money in their wallets.” Latroy and his wife Nicole are parents to twins in first grade and have a new baby at home, meaning they have plenty of know-how in regard to saving energy and how to stretch a dollar. Check out Latroy’s five tips and tricks to surviving back-to-school season, below:

1. To stay on top of not only after-school activities, but also school concerts, parent-teacher meetings, field trips and more, we recommend making a family calendar and assigning a color to each family member. Yes, a real, tangible calendar! Mom’s events can be in red, for example, and each kid can choose their favorite color. Write down every important activity that you do not want to miss and hang it somewhere you are always looking, such as the fridge. This way you will never forget an event and will always be mindful of keeping it up to date. This is a great time and energy saver because you don’t have to compare multiple calendars. With just one look you can easily see what each family member has planned for the day.

2. With school picking up, so do activities such as clubs, sports practice and other extracurriculars. Parents will be happy to save money on gas by downloading the Exxon Mobil Rewards+ app and using it for each fuel purchase. Each time you fill up using the Exxon Mobil Rewards+ program, you earn points towards savings. Members can earn points on every gallon and snacks in the convenience store which you can redeem on fuel and snacks on future purchases. Plus, frequent users of Synergy Supreme+ premium gasoline get extra points§ when they fill up while getting the benefit of better mileage.*

3. “One thing that always seems to go wrong at my house is losing important papers for my kids,” Latroy explained. To help fight this, create an important paper spot in your home, such as a paper tray by their backpacks. This will make kids’ lives easier by knowing exactly where to put their important papers for their parent’s review and help parents save energy by not rummaging through their children’s backpacks each night.

4. Before the school year starts, practice your morning routine with the whole family. It is important to understand how your kids, pets and even you will function in the morning and how much time you have to get everything done and organized before everyone needs to be out of the house. Choosing a morning for a practice routine will help get kids’ sleep schedules fixed before the school year picks up and save parents’ energy in the morning once school starts knowing each child is set up for success.

5. Meal prepping is more important than ever when school starts back up. Planning for kids’ lunches, your own lunch, dinner and breakfast for everyone can help save you time in the long run and help you make healthier choices for your family. If you plan everyone’s meals once a week and make your grocery list comprehensive, you save time and energy by not constantly running out to grab food at the last minute. It also helps you save money by being conscious of what your family has readily available in your fridge to eat at a given time.

These are just some ideas to get you and your family back in the swing of things for the back-to-school season. To learn more about Exxon and Mobil Synergy Supreme+ premium gasoline, be sure to visit https://www.exxon.com/en/synergy-supreme-plus and to learn more about the Exxon Mobil Rewards+ app, visit https://www.exxon.com/en/rewards-program.

*Based on Synergy Supreme+ gas compared to gasoline meeting minimum government standards. Wear reduction was measured by an industry standard lubricant test. Actual benefits are based on continuous use and may vary depending on vehicle type, driving style, and gasoline previously used. Concentration and availability of our proprietary additive package may vary based on factors beyond our control.

§Exxon Mobil Rewards+ Premium Status (“Premium Status”) is achieved by making three (3) “Qualifying Purchases” in a calendar month. A Qualifying Purchase is defined as a purchase of 8 gallons or more of Synergy Supreme+ fuel with the Exxon Mobil Rewards+ program. You must present and use your Exxon Mobil Rewards+ card loyalty identifier prior to making a Qualifying Purchase at participating locations. Exxon Mobil Rewards+ Premium Status Benefits (“Benefits”) begin after Premium Status is earned. You must complete three Qualifying Purchases each calendar month to maintain your Benefits. In the event that Premium Status is not maintained in the following month, you have a grace period of three consecutive months starting from the end of the month in which Premium Status was last earned before your Premium Status benefits expire. Benefits include earning double base points (for a total of 6 points per gallon) on all Synergy Supreme+ purchases after earning and while maintaining Premium Status. You will also be eligible for various Premium Status offers and experiences that are available to Exxon Mobil Rewards+ Premium Status members. To view full Exxon Mobil Rewards+ terms, please click here. Your Premium Status is non-transferrable and does not preclude you from using other Exxon Mobil Rewards+ offers, unless specified. The Exxon Mobil Rewards+ Program Terms and Conditions apply.

2023-08-21T01:01:00

(BPT) – Are you finding that many items you pay for on a regular basis still cost a lot? While the Consumer Price Index indicates inflation is cooling since last year, many everyday expenses continue to strain household budgets. If this sounds familiar, you may be seeking ways to keep costs down.

Fortunately, you can take proactive steps to help keep spending in check. Here are some easy-to-follow tips that make it easier to stick to your budget.

1. Don’t eat your paycheck

While it’s all too easy to overspend on trips to the grocery store, you can keep costs lower with better planning. Making menu plans each week and sticking to your grocery lists can help prevent impulse buying. Be flexible, however — if you see proteins or veggies on special while shopping, pivot to take advantage of good deals. Shopping for produce while it’s in season is another effective tactic, as well as choosing generic or store brands that are less pricey.

When putting away groceries, place items with a shorter shelf life front and center so you’ll remember to use them first. It’s also smart to make good use of your freezer — stocking up on good deals for proteins and storing leftovers you can use for future meals.

2. Keep gas costs lower

To help reduce gas consumption, consolidate errands geographically so you’ll log fewer miles. You can also save by searching online for the best local gas prices. Many members of wholesale clubs take advantage of their lower gas prices, and some grocery stores offer gas discounts for frequent shoppers as well. Spend a little time to research the best deals near you.

Not just how much, but how you drive also impacts gas consumption. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, keeping tires properly inflated and using the recommended motor oil for your car can mean better fuel economy. In addition, avoiding rapid acceleration and hard braking makes a difference — lowering mileage by 15-30% (highway) or 10-40% (city). And speeding can cost you: For every 5 mph you drive over 50, you’re paying an extra $0.22 per gallon.

3. Manage health care costs

One way to optimize your health care coverage is to ask your employer’s HR department about current benefits, plus additional programs you might qualify for, like refunds or discounts for gym memberships or other wellness benefits. Consider saving on prescription medications through a prescription discount service, comparison shopping different pharmacies and/or switching to generic medications.

It’s vital to get good vision care, especially if your health insurance doesn’t cover vision. The good news is, you can purchase a VSP Individual Vision Plan any time — without waiting for open enrollment — to see an eye doctor. VSP plans start as low as $13 per month and can help you save up to $200 per year, while also giving you access to the largest independent eye doctor network. Members also get access to benefits like 20% savings on additional glasses or sunglasses, including lens enhancements, from the VSP network of independent eye doctors within 12 months of your last exam.

Find out which vision plan is best for you at VSP Individual Vision Plans, or locate an eye doctor near you.

4. Cancel unnecessary subscriptions

It’s easy to lose track of subscriptions (or “free trials” you signed up for and forgot about), so you’re paying for things you don’t actually use. Review your credit card and bank statements to identify and cancel subscriptions or memberships you no longer use, and make sure to review automatically renewed subscriptions and memberships.

5. Practical ways to lower utility costs

Keep an eye on your HVAC to ensure you’re not overheating or overcooling your house. Sticking to specific temperatures that are just a few degrees higher in summer or lower in winter that stay fixed when you’re home versus at night (or away) rather than constantly adjusting settings can help prevent unexpectedly high bills. A smart thermostat is one tool that allows you to better control your HVAC system, even remotely.

You can also lower the thermostat on your water heater by 10 degrees to save 3-5% on energy costs. If you’re in the market for a new water heater, installing an on-demand or tankless water heater can deliver up to 30% savings compared to a standard storage tank water heater.

Following some of these tips should help take the sting out of monthly bills, making it easier to keep to your budget — and even start saving a little.

2023-08-16T14:01:00

(BPT) – National Nonprofit Day (Aug. 17) provides an important reminder for companies. Partnering with the right nonprofits can help them achieve social objectives and make a greater impact.

The rise of corporate social responsibility (CSR), environmental, social, and governance (ESG), and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives have many companies reevaluating how to operate ethically, responsibly, and sustainably. Fortunately, the strategies that result can guide companies in evaluating the right nonprofit partners to help advance their goals.

Do your research

According to Nonprofits Source, 90% of companies said partnering with reputable nonprofit organizations enhances their brand. In addition, 89% believe doing so leverages their ability to improve the community.

Companies looking for the right partner can start by researching nonprofits with a reputation for effecting change.

Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP), for example, is celebrating 20 years of serving the nation’s post-9/11 wounded veterans and their families. WWP invested nearly $250 million in programs in 2022 and offers free services in mental health, career counseling, long-term rehabilitative care, and policy advocacy.

More than 90% of the organization’s donors said they would recommend supporting WWP to a friend or family member, according to a recent WWP survey.

“The support we receive from partners and other supporters helps us deliver free programs and services that improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of warriors and their loved ones,” said WWP’s Vice President of Business Development Brea Kratzert Todd. “Corporate partners, in particular, help to expand our reach, enhance our programs, and improve our advocacy efforts for warriors and their families across the nation.”

Commit to a cause

Mission alignment is important when it comes to corporate-nonprofit partnerships. According to Edelman’s 2022 Trust Barometer, 65% of U.S. consumers buy or advocate for brands based on their beliefs and values. Consider supporting organizations committed to causes that company stakeholders admire.

For instance, C4 Energy^®, owned by Nutrabolt, found natural alignment with WWP among its energy drink consumers.

“Throughout our company’s 20-year history, veterans and active military have been an important part of our consumer base given their high-performance lifestyle,” said Katie Geyer, VP of talent, partnerships & experience at Nutrabolt. “Working with Wounded Warrior Project gives us a unique opportunity to partner with a leading organization that could directly relate to a consumer that we care deeply about and are authentic users of the brand.”

C4 Energy’s partnership with WWP includes exclusive energy drink and pre-workout flavors. The co-branded cans feature a dedicated QR code for consumers to support the mission of WWP and learn how to get involved. C4 Energy also impacts local communities by hosting WWP fundraisers and sponsoring WWP’s Carry Forward^® 5K races.

Measure impact

The more companies can show value to investors, consumers, employees, and the community, the better. Setting measurable key performance indicators (KPIs) to reach CSR or ESG goals is one way companies can track their progress.

CSX, a national transportation company, provides a great example of tracking and providing impact metrics from its Pride in Service initiative. In their recently released 2022 ESG Report, they highlighted their support of over 315,000 military, veterans, first responders, and their families in the past year. This included the 212,000 wounded warriors whose voices were amplified through the company’s sponsorship of WWP’s Annual Warrior Survey, which provides insights on the current needs and challenges of warriors registered with the organization.

CSX is now helping remove veteran employment barriers by supporting WWP’s Warriors to Work^® program. This program provides warriors and their family members the necessary tools to succeed in civilian jobs. In fiscal year 2022, Wounded Warrior Project placed over 1,700 warriors and family members in new careers.

“We’re proud to have reached so many wounded warriors across the country, providing them with the support they need to make the challenging transition to the civilian workforce,” said Bryan Tucker, CSX vice president of corporate communications. “Our work with partners like Wounded Warrior Project is more than just writing a check; it’s about investing time and resources in true partnership to combine our talents in service of communities in need.”

Take the next step

These steps help narrow the prospective nonprofit partner list and lead to conversations about ways to work together.

Collaborating with nonprofits can make company initiatives easier to define, measure, and celebrate. In turn, nonprofits benefit from the company’s contributed resources and reach.

Together, the two entities can be a driving force for change that benefits the corporation and its communities.

Sponsor a program or become a partner like C4 Energy and CSX to help Wounded Warrior Project empower, employ, and engage veterans in communities nationwide.

2023-08-09T07:01:00

(BPT) – Will I be able to retire? How much do I need to save? What if I outlive those savings? Questions like these are common across America’s current working population. Whether Gen X, Millennial or Gen Z worker populations, they each have hopes for a financially secure retirement, despite current economic uncertainty.

When it comes to retirement, research shows 70% of Americans plan to but are unsure they will really be able to, according to a recent Prudential survey. Having enough savings is a primary concern for almost half (40%) of Americans who are not confident they can retire. Concerns such as this may cause people to continue to work as they age — be it full time in their career or part time in a less demanding position.

Financial knowledge needed

This lack of confidence is coupled with a lack of financial knowledge. Just over 1 in 4 respondents (26%) said they do not have a strong understanding of what to do when it comes to retirement planning, and over half (59%) do not have a 401(k) account, one of the primary savings vehicles for retirement. Of those who do, 21% are unsure of how much money is currently in their account.

Captured in the survey, which polled 2,000 working adults across generations this spring, was a strong desire to retire and openness to receiving professional advice, yet a general uncertainty about how to begin. Fortunately, online tools are becoming more widely available, and some provide important insights that can bridge the retirement planning gap.

Online retirement insights

If you feel anxious about retirement and are confused about where to start, you are not alone. The survey found that among those who expressed confusion about retirement planning or are worried about being behind, most (65%) said they are open and willing to use digital tools. Because of their convenience, digital tools may be a smart option for people looking to take the first step in their retirement planning journey, but they aren’t one size fits all.

One free online option is Prudential Stages for Retirement, a platform that offers a personalized digital experience with access to a team of financial advisors. By answering a few questions, the platform provides customers with a “Retirement Confidence” score and shows them the ways in which they are strong in their retirement preparedness as well as where they may need to adjust to get closer to their goal. Users can also access a retirement calculator to see just how much they need to save to achieve their individual vision for retirement.

A human touch in retirement planning

Even as online tools help bridge the retirement confidence gap, the survey shows that most people still want access to a financial advisor — even if they aren’t physically in the room with them. A whopping 94% of all respondents say they are interested in receiving advice from a financial expert in some manner.

On Prudential Stages for Retirement, people of all age ranges, levels of wealth and retirement preparedness have one-click access to an advisor, virtually or in-person, if desired. There is no minimum savings required to access an advisor, so everyone can ask questions to help them gain more confidence in their retirement planning choices.

Getting started

While most working people across generations have retirement as a goal, many don’t know what to do to plan appropriately. Online retirement planning tools like those from Prudential can be an effective first step in gaining knowledge and boosting confidence that retirement dreams will become reality.

2023-08-02T13:57:00

(BPT) – If money is tight and you often find yourself juggling multiple finances, you are not alone. Consumers across the country still feel the effects of record-high inflation and are always looking for new ways to save.

The reality is there isn’t a way to snap your fingers and make the increasing prices go away, but what if there was a way to at least ease the weight of everyday finances, like groceries and gas? The good news is that through credit card rewards, this is possible!

Rewards Toward Gas and Groceries

Credit card rewards can be a great way to save on groceries, gas and more. Once you are signed up for a rewards program of your choice, you can shop and get gas at applicable locations. Over time, your reward points will add up. Before you know it, you could have enough points toward a free grocery run or a full tank, cost-free.

Cashback Programs

Thanks to credit cards, you can get rewarded every time you swipe your card and put those rewards back toward your everyday expenses. Cashback programs are a great way to earn cash based on your credit card spending. There are also a variety of other types of rewards programs out there depending on which card you choose, so it’s important to do your research to figure out which benefits are a priority to you before you decide which card to go with.

Benefits Consumers of All Income Levels

The best part about credit card rewards is that they do not cater to one specific group. In fact, consumers of all levels can benefit from rewards, and data shows that they do. A 2021 survey from Phoenix Marketing International reveals that 98% of credit cardholders owned a rewards card, including 82% of cardholders earning less than $20,000 annually.

It’s safe to say that consumers rely on their credit card rewards for a variety of reasons. There are several different cards available with different programs depending on your needs. If you haven’t taken advantage of your credit card rewards yet, then what are you waiting for? Simplify your life with credit card rewards today!

2023-08-02T12:21:00

(BPT) – Amid a period of high inflation nationwide, everyone stands to gain from extra savings. Whether your aim is to reduce travel and entertainment expenses, cut down on grocery bills, or perhaps accumulate funds for a vacation, credit cards offer advantageous perks that boost the contents of your wallet. Below are five ways to take advantage of your credit card rewards:

1. Cashback

Many co-branded credit cards today offer great cashback which can be a helpful tool to offset expensive costs. It’s also useful to save the accumulated cashback over time, allowing it to grow and serve as a financial cushion or contribute toward larger financial goals like a vacation or gift.

Choosing the right cashback rewards program can help you save money and ensure your credit score stays high.

2. Save on Everyday Purchases

Cashback isn’t the right fit for you? No worries, you can also save money when making everyday purchases. By choosing a credit card that offers generous rewards for grocery store or gas station purchases, you can gain points and miles, which can then be redeemed for discounts or freebies.

Strategically utilizing these reward programs allows you to turn your routine spending into an opportunity to save money.

3. Save on Travel

Often, credit cards allow you to earn 2-3x the rewards points for flight purchases, car rentals and hotel stays. Reduce your hotel expenses by utilizing a top-tier credit card and secure premium hotel rooms for any destination.

Premium cards offer helpful ways to make your airport experience seamless from check-in to baggage claim. For example, if you’re often running late, some cards offer reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees. With a credit card, you can also access a number of airport lounges, making wait times a lot easier.

4. Save on Entertainment

You can leverage your credit card rewards to enhance your entertainment experiences and indulge in your favorite activities. For instance, redeeming cashback or points toward concert tickets, movie theater outings, or even streaming subscriptions provides a premium experience.

Remember waiting in line for your Taylor Swift tickets? With a credit card, you could have exclusive access to VIP events, allowing you to secure tickets to attend live shows that may otherwise be difficult to attend.

5. Store Brand Credit Cards

Finally, store brand credit cards allow shoppers to enjoy exclusive discounts, special promotions, and loyalty rewards tailored specifically to the store’s products. For example, these credit cards often offer additional benefits such as extended warranties, free shipping, or flexible financing options, all of which can contribute to significant savings over time.

2023-08-01T23:01:00

(BPT) – Nearly 100 million Americans quit their jobs in 2021 and 2022 as part of the “Great Resignation,” with many making major career changes. Despite a less certain economy today, career shuffling continues. One-quarter of workers expect to change jobs in the next 12 months. If you are one of them, you can find a golden opportunity in financial advice — a field with growing demand, high earning potential and a focus on helping others achieve their goals, hopes, and dreams and build a lifetime of financial security.

You may be surprised by the independence and entrepreneurialism this career path offers — and the potential for career-changers to thrive. Tim Gerend, Chief Distribution Officer at Northwestern Mutual — a FORTUNE 100 company providing comprehensive financial planning to over five million U.S. clients through expert advisors — discusses the growing demand for financial advice, the skills and characteristics needed to succeed, and training opportunities for those looking to get started.

Why is financial advice worth a look for those exploring a career change?

First and foremost, this is a noble profession. Advisors help free people from financial anxiety and reach their life goals. Few careers are as impactful on a human level.

This industry is experiencing incredible demand. Two in three Americans believe their financial planning needs improvement. Many Gen X’ers are feeling anxious as they begin to see retirement on the horizon, and younger generations face a future with fewer pensions and uncertainty around Social Security. At the same time, much of the current advisor workforce is moving toward retirement. Moreover, there’s an exciting opportunity to reach more diverse communities that have been historically underserved. Given these trends, the need for advisors is real and growing.

On a more micro level, this career offers a chance to build your own business with high earning potential. You can decide how high you want to aim based on your goals and ambition — the opportunity is limitless.

What qualities are a good fit for the job? Do you have to be a finance expert?

You have to enjoy and care about other people. Human interaction and connection are paramount in financial advice. The best advisors are also natural problem solvers. They are creative, curious, resilient and good at simplifying complex topics. Yes, you must be able to master a variety of financial concepts, but we don’t expect prospective advisors to have that expertise at the outset. We look for high aptitude individuals who are eager to learn, and we provide comprehensive training to help build the financial acumen they need to flourish.

Are there certain sectors or roles that are conducive to a transition into financial advice?

Many people transition into advice from other positions in insurance and banking. We also see more professionals coming from healthcare and education. Roles that often lend themselves to this field include sales, marketing, corporate strategy and management — but at the end of the day, it’s more about the individual and their desire to pursue an impactful and entrepreneurial venture.

How can people get started? Are there training programs prospective advisors must pursue first?

As a first step, sit down with an advisor and go through the planning process to understand the experience. From there, reach out to firms that interest you and look to meet with a local leader to discuss career opportunities in your area. As part of those conversations, ask about training, opportunities for hands-on practice, mentorship and joint work. Beyond on-the-job training and company-driven development opportunities, there are great certification programs offered by the CFP Board and The American College of Financial Services that I highly recommend.

2023-08-01T07:01:00

(BPT) – Generative AI technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we work, learn, and solve problems. By democratizing access to powerful software, generative AI has humanized technology and made it accessible to everyone. It allows us to expand our knowledge and skillsets far beyond what we previously thought possible.

“We are now on a journey through uncharted territory, an evolutionary leap,” said Ravi Kumar S, CEO at Cognizant, a global professional services firm working with companies across industry sectors to help them modernize their businesses through technology. “Generative AI places boundless potential at our fingertips — shrinking the digital divide, empowering users, and transforming business and work through new levels of human-machine collaboration.”

Amplifying human potential

The public unveiling of OpenAI’s ChatGPT has brought about a tectonic shift in the role technology plays in our lives. Tasks and talents that were once exclusive to humans, and even defined our humanity, are now shared with algorithms. This technology is accessible and easy to use, making it an ideal solution to solve some of humanity’s most pressing challenges. Generative AI can boost sustainability, find cures for deadly diseases, and alleviate poverty through personalized, automated education and agricultural innovation.

Generative AI’s business and work impacts

Generative AI technology can also benefit businesses, governments, nonprofits, and the scientific community by helping them operate more efficiently, and enhance the value they deliver. In addition, new services are emerging along the AI value chain as underlying data has to be curated and algorithms have to be trained by humans for context and decision-making cues.

Generative AI also has the ability to shrink the digital divide by removing barriers to insights and innovation, empowering less digitally mature organizations to transform their services faster. To navigate this landscape successfully, Ravi Kumar S said that businesses will require a “more diversely skilled workforce” — one that understands human behavior (sociology, psychology, anthropology), can create and optimize different processes (design thinking, six sigma, industry-specific knowledge), and engage audiences intellectually and emotionally through storytelling and design.

Governance and education: Our dual responsibility

With the rapid advancement of generative AI toward human-like capabilities, technology providers and integrators have a responsibility to ensure the responsible and ethical use of this powerful technology. Laws and regulations cannot be adopted and modified quickly enough to be effective, considering the rapid pace of change. Technology companies and integrators are at the core of developing and incorporating generative AI into new products and services, and are therefore in the best position to ensure responsible, ethical use. Closely related to governance is education, which can help illuminate the ethical and legal aspects of AI usage such as privacy concerns, bias issues, and intellectual property rights.

“As we navigate this uncharted terrain together, with boundless potential at our fingertips, it is important that we proceed with excitement, continued curiosity, and a sense of collective responsibility,” said Ravi Kumar S. “It’s in our hands to shape this powerful technology into a tool for progress.”

2023-07-25T08:01:00

(BPT) – There are 33.2 million small businesses in America, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which combined account for an incredible 99.9% of all U.S. businesses. These businesses are the lifeblood of the American economy and there’s no better time to recognize their importance than right now.

Small businesses are generally defined as independent businesses having between 1 and 500 employees, according to the U.S. Small Business Association. They employ almost half (46%) of America’s private sector workforce and represent 43.5% of gross domestic product.

If you’re a small-business owner, you know it takes passion, commitment and agility, especially as markets evolve. Finding affordable and easy-to-implement technologies to help streamline your business needs can seem like a challenge. Case in point: virtual meetings.

The need for virtual meetings

No matter what industry you’re in, video meetings are a necessity today. Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or manager of a fast-growing startup, being able to meet with clients, vendors, employees or investors at any given time, especially if people are in different locations, makes a big difference in positioning your business for success.

The problem for small businesses is that many virtual meeting options are poorly designed and riddled with glitches that make for a less-than-desirable experience. Still others are expensive and complex, and while they may be appropriate for large enterprises, are not a great fit for your small-business needs. Fortunately, now there’s an option with features that appeal to small businesses that come at no cost.

A free virtual meeting technology

BlueJeans by Verizon is offering a new, free video conferencing plan that allows users to meet for as long as they want with no time limits. BlueJeans Basic provides users with a premium video conferencing experience alongside unlimited free meetings for groups of up to 25 people, so small businesses can thrive while eliminating time-bound meeting constraints and expensive service charges.

“We realize there is no one-size-fits-all approach to business, just like one size doesn’t really fit all when it comes to the clothes we wear. To better fit the needs of entrepreneurs and small businesses that may not require the complexity of enterprise-level services, we’re excited to expand on our BlueJeans Meetings platform with a solution that emphasizes the most important basics — better audio quality and HD video reliability — to help them grow their business,” said Chris Lewter, VP and General Manager, BlueJeans.

Key features for small businesses

BlueJeans Basic is always free and comes with a plethora of features that help create a superior virtual meeting experience. Here are some notable features that small businesses appreciate:

Cross-Platform Support: For today’s hybrid world, small businesses need a flexible video platform that adapts to their day to day, whatever that ends up looking like. Whether joining from the desktop, a browser tab or while on the go, the experience will always provide rich functionality across any mode or device.

Crystal-Clear Sound: World-class Dolby Voice^® audio built into the platform provides enhanced sound quality. High-definition video, spatial audio and industry-leading noise reduction all work together to provide impeccable call quality so small businesses don’t miss a beat and make the most of their valuable time.

Robust Collaboration Features: BlueJeans Basic provides small businesses with a powerful toolkit that brings virtual and physical teams closer together than ever before. HD screen sharing, interactive digital annotation, dynamic polling and participant reactions are just some of the features that hosts can access to boost participation and drive productivity.

Secure and Encrypted Meetings: Feel confident with AES 256-bit encryption for security as well as rock-solid security features like Waiting Room, Screen Sharing Controls and the option to Hard Mute participants individually or upon entering the meeting.

No matter what industry your small business is in, technology can help you connect and succeed. To sign up for your free BlueJeans Basic account, please visit https://www.bluejeans.com/free-video-conferencing.