Thursday, October 29, 2009

Watch a Sneak Peek of Broke and Famous - Then Download Free "Town Hall In A Box" to Host Your Own Financial Literacy Meeting

Watch a Sneak Peek of Broke and Famous: Preview the show now. Then tune-in Nov. 5th at 10pm to see if actor Willie Aames can dig himself out of his financial hole.

Financial advisors:

Download free Town Hall Materials (customizable flyers, post cards, news releases and more - all developed by my team of professionals at Impact Communications and free for the taking) and learn how you can use the first episode of Broke and Famous as a conversation starter at a financial literacy gathering hosted by you in your own community.

Go to www.iafsca.com now to get the entire turnkey plan.

Friday, October 23, 2009

IAFSCA Launches Largest Financial Literacy Campaign in History

The International Association of Financial, Sport and Celebrity Advisers (IAFSCA) will use a ground-breaking, one-hour television special to expose the horrors of financial illiteracy and launch the largest financial literacy awareness campaign in American history. Millions of Americans will tune in to VH1 on November 5, 2009 at 10:00 pm EST to watch or TiVo the first episode of "Broke and Famous," a one-hour docudrama that tells the heart-breaking story of former child-star Willie Aames.

As the docudrama begins, Mr. Aames -- who is best known for his roles in "Eight is Enough" and "Charles in Charge" -- is in deep trouble. Lack of financial knowledge and lack of trusted advisers leaves him with no home, no possessions, no family and nothing to show for his past entertainment success. With the help of world renowned Financial and Life Coach, Sarano Kelley (www.saranokelley.com), widely known in Hollywood and Wall Street, Mr. Aames is given a second chance to regain not only financial stability but countless other blessings.

Using the "Broke and Famous" docudrama as a conversation starter, thousands of financial advisers across the country will lead Town Hall Meetings in their communities during November and December 2009. These professionally led Town Hall Meetings will help participants understand what they and other important people in their lives can do to become more financial literate and personally responsible in their roles as global citizens. "As we enter the season of Thanksgiving and other important winter holidays, what better conversation to have with your loved ones than financial literacy," says Mr. Kelley, who emphasizes that many of the world's problems could be solved if we as a society were more personally responsible and financially aware. Financial advisers can download free Town Hall Meeting materials and Fact Sheets at www.iafsca.com.

According to U.S. Bankruptcy Court documents, Mr. Aames joined over 850,000 Americans who filed for business and/or non-business bankruptcy in 2007. As that figure rises with total filings reaching 1,117,771 at the end of 2008, the need for an American financial education lesson plan is crucial and immediate. "The IAFSCA is responding to these alarming numbers," says Mr. Kelley. "We will use Aames' 'Broke and Famous' story to reach millions nationwide on Nov. 5, 2009."

Kelley and an army of financial advisers will continue their financial literacy campaign by creating a "Stand Up for Financial Literacy" petition that concerned citizens can sign online. Updates will be issued via Twitter (sign up to follow @STAND4FL), Facebook and via the IAFSCA's website www.iafsca.com.

April 1, 2010 marks the start of U.S. Financial Literacy Month, where the "Stand Up for Financial Literacy" Campaign will take 100,000 advisers, educators, athletes, celebrities and business coaches into the country's classrooms to establish financial literacy awareness all across America.

ABOUT THE IAFSCA

Headquartered in Washington, DC, the IAFSCA is a cross-section of professional coaches, financial and business advisers dedicated to establishing a new generation of financially literate and purpose driven individuals who serve as fiscal role models. For more information, visit www.iafsca.com.

SOURCE IAFSCA / PR NEWSWIRE

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Twitter Live! with Thought Leaders at FPA Anaheim 2009

Eric Rasmussen, a reporter for Financial Advisor magazine, called me the other day to find out about the session I hosted at FPA Anaheim 2009 called Twitter Live! with 20 Industry Thought Leaders.

Here is the part of his article that relates to the Twitter Live! session:

During the conference itself, the FPA also tried to keep its members up to date on social and technology trends with a presentation called “Twitter Live!” in which industry stars twittered their key thoughts about advising for 2010.

“They wanted to create a sense of connectedness with those who could not be at the conference and/or those who could not attend every session,” said Marie Swift, a communications specialist and president of Impact Communications in Leawood, Kan., who hosted the “Twitter Live!” event.

Read the rest of the article here:
http://www.fa-mag.com/fa-news/4596-fpa-conference-subdued.html

New to Twitter? Set up a free account at http://www.twitter.com. If your compliance department does not allow you to use Twitter to conduct outbound communications, keep in mind that you don't have to post (or "tweet" as it's called) to "follow" people and organizations.

When you sign up, search for people you know using the "people search" function, then click "follow". Twitter will consolidate all of their Twitter feeds onto your Twitter personal page. You can "protect" your Twitter page so only certain people (or no one) can follow you (and there wouldn't be any Twitter feeds from you if you don't post any).

If you want to follow me, type in marie swift. My Twitter "handle" is @marieswift (http://www.twitter.com/marieswift).

Friday, October 16, 2009

Twitter Digest - Did you Miss These Tweets?

I will be one of 18 "world class presenters" in a virtual summit next week. FREE. No travel involved! Register: www.InsuranceSellingSummit.com

Highlights from Invest In Others gala http://tinyurl.com/investinothers Impact Communications proud to represent top advisor / industry thought leader Brett Ellen.


Great article by Tara Siegel Bernard in the New York Times - To Retire in This Weak Market, the Magic Word Is ‘Focus’.
An added bonus: several of Impact Communications' clients are quoted - smart people, all.

Interesting 7 minute podcast with New York Times reporter Tara Siegel Bernard and editor Jane Bornemeier - how to plan for and think about retirement: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/15/your-money/15LIFE.html

Julie Littlechild of Advisor Impact / Client Audit system - Watch Twitter Live! vblog: How advisors should be thinking about defining/articulating their value http://fpatwitterlive.blogspot.com/2009/10/julie-littlechild-advisor-impact-client.html


Mary Zimmerman of Kinder Institute / Path Financial - Watch Twitter Live! vblog: Thoughts on achieving success in 2010 and beyond: http://fpatwitterlive.blogspot.com/2009/10/mary-zimmerman-path-financial.html?spref=tw


Advisors - how to Create a Five Touch Campaign. Read my articles on MorningstarAdvisor.com

Financial planning dean - Deena Katz - says more regulation on the way - Watch Twitter Live! vblog
Liz Weston says credit will be the big story for 2010. View Twitter Live! video blog. Follow @lizweston
the Industry Thought Leaders at booth at FPA Anaheim 2009. Wonderful seeing everyone there!

Great conversations w/ old friends and new at FPA Anaheim. Beth Sanders http://www.lifebio.com offering cool services for advisors.


Impact Communications coordinated a new and exciting session at FPA Anaheim 2009 -- Twitter Live! with Industry Thought Leaders. Watch video clips at www.fpatwitterlive.blogspot.com

Follow all the FPA Thought Leader tweets @fpassociation and/or use hash tag #FPA2009 to pull up consolidated digest.se my name "swift" and save 30% off ASN360 Practice Mgt Summit. I am speaking Nov 7. Enter SWIFT in discount box - early bird ends10/5 - register at www.asn360.comRead George Kinder's article in Bank Investment Consultant magazine. Help your clients achieve their dream of freedom.

Gave away over $10,000 in prizes at FPA Anaheim 2009. Fun hanging out with dozens of industry thought leaders.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Securities America Congratulates Brett. S. Ellen - Invest in Others Award

Brett S. Ellen, CFP, president of American Financial Network of Calabasas, Calif., founder of TKO Helping Hands, has been named winner of this year's Community Leadership Awards Mentoring Excellence Award. A top advisor and registered representative with Securities America, Ellen is a great example for financial advisors across the globe. His family foundation, TKO Helping Hands, will receive $12,500 from the 503(c) Invest in Others organization.

In photo: Brett Ellen accepts his award from Robert DeChellis of Allianz Life Financial.

Read article about Brett Ellen's charitable activities in Investment News: Teaching Children to Help Others

Hear podcast with Janine Wertheim, CMO, Securities America, Inc. - great ideas for companies who wish to give back to the community: Securities America Celebrates 25th Anniversary with 25 Weeks of Caring, Giving and Sharing.


Read related article: Entrepreneur.com

Five-Touch Campaigns - Advisor Success Stories Here

In my last article for Morningstar Advisor, I provided thoughts and detailed instructions on how financial advisors could create an effective Five-Touch Marketing Campaign.

Be sure to read Power Up Your Marketing Plan - a companion article - too.

Please post your comments and success stories on this blog. We can create a dialog here.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Tiburon Strategic Advisors Honors Charles Schwab and Ken Fisher - FOXBusiness.com

As a Tiburon Consulting Fellow, I am proud to share the following news item with you. For those of you attending the Tiburon CEO Summit XVII in San Francisco next week, I look forward to seeing you there.

Tiburon Strategic Advisors Honors Charles Schwab and Ken Fisher

Inaugural Awards Ceremony to Take Place October 7-8, 2009 at Tiburon CEO Summit XVII

Tiburon Strategic Advisors, a market research & strategy consulting firm serving a wide variety of financial institutions and investment managers, has announced the recipients of its inaugural Tiburon CEO Summit Awards: Charles Schwab (Chairman, The Charles Schwab Corporation) and Ken Fisher (CEO, Fisher Investments). These awards will be presented at Tiburon CEO Summit XVII to be held at the Ritz Carlton San Francisco October 7-8, 2009.

Read full article now.