Norb Vonnegut's Blog, page 3
April 20, 2015
Tales From the Dark Side of Prospecting
Whatever happened to all the cowboy stockbrokers who relied on chutzpah and grit to lasso clients? Their stories made us laugh even as we cringed at the shameless antics. Like Prospector Cat: Years ago, a broker drove to posh neighborhoods and released his cat to roam the streets. Its collar ID said, “Call this number […]
April 16, 2015
March 31, 2015
Good College, Bad College
I'm editing The Pell Heist, my novel about an art heist on a college campus outside Newport, RI. Recently, I disappeared down an Internet rabbit hole and compared student debt by college versus starting salaries.
My question: Is elitism self-propelling?
My question: Is elitism self-propelling?
March 23, 2015
Annuities Demystified in 3 Observations
Annuities are insurance products, often used for retirement planning. They're popular with investors who want steady income. But talk about crazy complicated...and all the forms, forms, forms. I have one fifty-page annuity application that comes with its own DVD, which, for the record, doesn't work on a MacBook Air. That's why I took a few minutes to sketch out what annuities are really all about...
Annuities Demystified in 3 Observations
Annuities are insurance products, often used for retirement planning. They're popular choices among investors who want steady streams of income.
March 20, 2015
What Happens if My Client Gets Hacked?
Identity theft feels like a high-tech variation of the Malthusian catastrophe: This time, the growth of personal data is overwhelming our ability to protect it.
March 16, 2015
How to Stop Identity Thieves from Filing Taxes in Your Name
At a party this weekend, I spoke with a friend who files taxes in one of the many states that’s been breached by identity thieves. As you might guess, the bad guys grabbed his personal information, filed a 1040 with the IRS, and claimed a refund using bogus information. My friend is diligent about Internet […]
March 2, 2015
Take the Power of Attorney Test
“Mrs. Smith is here to see you,” your receptionist says. You wonder, “What’s up?” She doesn’t have an appointment, and while you know her socially, all your communication is with Mr. Smith. You hang up, rush to the lobby, and find her visibly upset. Her husband was hurt. He’s in an overseas hospital, unable to […]
January 25, 2015
Client Money on Crack
If you’re a financial adviser, there’s nothing like securities-based loans to get clients to love you. Or to hate your guts when things don’t go as planned. I’m referring specifically to “non-purpose” credit secured by stocks, bonds, and other eligible assets. In general these loans can be used to finance anything except for the purchase […]
January 10, 2015
The Looming Test for “Adviser Alpha”
A not-so-funny thing happened over the holidays. I was kicking around the Street, trying to understand the many ways financial advisers can deliver exceptional value to their clients. What I uncovered was a cautionary tale about the next bear market. Why this one, whenever it comes, will test traditional wealth managers to the full extent […]
