TY - BOOK AU - Rowland, Mary TI - In search of the perfect model: the distinctive business strategies of leading financial planners SN - 1576601250 PY - 2004/// CY - Princeton PB - Bloomberg Press KW - Financial planners KW - Investment advisors N1 - Contents Prefacetk The Plannerstk Introduction: Inside Storiestk Part One The Quest 1 A Profession Comes of Age0 2 Identity Crisis0 3 Known Quantities 0 Part Two The Seekers 4 The Hourly Planner0 Sharon Rich: An Hour's Worth0 Sheryl Garrett: When Less Is More0 5 The Niche Planner0 Myra Salzer: The Rich Niche0 James Lowell: Giving Back Cicily Carson Maton: Port in a Storm0 Tom Connelly: Birds of a Feather0 Janet Briaud: Higher Learning0 Christopher Street Financial: The Trust Factor0 6 The Multiclient Family Office0 Mark Spangler: Birthing a Clan0 Darcy Garner Bhatia: Close Relations0 Charlie Haines: The Care of Kith and Kin0 7 The Large Firm0 Harold Evensky and Deena Katz: Starting Over0 BBR Partners: The Big Boutique0 8 The Regional Firm0 Eleanor Blayney: Getting There From Here0 Tim Kochis: Executive Decisions0 Peggy Ruhlin: Tight Ships and Smooth Sailing0 9 The Sole Practitioner0 Judy Shine: Singular Sensation0 10 The Maverick0 George Kinder: Zen and the Art of Financial Planning0 Richie Lee: Human Capital, the Ultimate Alternative0 Robert Willard: Taking Care of Business0 11 The Virtual Office Dave Yeske: The Pared-Down Practice0 Ben Utley: Have Keyboard Will Plan0 Part Three New Findings 12 Life Planning: Whose Job Is It Anyway?0 13 The Fuss About Fees0 14 Outsourcing: Only What Comes Naturally0 Index0 N2 - Cutting-edge financial advisers go far beyond giving comprehensive client service. They are the profession's theorists and practical pioneers, developing new practice models that attract the kind of clients they want most and that help their business to grow. "In Search of the Perfect Modelprofiles some of the most creative minds in the planning field and explains how they turned their practices into distinctive businesses--offering instructive lessons to their peers. Beginning with an overview of how the profession has evolved in recent years, Mary Rowland analyzes how planners define and structure their enterprises--from big firms to sole proprietors, from national to regional operations, from generalists to niche players, and from those collecting annual retainers or hourly fees to those who charge by assets under management. Rowland concludes with a special focus on important issues related to managing a practice. Financial advisers are perpetually in search of the perfect business model. This fascinating overview will awaken planners to the many unique practice structures available and will help them find one that matches their strengths, personalities, planning philosophies, and lifestyles. ER -