Category: FINRA

The Power of Opinion in Alternative Investments Marketing

Post author By Cherie Fournier
Post date November 10, 2023
No Comments on The Power of Opinion in Alternative Investments Marketing

In the alternative investments landscape, saturated with information and financial jargon, where does the power of an expert opinion fit in? If you’re a marketer working for an alternative investment sponsor, you’ve probably grappled with the challenge of making your content stand out, be memorable and support capital raising. You understand knowledge is valuable. But have you considered using your firm’s opinions to help engage financial advisors in sales conversations?

Your Expert Opinion: More Than Just Information

Educating potential clients is the bedrock of marketing in the alternative investment domain. As marketers, we share data, showcase investment opportunities and advertise webinars, post LinkedIn articles and send out emails. And all of this content is important, but where are you incorporating your firm’s opinion and thought leadership? Are you sharing a strong opinion that underscores why financial advisors and investors should choose your firm over countless others?

Remember, clients, especially those in the realm of alternative investments, are seeking more than just information. They want guidance and education. They want assurance. They want to hear from experts who can help them navigate their investment choices with confidence.

The Comparative Edge: Where Your Opinion Makes a Difference

Consider the edge that a comparative analysis brings to your content. By juxtaposing different investment opportunities and providing your firm’s take on each, you’re adding layers of depth to your content. You’re demonstrating that not only does your firm understand the market intricacies, but you’re also thinking critically about them, evaluating them and drawing informed conclusions.

Remember, when financial advisors and investors are reading your content, they’re not just passively absorbing it. Subconsciously, they’re evaluating your firm’s expertise. They want to know what you think, not just about your firm’s investment offerings. They’re trying to understand how you make decisions, the depth of your insights and your acumen as an investment partner.

The Warren Buffett Phenomenon

Countless investors and market enthusiasts follow Warren Buffett and his philosophies closely. Why? It isn’t just because of the information he provides. It’s primarily because of the weight his opinions carry. He is perceived as knowledgeable, discerning and valuable – not just for the facts he presents, but for the informed conclusions he draws from them.

In the world of marketing for alternative investments, harness the “Buffett effect” by blending factual content with your firm’s seasoned perspective to cultivate trust with financial advisors and investors.

We Can Help You Incorporate Your Voice to Amplify Your Impact

If you’re seeking ways to interweave your opinions into your content, fostering deeper connections with financial advisors and investors while differentiating your brand in the crowded alternative investment space, we’re here to guide you. Reach out to us, and let’s explore how the power of opinion can amplify your marketing efforts.

Compliance FINRA

How Our Series 7 Securities Licenses Benefit Our Clients

Post author By Cherie Fournier
Post date September 22, 2023

You may think of a Series 7 Securities License as the exclusive domain of financial advisors. But can this valuable credential also benefit those of us in the marketing realm? The answer is a resounding “yes.” Let us introduce ourselves – we are Alise and Cherie, both proud holders of Series 7 Securities Licenses. Here’s why it matters.

Unexpected Knowledge

Contrary to popular belief, a Series 7 Securities License doesn’t just bolster our financial acumen – it has also amplified our ability to assist clients in their marketing endeavors. Acquiring our licenses wasn’t a conventional path for marketers; Cherie gained hers while working in a corporate setting, and Alise got hers while collaborating with financial advisors on their marketing strategies. Getting licensed helped us gain a unique perspective on financial services marketing.

Meeting Compliance Requirements With Ease

Our Series 7 credentials have empowered us with comprehensive knowledge of the financial sector’s regulatory landscape. This awareness makes all the difference when developing marketing materials that meet compliance standards. We’ve observed a stark contrast between materials produced by our team, armed with an understanding of financial services and alternative investments, and those from competitors lacking this specialist knowledge. Our materials make it through the compliance process more easily, oftentimes with the coveted “as is” approval and a FINRA clean letter.

Compliance Conversations Made Simple

Being licensed has significantly enhanced our ability to have productive dialogues with compliance departments. We’re equipped to troubleshoot the inevitable challenges that arise when navigating regulatory bodies like FINRA. Understanding the rationale behind these regulations allows us to reverse-engineer solutions that not only comply with the rules but also effectively convey your marketing message.

Building Cohesive Relationships

We also strive to nurture collaboration with compliance and legal teams. Although we’re not officially part of these teams, our shared language and understanding allow us to jointly develop solutions for compliance roadblocks. This collaboration has streamlined processes, making everyone more efficient and enhancing the education of advisors and investors on alternative investments.

Need Help?

If you’re struggling with understanding the ins and outs of compliance, or perhaps your relationship with compliance feels more like a battlefield than a partnership, we can help. Reach out to us.

Compliance FINRA

How to Build Relationships With Compliance

Post author By Alise Lucero
Post date August 4, 2023

Compliance. It’s a necessity in the alternative investments industry. And marketers are often frustrated by it, but there are ways to smooth the relationship between marketing and compliance. In this article, we’ll discuss how to up your curiosity to establish a stronger relationship with the compliance team and to make getting marketing materials approved easier.

Curiosity is Innate

Curiosity is innate to us. Just like when we’re kids and we ask “why” a million times. We want to understand the reasoning behind things and what they mean to our experiences. But as we grow older, we learn to follow social norms, company rules or school rules – often without question, or without feeling like we can ask “why.” The same thing holds true when it comes to compliance. Marketers are often fearful of compliance, and rightly, don’t want to put their firm at risk. We don’t either, and if you work to develop a relationship with compliance, you can often have an open dialogue that helps you advance your marketing programs and solve problems you’re running into with our industry rules standards.

How to Use Curiosity to Your Advantage

Let’s talk about why curiosity helps build relationships with compliance. Instead of fearing them and thinking of them as Dr. No, you have the opportunity to collaborate with them.

First, get rid of the stereotypes you might have about compliance. You know the ones…the person sitting in their office at their desk, their glasses on and the door shut. They have no interest in fun and they always try to make marketing harder. Forget all that.

Instead, think of how both marketing and compliance are there to benefit the company…and how when you work together, both teams can be even better at it.

Whether you’re new to your marketing role at your firm or you’ve been in it for decades, start building your relationship by setting up a meeting with compliance to understand the rules marketing should be following. This alone will go miles with compliance. They will appreciate that you’re seeking knowledge and want to help protect the company…which makes their job easier.

Ask about any new rules coming out (which are frequent), how your compliance team interprets them and what they mean for marketing. The open dialogue will help you understand how conservative your compliance team is in rule interpretation as there are many shades of gray in how rules are applied across the industry. It will also give you a sense of their personality and your best way to establish a relationship with them so you’re able to sit down and hash out how to address compliance comments on marketing material or figure out how to adhere to a rule.

Here are some key questions to ask your compliance team to increase your understanding of the rules and their perception of them, as well as their comments on marketing materials.

What does this rule mean?
Why do we interpret it this way?
What can we do to adhere to the rule and market effectively?
What is our risk around this rule?
Can we add language to help address the rule? Or remove language?
Instead of taking wording out of marketing, can we reword it/soften it?
If we can’t use this, what would you feel comfortable using instead? (don’t underestimate the creativity of your compliance colleagues!)
What are our options? (great one to foster collaboration)

As opposed to accepting, “No, you just can’t do that,” and turning around and going back to your desk. Get curious. A flat “no” might not be the answer. Ask your “whys” to find out for sure, and look for points of collaboration.

If you would like to learn more about how we’ve built relationships with compliance, reach out to Marketing Intent. We have a track record of collaborating with compliance teams to help our clients reach their marketing goals.

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