Sometimes the less people say, the more we learn about them. Liza Anderson, founder of Los Angeles-based Anderson Group Public Relations is one of those people. Her business demands that she is fiercely loyal to her clients, so whether it’s a straight-forward question or a light-hearted attempt to peek into that world, she doesn’t budge. She divulges nothing. It’s in the vault (think “Seinfeld”).

So, what did Anderson reveal during a recent interview for “Advisors Magazine? For one, she has a great laugh and it played throughout our conversation.

Cameron Colvin’s accomplishments from youth into adulthood are impressive, and there’s no indication that his forward momentum is slowing down. So, what has propelled this former high-school star athlete who later played for the NFL, to go on to become chairman of a multimillion-dollar international real estate development company, an author, and a philanthropist? “Advisors Magazine” set out to find out during a recent interview by asking him what’s inside of him calling the plays.

“I think it was instilled in me as a kid. My mother and father passed away – I wasn’t able to live a normal childhood,

It’s no secret that many Americans have a tough time dealing with their finances. Financial advisors have seen endless data documenting the trend and most likely they discuss these statistics with their clients – and potential clients – to help them land on the right side of the tally.
Just how serious is the impact of “financial phobia” for Americans?

Consider this:

• 44 percent of Americans say they do not have enough savings to cover a $400 emergency
• 56 percent of Americans say they have less than $10,000 saved for retirement

Employers often hire veterans without fully understanding what former service members bring to the shop floor or corporate office. Traits like adaptability, integrity, advanced technical skills, and the ability to sidestep steep learning curves make veterans appealing to employers, but so can the goodwill that veteran-supporting companies generate by hiring former military personnel.

“We had been discussing ways we could give back to vets … We started the see the human factors side of investing. There’s a lot of evidence around union capital and how it’s good for business, but what about veterans?”

Migrating Up Market: How to Find, Win, and Retain High-Net-Worth Clients. “How do I move up market? How do I attract and retain more high-net-worth clients?” These questions I commonly hear in conversations with financial advisors and CPAs. In my day job, I spend my time meeting with financial advisors, CPAs and attorneys across the Southeast region. For the past 30 years, my firm has partnered with advisors to manage high-net-worth investment portfolios (typically with a $1 million minimum)—particularly for clients referred to as the “working wealthy.”

Republic CEO Kendrick Nguyen on opportunity, diversity, and choice for companies and investors

The average investor should be forgiven for reading financial news with a twinge of envy. Only venture capitalists and insiders, after all, reap the rewards generated by the unicorn startups highlighted in the “Financial Times” or showcased on CNBC, while the retirement-saver at home has to remain content with a traditional portfolio filled with slow-growth stocks and bonds. The startup world – complete with the initial public offering windfalls sensationalized by media outlets and lay investors alike – traditionally has remained the province of big money and the well-connected, until now.

Last April, the Securities and Exchange Commission unveiled a package of disclosure rules targeted at retail investors. The commission has remained silent following the package’s 90-day comment period, but industry insiders tell “Advisors Magazine” the so-called “fiduciary rule” is bound to appear in headlines again, especially after the Department of Labor’s own version was squashed in court earlier this year.

The Securities and Exchange Commission remains quiet about a potentially forthcoming “fiduciary rule” aimed at increasing transparency for retail investors. Advisors across the financial services industry, meanwhile, hold mixed feelings toward the increased disclosure requirements

So many shingles hung out, dangling in the winds of today’s financial services marketplace. It’s a struggle for consumers – many of whom have little knowledge of the industry’s day-to-day workings – to decipher which service will best meet their needs. And, it’s also a challenge for advisors to differentiate themselves.

Below is a guide compiled from the answers numerous financial advisors provided when “Advisors Magazine” asked them, “What advice would you give to a client who is meeting a new financial advisor for the first time?”