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If part of your work involves educating others on how consumption can affect their ability to build and maintain wealth, looking for outside patterns of data and trends might be a way to bring an “ah-ha” moment to clients, children, friends, or family members. A string of articles in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal wove an interesting pattern for me, and the interpretation might prove educational for consumers and clients. First, this: Holiday Shoppers Were …
Back in 1999, I worked as a consultant to a large fiber-optic cable company that was staffing a new plant in Pennsylvania. For months, our crew of grad students and industrial psychologists administered validated tests, interviews, and work samples to thousands of potential candidates to fill manufacturing roles. In the work sample, applicants had to coil thin, translucent cables into circles and pack them into thick, zipper-top bags while racing against a clock. Only some …
Using an arbitrary minimum asset level for clients unduly limits the market for financial services providers to those who have already “made it,” and ignores the substantial number of prospects that are ultimately headed for financial success. For advisors, using minimums often means excluding the coveted Millennial group because they do not meet asset requirements . . . yet. So why does the industry continue to focus on current asset levels? Defining target markets by …
What separates those who have the highest potential for building wealth from others? Is it exotic investments or timing the market? In many cases, it’s the basics of financial planning. In our latest white paper, we discuss how Wealth Potential groups differ in terms of their behaviors and self-reported experiences related to financial management. We measured Wealth Potential with Data Points’ proprietary assessment of frugality, confidence, level of responsibility for one’s finances, and focus on …
If clients are to increase their likelihood of becoming wealthy, they have to understand and change how they behave with respect to areas that are, perhaps, a little more personal. Clients that focus intently on what others buy and consistently want the latest and greatest in possessions (such as technology or accessories) are less likely to build wealth over time. Social Indifference predicts net worth regardless of age, income, or how much wealth one …