4Thought Financial Group Resources

Need To Offer Your Clients Investment Advice So You Can Compete With Other CPAs?

Expand your CPA practice's service offerings with investment advisory and financial planning. Partner with us to receive referral compensation.

[fa icon="calendar'] Jun 2, 2023 3:56:00 PM / by 4Thought Financial

Whether you’re aware of it or not, many of your competitors in the CPA tax practice marketplace have built an investment advisory services and financial planning profit center into their business to try to out-compete you by providing a wider array of services to clients under a single coordinated roof. While some larger firms have chosen to build this out in-house, for a smaller firm or sole practitioner with less resources and time it can be difficult or near impossible to even consider this. But there is a solution that can allow you to both compete with the bigger firms for new clients and “close your back door” to prevent existing clients from leaving:

Financial News ,Weekly Market Perspective

4Thought’s Multi-Method Investing® Market Perspective 5-30-23

4Thought provides you with actionable investment analysis and perspective on the financial markets.

[fa icon="calendar'] May 30, 2023 12:55:04 PM / by 4Thought Financial

Financial News ,Accounts and Clients

Concerned About The Service Quality Of Your Clients' Financial Services "Professionals"?

Concerned about poor service quality from financial services providers? Consider these key indicators and contact 4Thought Financial Group for solutions.

[fa icon="calendar'] May 5, 2023 3:55:00 PM / by 4Thought Financial

If you’ve heard your accounting practice clients gripe about the service quality of their financial services “professionals”, this is a clear indication of a service provider that requires some oversight. But that shouldn’t be something you need to spend time on. While for decades poor service quality has been thoroughly documented as one of the biggest complaints from clientele about their financial planning, investment, and insurance professionals, a vocalized complaint is not the only indicator of potential poor service quality.

Consider the following:

Is the provider responsive in a timely manner to client communications and service requests?
Does the provider have consequential conflicts of interest in serving your client based on the licenses they carry or the way they get paid?
Is the level of client service provided commensurate with the fees, commissions, or other expenses that the client is paying? Does the client even know what they are paying?
Does the provider perform regular reviews (at least annual, but preferably more frequent) with the client?
Does the client have on-demand access to detailed information on their accounts and services both during and after business hours?
Are upgraded services that are appropriate for the wealth and financial complexity level of your client’s situation available, and does the service provider have the resources and knowledge to provide them?

If you or your client have concerns about the answers to any of these questions, then it’s time to investigate further – either to review the existing provider relationship, or to consider an entirely new one. For solutions to these issues, please contact 4Thought Financial Group Inc. We’re an independent SEC Registered Investment Adviser that’s been working with the clients of CPAs like yourself since our inception in 2012 (and our founding shareholders have been doing the same for decades). We understand your needs and concerns, and we’re looking forward to helping you service your clients better.

Financial News ,Accounts and Clients

Concerned About The Effect Of Rate Rises On Your Clients’ Bond Mutual Funds?

Invest in Target Date Bond ETFs for diversified fixed-income portfolios with the ability to hold to maturity. Contact 4Thought Financial Group

[fa icon="calendar'] Apr 7, 2023 3:54:00 PM / by 4Thought Financial

If your clients are like most investors, they probably get their bond market exposures one of two ways: either through bond mutual funds (for lower levels of investable assets) or through individual securities (for higher levels of investable assets). There are plusses and minuses to both of these types of exposure. Consider the following:

Financial News ,Weekly Market Perspective