Advisors Focus on Enhancing Client Communications, Reviewing Asset Allocations

    FOLSOM, CA, June 29, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Iron Point Capital Management, a third-party asset management firm known for their commitment to helping advisors grow and enhance their practice by providing extensive advisor resources and client-ready material, and Securities America, Inc., one of the nation's largest independent broker/dealers, recently announced the results of a survey on advisor sentiment during the 2008 and 2009 market downturn.

The survey addressed a number of topics on what successful advisors learned about themselves, their clients and the business during the economic turmoil. The purpose of the survey and corresponding white paper, What Have We Learned from '08 and '09, is to help advisors better prepare their practices for similar situations in the future.

What Have We Learned from '08 and '09 also addressed investment approach. Sixty percent of advisors surveyed had made changes in asset allocations, with 28 percent allocating more to fixed income assets and 28 percent allocating more to unconventional/alternative assets. This is likely in response to clients' lower risk tolerance in response to the economic crisis. Advisors also cited the importance of income distribution planning and commented that clients in a time-segmented income distribution strategy did not require as much handholding as clients who did not have such a strategy. Advisors also said that due to the stress of the economy, it was easier to motivate clients to take action on their investments as well as their saving and spending habits.

Advisors were also asked about their perspective on the future. The responses indicate that advisors are more confident in their role with and responsibility to their clients and will place a greater emphasis on client expectations and communication. Advisors who participated in the survey:

- Are cautiously optimistic about growth in 2010
- Plan to spend more time setting client expectations
- Will continue to improve and systematize client communication processes
- Have a greater sense of responsibility to their clients
- Feel their overall value to clients has increased

"In our continued commitment to helping advisors expand and strengthen their relationships with clients, we were very interested to hear from advisors about what they've learned during the past 18 months," said Iron Point President and CEO Chris Ranney. "The survey results confirm that the resources we provide such as client-friendly podcasts on various economic topics, nicely formatted and professionally written financial tips, and monthly market commentaries that advisors can send directly to their clients, go a long way in helping advisors to educate their clients and further enhance the advisor/client relationships."

"We work with advisors daily," said Erick Lindewall, director of advisory sales. "With the insights gained from the survey, we will be better able to anticipate their needs and provide the tools and options they need to fulfill the continuous communication needs clients desire."

To access the free client communication tools offered by Iron Point Capital and/or to download a copy of the What Have We Learned from '08 and '09 white paper survey results, please visit www.ironpointcapital.com.

Listen to a podcast interview with Chris Ranney discussing the What Have We Learned from '08 and '09 survey by visiting http://www.audioacrobat.com/play/WNnrm0bT.

About Iron Point Capital Management
Iron Point Capital Management is a third party money management firm based in Folsom, CA, whose investment philosophy revolves around the client achieving their financial goals by developing a prudent investment portfolio utilizing strategic asset allocation with a tactical overlay. The core strategic approach focuses on the long-term investment goal while the short-term tactical element capitalizes on market opportunity. Growth, protection and preservation of assets are the ultimate goals at Iron Point Capital Management. For more information, visit www.ironpointcapital.com. Learn more about Iron Point's parent company, Securities America Financial Corporation, at www.securitiesamerica.com.

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