Marie Swift

About the Author

Marie Swift

Marie Swift is president and CEO of Impact Communications, a consulting firm that for over 17 years has worked exclusively with independent financial advisors and the institutions that serve them. Follow her on www.Twitter.com/marieswift and read her Best Practices in the Financial Services blog at www.marieswift.com. 

• Seeking Purpose

  By Marie Swift  |  April 1, 2009

  Most successful advisors recognize the importance of connecting intergenerationally with their clients' families. What happens when the advisor discovers the complexity of the family dynamics...

• Rethinking Risk

  By Marie Swift  |  March 1, 2009

  For many clients, the years prior to 2007 were very good. Portfolio returns were pleasing and they didn't have to pay much attention to their...

• The Tax-Form Gateway

  By Marie Swift  |  February 1, 2009

  Financial planners generally do not prepare tax returns as part of their engagements. But that doesn't mean they can't make use of them. In fact,...

• Happy New Year!

  By Marie Swift  |  January 1, 2009

  It's always a good idea to think about business strategy at the beginning of a new year. But given everything we've been through in 2008,...

• Military Advice

  By Marie Swift  |  December 1, 2008

  The Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008 implements numerous changes to the federal tax code that benefit military personnel and their families....

• Global Observation

  By Marie Swift  |  November 1, 2008

  In my last two articles, I laid out the patterns of globalization that are affecting the financial planning profession. In this final installment, I will...

• Universal Standards

  By Marie Swift  |  October 1, 2008

  In my last article, I relayed the startling statistic that by the end of this year, the number of non-U.S. CFP certificants will almost surely...

• The Global Planner

  By Marie Swift  |  September 1, 2008

  Here's a startling statistic: By the end of this year, the number of non-U.S. CFP certificants will likely surpass the number of U.S. certificants. It's...

• Passing the Baton

  By Marie Swift  |  August 1, 2008

  Most small-business owners don't have an exit strategy -- and that's just as true for financial advisory firms as it is for their business-owner clients....

• Getting Engaged

  By Marie Swift  |  July 1, 2008

  If you surveyed your clients and 99 percent reported that they were satisfied with your firm, you'd probably be very pleased. However, according to a...