Readers Poll

[Jeff Headrick]

I am an independent financial advisor. Looking to get my feet wet with blogging and perhaps a magazine article or two.

Here are my two ideas: #1. Write an article on how the average Joe can design a custom portfolio for himself composed of stocks, bonds, reits, and soft commodities.
You learn about Harvard investing techniques as oppossed to the typical Money Magazine stuff(no offense I like the mag).

#2. I took a month off work last year in the Summer to spend time with my family at the beach. The cost for the month was less than 4000. Anybody who owns their own business can do it.

Which sounds like the better idea?

[DerrikCFP]

Hi Jeff,

Do you have a compliance department that you report to? If so, you might want to first check about their policies on having a blog and social media.

Derrik Hubbard, CFP
www.yourfinancialpurpose.com

[Jeff Headrick]

Thanks Derrik:

Yes I do have a compliance department. I keep in contact with them on a weekly basis regarding seminars, blogs, speaking engagements, marketing etc.. Thanks for the input. I am not looking to start a blog though. I am looking to write an occassional article for a magazine or other Christian or secular website and or mag.

[4jacks]

#2

#1 is a becoming a dead horse in the financial blog-o-sphere

[Jeff Headrick]

Thanks 4J. As with many horses, it seems you have to beat them for years after they are dead before people start to get the message. But I love your input, and brevity!

Here's the thing: If the topic of what I call extreme diversification is beat to death, them why does everyones portfolio keep getting hammered every bear market?

Your obviously pretty sharp. Google Harvard Endowment 2010.

In 1995 US Stock exposure for Harvard was 38%. Today, it's 11%. ALso in 1995 Harvard kept about 15% in US bonds. Now that number is 4%. My question to you is where does the other 84% of their portfolio go? If you know the answer already, your even smarter than I think you are. If you don't it's not quite a dead horse yet.

The honest to God truth is that 99% of John Q public has no idea how to design a portfolio, and if he does he hasn't the ability to make it happen. He may read a bunch of blogs and feel love for people like D Ramsey and S Orman(sp), but he ain't getting it.

I've perused Bob's sight quite a bit, I seen only one article that holds any real metal about diversification (http://christianpf.com/diversificati...rom-the-bible/

But hey, considering you are the only soul out there who cares enough to comment, so far it's unanimous. #1 is leading by a landslide.

[4jacks]

But hey, considering you are the only soul out there who cares enough to comment, so far it's unanimous. #1 is leading by a landslide.

My vote was for #2.

And don't be upset if you don't get a lot of comments. The forums don't seem to get a lot of traffic. Twitter, linkedin, and facebook are paving the wave of the future.

If you are looking to get your feet wet in blogging and online posting, I would highly advise you post on topic of vacation spending, versus the portfolio management. Even if you are a genius financial advisor in real life, no one online knows that. You have to build a fan base. People aren't going to read your article and assume you know everything so much better everyone else writing about the same thing. Especially a topic like portfolio management, becuase everyone has different advice.

Bob has a very sucessful financial website. I truly believe that the reason Bob has been so successful is becuase he writes about fun and interesting topics. He comes across as a down to earth, resourceful, intelligent guy, who is guinely interested in helping people get financial information.

There are a lot of other guys out there right now, who are taking the other approach. Posting only about serious topics and coming off that thier advice is the only way to go. I just don't think those guys are as successful, without building the base first.

[Jeff Headrick]

Fair enough. Thanks agian for the input.

[4jacks]

Np, letus know how it goes