They are banning new members left and right.  Got me twice.

That guy has been doing these things for years.

Well, it seems like he isn't doing it over there anymore.

The temporary automatic ban on new members is over.  Please try again.

Who owns that forum?

Someone trustworthy.

Here is a general overview of the changes made:

1. New Owners - the troll was able to harrass and attempt to bully the previous owners.

2. Active Moderators that are effective at keeping out the 'undesirables.'

3. No more lurking - the forum is 100% private.  Guests have to register to see the basic board.  They have to post an introduction to this forum to gain access to rest of forum.

4. Punishment is swift.

All of this has accounted for better control over membership, as well as more participation from habitual lurkers.  Lots of praise going on over there.

Trust is a good thing. It seems like every so often, a forum breaks off of this forum, which seems natural. There have been some pretty weird advisor forums. Dungeons and dragons. It depends on your needs.  

There used to be some pretty cool people here. Perhaps the anonymous forum is best for old friends.

It will be interesting to see how things grow again here over time. I would be interested to see if a few of us here could increase our business and stay motivated  this year by sharing a few focused thoughts.  

I always wondered why RR did not tie the forum in better to their business. I trust RR, based on experience.

You're successful and you're going to invest your time, talent and energy on a forum. Work on your motivation, perception of the industry, perspective, writing and have fun. You need trust.

The changes with the forum software upset many people so another forum was started based of that reason. I think personally it had more to do with the constant bombarding of the same questions from newbs. If RR would make a couple changes with the layout and provide a senior member only section it would be better here and eventually the organic growth will bring it back, but post count here is suffering BIG TIME right now.

I wish those guys the best but they're drama queens over there.

I hate RR for this shitty layout of a forum (and it is shitty) as well as the disregard for the users preferences but I can get over that. Its almost like how my firm treats the FA's. I hope that the traffic picks up here and there is a return to some sort of intelligent and professional discourse on topics relative to becoming a better advisor.

Maybe you should start your own forum bluewire, although I bet you would find a reason to complain about that also.

[quote=bluewire]

I wish those guys the best but they're drama queens over there.

I hate RR for this shitty layout of a forum (and it is shitty) as well as the disregard for the users preferences but I can get over that. Its almost like how my firm treats the FA's. I hope that the traffic picks up here and there is a return to some sort of intelligent and professional discourse on topics relative to becoming a better advisor.

[/quote]

Good luck answering how much the wires pay as a salary for newbs and giving advise about non-solicits. thats all you see here anymore.

ghost-town.jpg768×512

Don't worry, gnats will again hurl turds on this here pinhead. The other forum always melts down, and the rats always come swimming home, the captain always rolls the annuity contracts when the surrend charges expire, and waxes about the virtues of tying notes to dog's backs. Welcome to the Hotel California.

That advisorhead website is crap... They had a poll a while back on production levels and I think 80% were under 250K... So it is a bunch of newbies, some RIAs, and a lot of pud producers wasting time...Last time I checked(before they made it private... I would too with the lack of good commentary on that board)...There prospecting board if full of people avoiding prospecting..(Google adwords, mailings, 1 guy has been talking about a seminar since the site started yet never seems to do one....It makes sense that most of the people on that site have small production).. At least I don't have to go over there anymore..

Squash 2 -

Anybody who has gone over there and looked at the posts over the last week, since the troll was banned, especially over the last three or four days, would realize what a truly moronic post this is. There is value here, and there is certainly a TON of value there.

[quote=squash2]

That advisorhead website is crap... They had a poll a while back on production levels and I think 80% were under 250K... So it is a bunch of newbies, some RIAs, and a lot of pud producers wasting time...Last time I checked(before they made it private... I would too with the lack of good commentary on that board)...There prospecting board if full of people avoiding prospecting..(Google adwords, mailings, 1 guy has been talking about a seminar since the site started yet never seems to do one....It makes sense that most of the people on that site have small production).. At least I don't have to go over there anymore..

[/quote]

I'm pretty sure there are a few "big" producers over there.  Certainly not all are.  Other than BondGuy, who is over here that isn't over there that is a big producer?

That said, prospecting is more than cold calling, doorknocking and seminars, unless you are truly myopic. 

Unless you open your mind, you will limit your success.

Studies show about 10% of high net worth client accumulation comes from cold-calling, direct mail, seminars and the like.

Who here really wants more clients with 30 or 60k?

Folks who have a need to  be aggressive or negative should consider staying off the RR site. This forum right here could be a resource for us to increase our production and stay positive.

Doing the 90% necessary to grow your book can be lonely work, which is best understood and encouraged by your peers, and not your competitiors in the office a few doors down the hall. We are that peer group, none of us alone knows all the answers.

[quote=squash2]

That advisorhead website is crap... They had a poll a while back on production levels and I think 80% were under 250K... So it is a bunch of newbies, some RIAs, and a lot of pud producers wasting time...Last time I checked(before they made it private... I would too with the lack of good commentary on that board)...There prospecting board if full of people avoiding prospecting..(Google adwords, mailings, 1 guy has been talking about a seminar since the site started yet never seems to do one....It makes sense that most of the people on that site have small production).. At least I don't have to go over there anymore..[/quote]

I went back at the poll in question and it's not quite as dismal as you remembered...2/3 of the respondents were below $250K in annual production.  However, an almost identical percentage indicated in another poll that they were five years or less in the business (13/22 vs. 14/21).  I suspect that if members here are just as honest, the percentages would be very similar.

Boards are often mostly new producers.  Once a new producer either fails out of the business or hits the big time, they generally disappear from these boards.  Some of us stay for different reasons, but most of us lose interest and/or get too busy.  How many of you remember Rightway? Zacko? Starka? Blarmston?  Most people come and go, and if you are looking for a forum where bunches of million dollar producers give freely of their time and advice, I think you're setting yourself up for disappointment.

[quote=Milyunair]

Studies show about 10% of high net worth client accumulation comes from cold-calling, direct mail, seminars and the like.

[/quote]

Could you point me to one of those studies?

[quote=Indyone]

Boards are often mostly new producers.  Once a new producer either fails out of the business or hits the big time, they generally disappear from these boards.  Some of us stay for different reasons, but most of us lose interest and/or get too busy.  How many of you remember Rightway? Zacko? Starka? Blarmston?  Most people come and go, and if you are looking for a forum where bunches of million dollar producers give freely of their time and advice, I think you're setting yourself up for disappointment.

[/quote]

Most people are takers, not givers. They come to the boards to see what they can get from them. Once the need is fulfilled off they go!

I'm not above that. I still learn from contributors. Success stories motivate me, so i love reading them. They never get old. Some of the best salesman in the world have posted on this forum.  Really, good stuff! I hope the new forum meets with the same success.

And, for me, giving back is a need . The board gives me a way to do that.

[quote=BondGuy]And, for me, giving back is a need . The board gives me a way to do that.[/quote]

Exactly.  That's definitely one of the reasons I stay when it would often be more profitable to leave and not come back.