Do a combo.  I would go for a “Protecting yourself against identity theft” along with a “obtaining, managing, and protecting
your income”.  You can likely get a guest speaker on the identity
theft for free and get run the other yourself.  I think you will
get more poeple to start coming, especially if you are on a regular
program of speaking.

The "uniqueness" of your presentation depends upon the time you have available to prepare for it.

In a couple of weeks?: Obtain marketing materials from mutual funds and/or money managers whose investment objective(s) are in line with your subject materials. Converse with the money managers directly (if possible) and ask them about anything unusual we can expect in the next few weeks (as pertains to their specialty). This will give you talking points and you can expand them from there. Prepare your presentation, then practice, practice, practice! 

In a couple of months?: Do the above, plus scour the internet for more info on muni's and dividend-paying stocks. Unless you already specialize in muni's, order some books on muni's and quality of financials. 

Your main goals (as I see it) are to establish that you are knowledgeable about the subject matter and that you have insight or access to info that they don't. Remember, if you simply tell them what they already know, you won't gain any additional clients from these presentations.

For example, for a company to pay dividends, they must have earnings. To have high quality dividends (read: persistent dividends), the company must have high quality earnings. What about companies who borrow money to pay dividends? Or companies who manipulate their depreciation schedules to manufacture rising earnings and, hence, pay ever-increasing dividends? (This is especially prevalent in companies whose execs own vast amounts of stock options and who are dependent upon a steadily rising stock price. Of course, we all know the ultimate outcome of that scenario.) Two books I like that cover this subject are: "Financial Shenanigans" by Schilit and "Quality of Earnings" by O'Glove.

Also, use this opportunity to get in front of CPA's. Huhhhhh? Yeah, tell the CPA's that you're a speaker for (whatever) and that you would like to get some material from them for your next speech on taxes. Tell them that you'll quote them extensively throughout the speech. Rather than speak about tax advice, maybe relate some of the "tax horror stories" they've come across in their practice, especially with regards to AMT. Presto, instant intro to CPA's and you massage their ego by offering to quote them.

I'm sure you can come with other ideas, only condition is that you share them!

Good luck!

[quote=doberman]The “uniqueness” of your presentation depends upon the time you have available to prepare for it.[/quote]



Well here is my outline. I’m going to have to do a litte more reasearch
on AMT issues. I feel so ignorant about that subject. I’m going to see
if I can do dry run of my presentation with a local CPA, that I would
like to build a relationship with.



I’m a big beleiver in Keeping it Simple when it comes to investment
presentations. Most people don’t know and don’t care. If people want to
know more, there is a Q&A session and a stack of calling cards.



------

Ahhh, the benefits of working for a regional firm finally come to light.

If you were with EDJ, you could just type in "seminars" on your computer and have several hundred choices from which to choose.

I learned long ago (the hard way, I might add), that a presentation should first describe the pain. This draws the attention of those experiencing the pain. In this case, the pain is "paying taxes". The pain isn't writing the IRS the check. The pain is thinking about what you could have used the money for, as you write out the check. Give some horror stories and present munis as one possible solution to reducing their pain, if not totally relieving it.

Use the same pattern with the other part of your presentation:

Pain - describe it, personalize it

Solution - describe it, personalize it, only you can provide it

Also, name-drop frequently during the presentation. Call the money managers of your favorite fund(s) and ask them questions and get a short-term generalized forecast about their particular investments. For example, during the presentation you could say, "I was a little concerned about the direction of short-term interest rates and its effect on muni's, so I called Bill Smucker of the Acme Muni Fund. Bill manages about $25 billion in muni's and he's been on CNBC a number of times, so he's a good authority on...." By name-dropping some big names, you've created some credibility and you also give attendees the impression that you have access to information sources they don't.

Just my 2 cents....

[quote=Borker Boy]Ahhh, the benefits of working for a regional firm finally come to light.

If you were with EDJ, you could just type in "seminars" on your computer and have several hundred choices from which to choose.
[/quote]

Unlike some people, I don't serve clients canned ham. People recognize canned seminars, and IMHO they don't have nearly as much credibility as seminars you do you self.

Since this is going to be an educational seminar, I'm keeping anything to do with sales off the table during the presentation. One of my goals is to be invited back, which is not going to happen if you come off as salesy in anyway.

I do want to create interest, but since there is a reception before/after I'll take care of things one on one.

I can say that thanks to this connection, last week my partner has been asked to "review" the portfolio ($1M Taxable) of a Wealthy Lady who is in the process of firing her old broker.

Given the tenor of this audience I'm putting alot of work into making this the best presentation on dividends and muni's ever.

[quote=AllREIT]

[quote=Borker Boy]Ahhh, the benefits of working for a regional firm finally come to light.

If you were with EDJ, you could just type in "seminars" on your computer and have several hundred choices from which to choose.
[/quote]

Unlike some people, I don't serve clients canned ham. People recognize canned seminars, and IMHO they don't have nearly as much credibility as seminars you do you self.

Since this is going to be an educational seminar, I'm keeping anything to do with sales off the table during the presentation. One of my goals is to be invited back, which is not going to happen if you come off as salesy in anyway.

I do want to create interest, but since there is a reception before/after I'll take care of things one on one.

I can say that thanks to this connection, last week my partner has been asked to "review" the portfolio ($1M Taxable) of a Wealthy Lady who is in the process of firing her old broker.

Given the tenor of this audience I'm putting alot of work into making this the best presentation on dividends and muni's ever.

[quote=AllREIT] [quote=doberman]The "uniqueness" of your presentation depends upon the time you have available to prepare for it.[/quote]

Well here is my outline. I'm going to have to do a litte more reasearch on AMT issues. I feel so ignorant about that subject. I'm going to see if I can do dry run of my presentation with a local CPA, that I would like to build a relationship with.

I'm a big beleiver in Keeping it Simple when it comes to investment presentations. Most people don't know and don't care. If people want to know more, there is a Q&A session and a stack of calling cards.

------

1) Concept of tax equivalent yield

2) What are tax favored sources of income?

3) Dividends
    1) What are dividends
    2) What kind of companies pay qualified dividends
    3) Dividend growth as inflation hedge.
    4) International dividends for economic diversification.

4) Munibonds
    1) What are MuniBonds
    2) Triple Tax Free
    3) Very Safe, even junk munies very safe
    4) Low real yeilds

5) Role of Bonds in a Diversified Portfolio
    1) Steady Returns that boost and dampen returns
    2) Trade performance for volatility.
    3) Negative returns tend to be short-lived and relatively modest.
    4) Counter cyclical returns.

5) Putting it all together in a combined portfolio
    1) Bonds vs Stocks cross diversify
    2) International vs Domestic Stocks
    3) Sector/Segment Overweights.
[/quote]

Don't get too technical. Some people like technical stuff (engineers  ) most people just lose interest. Use lots of graphics that are colorful and will stick in peoples minds.  Stress the benefits of the concept and not the nuts and bolts of the concept.  Keep your presentation short, no more than 30 minutes. Leave time at the end for questions so if the audience does want to get into detail they can do it on their own.

You might even want to consider breaking your presentation into two sessions. You are attempting to cover a lot of material.

Dress nicely....better than your audience.   Move around on the stage. Your feet are not nailed to the floor.  Move your arms and use bigger gestures to point at your exibits.  Make some self depreciating jokes.  See if you can have some examples or questions that will engage the audience to participate.

Smile and have fun.  Really. It isn't hard and the audience will know you are enjoying yourself.

The money I spent on a Dale Carnegie class is probably the best I ever

spent in this business.



Your absolutely right about keeping it very simple. This is going to about

ten slides at most. And I do need to put in some graphics, probably I’ll

make up a handout as well.



There are basicly three points I want to get across



1. AllREIT knows his stuff

2. Dividend paying stocks are solid investment for muni investors

3. Muni bonds are a solid investment for dividend investors.



"Dress nicely…better than your audience."



My decision not to spend $1700 on new semi-custom suit from BB is

going to bite me now.



I think I well dress up in hedgefund chic, and should do ok, I’m not sure

its good idea to look like a stockbroker.



As usual, the key thing in public speaking is to have passion for the

subject. Which is not something you can pull from the EDJ intranet.



No canned ham!!!

Be visual.

For the tax free demo take a dollar bill, hold it up, and rip one third of it off. Hold the ripped dollar against a whole dollar and ask the audience which they would rather have? Make your points about the insidious effect of taxes on investment income. Then give the pieces to people in the audience while telling them not to spend it all in one place.

Hold up a fist full of dollar bills and tell the audience that you will pay for questions with tax free dollars. As questions are asked hand out the dollars saying "Here is your tax free dollar" This fits in well with a presso that tells the audience that your job is to deliver tax free dollars to your clients.

"My job as a Financial Advisor is to maximize my clients after tax income. Keeping with my career objectives I hold in my hands dollar bills. These dollars are unique in that they are tax free dollars. I will give you one of these tax free dollars in exchange for a question. Does anyone have any questions?"

OK, it's corny, but corny works in small rooms.

I must disagree. Yes, it is visual, but ripping apart a dollar bill may "turn off" some of the prospects.

I imagine there is an alternative with the same result.

Peace to all of you as Iran attempts to  eliminate the West. This must not happen.

[quote=ZAID ABDUL AZIZ]

I must disagree. Yes, it is visual, but ripping apart a dollar bill may "turn off" some of the prospects.

I imagine there is an alternative with the same result.

Peace to all of you as Iran attempts to  eliminate the West. This must not happen. [/quote]

ZAA, I hear you. How about this: instead of one dollar you use 9607.10 Iranian Rial. It might be a bit more time consuming, but the math is the same. More or less.

[quote=BondGuy][quote=ZAID ABDUL AZIZ]

I must disagree. Yes, it is visual, but ripping apart a dollar bill may "turn off" some of the prospects.

I imagine there is an alternative with the same result.

Peace to all of you as Iran attempts to  eliminate the West. This must not happen. [/quote]

ZAA, I hear you. How about this: instead of one dollar you use 9607.10 Iranian Rial. It might be a bit more time consuming, but the math is the same. More or less.

Actually, you're not too far off. But I believe it should be closer to 9000. Some old school folks use the Toman.

But I'm glad you agree and are open to suggestion.

Peace to all of you as Hezbollah must be stopped and disarmed.

[quote=ZAID ABDUL AZIZ][quote=BondGuy][quote=ZAID ABDUL AZIZ]

I must disagree. Yes, it is visual, but ripping apart a dollar bill may "turn off" some of the prospects.

I imagine there is an alternative with the same result.

Peace to all of you as Iran attempts to  eliminate the West. This must not happen. [/quote]

ZAA, I hear you. How about this: instead of one dollar you use 9607.10 Iranian Rial. It might be a bit more time consuming, but the math is the same. More or less.

Actually, you're not too far off. But I believe it should be closer to 9000. Some old school folks use the Toman.

I'm not off at all. The exchange rate when I posted was 9607.10, EXACTLY. I'm not old school.

But I'm glad you agree and are open to suggestion.

I don't agree. Ripping up perfectly good dollars is all about wasting money. And wasting money is American as apple pie. God Bless America!

Peace to all of you as Hezbollah must be stopped and disarmed.

That's your fight, we've got our hands full right now.

[/quote] [/quote]

[quote=BondGuy][quote=ZAID ABDUL AZIZ][quote=BondGuy][quote=ZAID ABDUL AZIZ]

I must disagree. Yes, it is visual, but ripping apart a dollar bill may "turn off" some of the prospects.

I imagine there is an alternative with the same result.

Peace to all of you as Iran attempts to  eliminate the West. This must not happen. [/quote]

ZAA, I hear you. How about this: instead of one dollar you use 9607.10 Iranian Rial. It might be a bit more time consuming, but the math is the same. More or less.

Actually, you're not too far off. But I believe it should be closer to 9000. Some old school folks use the Toman.

I'm not off at all. The exchange rate when I posted was 9607.10, EXACTLY. I'm not old school.

But I'm glad you agree and are open to suggestion.

I don't agree. Ripping up perfectly good dollars is all about wasting money. And wasting money is American as apple pie. God Bless America!

Peace to all of you as Hezbollah must be stopped and disarmed.

That's your fight, we've got our hands full right now.

[/quote] [/quote]

[/quote]

Thank you so much for your kind response. But, you are incorrect about your exchange rates. Right now, the rate is $9230. I'm quite familiar with the formula. And as I said, the Toman is used by many in Iran. Your mistake is human, so do not feel bad. You make many of them.

Yes, wasting money is American! I also am guilty of that. But in the USA, we can all work hard and live the dream!

Hezbollah is OUR fight. I am a US citizen and Hezbollah is responsible for more US deaths than any other terror organization (excluding 911). Evidently, you are not familiar with global politics, for you would understand that Iran and Hezbollah are on the same side!!! That is why WE (perhaps not you) are so concerned with them.

Peace to all of you as Ahmadinejad must be isolated.

I don’t really get this identity but at the same time find it intriguing and mildy amusing.

[quote=ZAID ABDUL AZIZ][quote=BondGuy][quote=ZAID ABDUL AZIZ][quote=BondGuy][quote=ZAID ABDUL AZIZ]

I must disagree. Yes, it is visual, but ripping apart a dollar bill may "turn off" some of the prospects.

I imagine there is an alternative with the same result.

Peace to all of you as Iran attempts to  eliminate the West. This must not happen. [/quote]

ZAA, I hear you. How about this: instead of one dollar you use 9607.10 Iranian Rial. It might be a bit more time consuming, but the math is the same. More or less.

Actually, you're not too far off. But I believe it should be closer to 9000. Some old school folks use the Toman.

I'm not off at all. The exchange rate when I posted was 9607.10, EXACTLY. I'm not old school.

But I'm glad you agree and are open to suggestion.

I don't agree. Ripping up perfectly good dollars is all about wasting money. And wasting money is American as apple pie. God Bless America!

Peace to all of you as Hezbollah must be stopped and disarmed.

That's your fight, we've got our hands full right now.

[/quote] [/quote]

[/quote]

Thank you so much for your kind response.

Problem is you don't mean that. So now you're being disengenuous

But, you are incorrect about your exchange rates. Right now, the rate is $9230. I'm quite familiar with the formula. And as I said, the Toman is used by many in Iran. Your mistake is human, so do not feel bad. You make many of them.

The Rial is worth so little fractionally when compared to the dollar that perhaps, God willing, it moved in value between our price checks. Note I didn't say you were wrong, I would never be so arrogant, only that I was not wrong.

But if I may point out an error on your part, putting a dollar sign in front of the Rial exchange rate is incorrect. But, don't sweat it, you are human and will make many mistakes.

Yes, wasting money is American! I also am guilty of that. But in the USA, we can all work hard and live the dream!

What dream would that be? Killing people half a world away because they worship a different God than you do?

Hezbollah is OUR fight. I am a US citizen and Hezbollah is responsible for more US deaths than any other terror organization (excluding 911).

Yeah, hezbollah is no more than an Iranian front team of hitmen and are a dangerous group that the middle eastern region should have reigned in years ago. Problem is, of course, that most arabs in the region don't disagree with their cause. The moderates say they disagree, but actions speak louder than words. And no action speaks volumes. So here we sit. If we can't get the governments in the region to step on these guys why should we have to? Again, not our fight.

And I politely point out that you are wrong about hezbolla being responsible for the most american deaths. That infamous title goes to Libya for the Pan-Am bombing.

Evidently, you are not familiar with global politics, for you would understand that Iran and Hezbollah are on the same side!!! That is why WE (perhaps not you) are so concerned with them.

Yeah, I'm pretty much your average, uninformed, American country bumpkin

Peace to all of you as Ahmadinejad must be isolated.

Good luck with that. Let us know how that works out for you. Maybe you and Condi Rice can go on a road trip.

[quote=no idea]I don't really get this identity but at the same time find it intriguing and mildy amusing.[/quote]

It's just one of the regulars having some fun. Or maybe Put is back?

[quote=BondGuy][quote=ZAID ABDUL AZIZ][quote=BondGuy][quote=ZAID ABDUL AZIZ][quote=BondGuy][quote=ZAID ABDUL AZIZ]

I must disagree. Yes, it is visual, but ripping apart a dollar bill may "turn off" some of the prospects.

I imagine there is an alternative with the same result.

Peace to all of you as Iran attempts to  eliminate the West. This must not happen. [/quote]

ZAA, I hear you. How about this: instead of one dollar you use 9607.10 Iranian Rial. It might be a bit more time consuming, but the math is the same. More or less.

Actually, you're not too far off. But I believe it should be closer to 9000. Some old school folks use the Toman.

I'm not off at all. The exchange rate when I posted was 9607.10, EXACTLY. I'm not old school.

But I'm glad you agree and are open to suggestion.

I don't agree. Ripping up perfectly good dollars is all about wasting money. And wasting money is American as apple pie. God Bless America!

Peace to all of you as Hezbollah must be stopped and disarmed.

That's your fight, we've got our hands full right now.

[/quote] [/quote]

[/quote]

Thank you so much for your kind response.

Problem is you don't mean that. So now you're being disengenuous

But, you are incorrect about your exchange rates. Right now, the rate is $9230. I'm quite familiar with the formula. And as I said, the Toman is used by many in Iran. Your mistake is human, so do not feel bad. You make many of them.

The Rial is worth so little fractionally when compared to the dollar that perhaps, God willing, it moved in value between our price checks. Note I didn't say you were wrong, I would never be so arrogant, only that I was not wrong.

But if I may point out an error on your part, putting a dollar sign in front of the Rial exchange rate is incorrect. But, don't sweat it, you are human and will make many mistakes.

Yes, wasting money is American! I also am guilty of that. But in the USA, we can all work hard and live the dream!

What dream would that be? Killing people half a world away because they worship a different God than you do?

Hezbollah is OUR fight. I am a US citizen and Hezbollah is responsible for more US deaths than any other terror organization (excluding 911).

Yeah, hezbollah is no more than an Iranian front team of hitmen and are a dangerous group that the middle eastern region should have reigned in years ago. Problem is, of course, that most arabs in the region don't disagree with their cause. The moderates say they disagree, but actions speak louder than words. And no action speaks volumes. So here we sit. If we can't get the governments in the region to step on these guys why should we have to? Again, not our fight.

And I politely point out that you are wrong about hezbolla being responsible for the most american deaths. That infamous title goes to Libya for the Pan-Am bombing.

Evidently, you are not familiar with global politics, for you would understand that Iran and Hezbollah are on the same side!!! That is why WE (perhaps not you) are so concerned with them.

Yeah, I'm pretty much your average, uninformed, American country bumpkin

Peace to all of you as Ahmadinejad must be isolated.

Good luck with that. Let us know how that works out for you. Maybe you and Condi Rice can go on a road trip.

[/quote] [/quote]

Thank you for your kind response. It is appreciated. 

Disengenous? No, my frustrated friend. Just honest.

The exchange rate could have moved from that point. I'm sure it can be verified.

My idea of a "dream" and yours are different. I believe in working hard and building a better life. You are referring to something else. Peace to you.

Re...Hezbollah...it is our fight. If they are not stopped, eventually, they will reach our shores. Diplomacy comes first, but these people don't often reason very well.

And you are quite wrong about the Pan Am bombing. Less than 200 Americans were killed in that tragic event. In the 1983 suicide attack on our Marine barracks in Lebanon, almost 250 were killed.

I guess you are right about being uninfomed. But you still get a passing grade!

Looking forward to my trip with Condi!

Peace to all of you as we fight terror.