I have found myself going into hammer mode entirely too often in this forum, so I decided to put up a topic that could be helpful to a lot of people, and maybe I could learn something also.  So I’ll start.

  1.  When a client has a variable annuity with a death benefit significantly higher than the cash value, if it makes sense, and the withdrawals are dollar-for-dollar and the contract is out of surrender, do a partial withdrawal of all the cash except 1-2k to leave the death benefit in-tact.   2.  When talking with a client about their checking account, I generally ask, "What's the minimum amount you feel comfortable having in savings?"  and then ask, "What do you have in saving/checking now?"  then I have them write me a check for the difference.   3.  When recommending a muni bond to a new prospect, I phrase it as such, "If I can show you the equivalent of 7% on a taxable rate the next 10 years, what would stop you from sampling me out with 100k?"   4.  When a client has several statements from different brokerage firms, I'll suggest we "consolidate these funds/stocks so when a manager leaves, a fund underperforms, a stock gets downgraded, at least you have someone that will let you know about it."   5.  When working with a husband that runs his own show, but is getting older, I'll ask, "if something happens to you, who's going to help your wife with her investment portfolio?  Haven't you worked too hard building your net worth only to hand it over to your wife without any guidance?  Doesn't it make sense to start having a second set of eyes watching the portfolio with you so that if something happens to you at least you've got a back-up plan?"   6.  When rolling a TSP, the paperwork can be found on-line.  Print it out, have the client sign it and get it notorized and you are all set.   7.  On an annuity that has a significant allocation problem or has a significant surrender penalty, change the agent of record to bring those assets under your control.   8.  In wrap accounts that use individual bonds as part of their asset allocation, if it means bringing over the business, I'll tell the client to "turn off their monthly bill on the bond portion of the portfolio.  Rather than paying your advisor 20% of the yield of these bonds, lets set them aside and manage them separately.  I'll make my money as the bonds come due and I roll the money into new bonds, but you'll save that 1-1.5% annual charge."   Thought I'd through out a few ideas.........