Thiving Amid Chaos

Unlocking Real Value Newsletter

The Fourth Quarter and Beyond

I's sure that most of you were glad to see the third quarter end - I certainly was! August and September were brutal months in the stock market. While the markets did recover somewhat by quarter-end, investors still gave back many of their gains of the past two years.

On the political side - can the circus get any worse? The end of the summer recess brought more threats of a government shutdown, albeit this time the drama was shorter. Most Americans are fed-up with Washington, and it would be hard to find many politicians with a positive approval rating.

The harsh reality is that while we have seen a few positive economic signs in recent weeks, it's likely that the economic and political uncertainty will continue through 2012; while the Presidential election cycle should be fun and interesting to watch, the world will not be much different a year from now.

So what do you do?

1) Continue to show leadership with your clients by helping keep them on an even keel; and
2) Continually improve your business practices so that you can weather the storm and emerge as a winner.

To this second point, this quarter's White Paper, "Thriving Amid Chaos," suggests ways to improve your operating efficiency and communications strategy. It's possible to thrive in this environment - but it takes some effort!

Have a great quarter and holiday season.

Andy Klausner
Founder & Principal

Thriving Amid Chaos

There is little doubt that the near-term outlook for the economy and financial markets is uncertain. Amid this uncertainty, however, remember that crisis breeds opportunity for those that position themselves for success. Thriving in today's world relies on a two-pronged approach to managing your business.

First, it's important to look inward at your business to make sure that you're operating efficiently and that your resources match your goals. Second, look outward to ensure that you are effectively servicing your clients and communicating your value-added proposition.

Inward-Looking: Focus on Efficiency - The Three Ps: Tough times demand that you manage costs and control what you can - how you operate. Look at your:

People
Planning
Processes

Client-Facing: Focus on Communications - The Four Cs: How effectively you communicate with clients, and by extension prospects, depends on your message being:

Clear
Consistent
Convenient
Compelling

People demand information when and how they want it. If you don't provide it to them, someone else will.

Click here to read the entire White Paper.

4Q2011

Andy Klausner is now a contributor to Forbes.com's Advisor Network.

Click here to follow Andy and see his weekly blog posts.

Click below to see our new Emagazine:

Expanding its expertise into industries outside of

financial services, AK co-owns Consult P³, a strategic consultancy

that works with small, medium and large companies

to help them turn potential into profits. We help companies align

their three Ps - people, planning and processes - with

their corporate goals.

A key differentiating point of Consult P³ is its P³ University

implementation arm. Our "faculty" of industry experts

allows us to recommend best-in-class solutions where you need them.

Click here for more details.

We welcome your questions and comments. Please contact us at:

121 East 23rd Street
Suite 11C New York, NY 10010
(617) 990-6894

andy@akadvisorypartners.com

www.akadvisorypartners.com

AK Advisory Partners LLC is a consultancy to the financial services industry, providing advice and training to firms and individuals operating in the fee-based, investment management and wealth management areas.