With many states beginning to lift stay-at-home restrictions, you’ll want to create a plan for how and when to open your doors to employees and clients. Who should return to the office and when?  How will you create and maintain a safe office environment?

Laura Gregg and David Partain, along with Kelli Cruz, the principal and founder of Cruz Consulting Group, discuss things that advisory firms should be considering before unlocking the office door. It’s unlikely that “business as usual” will look as it did pre-COVID-19; there are myriad new variables that should be considered as you plan to reopen. 

In this episode, you will learn:

• What to consider before bringing employees back into the office
• Who should come back first and who should remain remote
• Office space and common area considerations
• External circumstances that may impact your employees return
• And more!

Tune in now to learn what to consider as you plan for the re-opening of your office. 

FlexShares Exchange Traded Funds | Contact Laura Gregg | Contact David Partain | Cruz Consulting Group

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Welcome to The Flexible Advisor podcast! This is the show for financial advisors that digs into industry trends, investor preferences, and FlexShares’ proprietary advisor and investor research. 

In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain welcome two special guests: Idea Decanter co-founder Laura Garfield and advisor Fernando Ereneta. Together, the four discuss how advisors can best get their message out to clients during this time of self-isolation and working from home using one simple tool — video.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why advisors are being called upon to lead right now
• A technique to create studio-quality videos remotely with an iPhone
• How to use video to share your authentic self to clients and prospects
• And more!

Tune in now to get some tips on working remotely, communicating quickly, and connecting with your clients!

Resources:  FlexShares Exchange Traded Funds | Contact Laura Gregg | Idea Decanter | Fernando Ereneta

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Over the next 20 years, the U.S. is going to look much different than it does today. In fact, we’re already seeing more women, people of color, younger people, and LGBTQ people owning a larger share of U.S. and global wealth. 

Is your advisory firm building diverse teams and clientele? 

Today, Laura Gregg and David Partain speak to Malcolm Ethridge of CIC Wealth Management about what firms can do to make their services accessible to under-served communities as well as how they can seek diverse talent. This is an honest conversation that explores opportunities that are available to every firm that says “yes” to diversity.

In this episode, you will learn:

• How Malcolm is delivering financial literacy in a new way to help give back to his community and others like it. 
• Malcolm’s perspective on whether clients truly seek out advisors who look like them
• What firms should focus on when trying to build a diverse team
• And more!

Tune in now to learn practical ways to start working to capture and retain a more diverse clientele!  

Resources:  FlexShares Exchange Traded Funds | Contact Laura Gregg | Contact David Partain | Malcolm Ethridge on LinkedIn | Manage Your Damn Money with Ben & Malcolm

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Navigating this health crisis and the financial volatility that goes along with it is like drinking from a fire hose.  FlexShares is working hard to deliver a variety of resources for advisors under the banner of Stronger Every Day including 15-minute bite-size podcasts to give you some quick ideas around helping clients – and your business through this uncertain time. In this episode, Laura and David talk about the importance of proactive communication.

In this episode, you will learn

• Why navigating 2008 successfully doesn’t’ give you a free pass today – your clients have changed.
• Why now is the time to deepen relationships by giving email a break
• The importance of leading with personal wellbeing and then offering to educate and stress test plans

Tune in now to learn practical ways to keep yourself top of mind for clients!  

Resources:

FlexShares Exchange Traded Funds | Contact Laura Gregg | Contact David Partain | Related Blog Post

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Are your assumptions about high-net-worth (HNW) male and female primary breadwinners hurting your bottom line?

In this final episode of the mini-series, Laura Gregg and David Partain of FlexShares Exchange Traded Funds bust advisors’ gender assumptions about executive investors. Together, they urge advisors to reconsider the assumptions that they may be making about their executive and professional clients.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Techniques and considerations for working with couples
• Why it’s important to consider risk appetite in terms of dollars, not percentages
• What advisors have to lose if they don’t change their approach 
• And more!

Tune in now and learn how to give your approach to working with HNW investors an overhaul. 

Resources:  FlexShares Exchange Traded Funds | Study: “Rethink How to Win Executives” |
Contact Laura Gregg | Contact David Partain | The Integrated Core Approach to ESG

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