Time Management For IFAs - Blog

Oct 09 - Prioritising For Profit

Most of us are tightening our belts and being careful about how and where we spend our money, in the current economic climate.  How many of us are as careful about how and where we spend our time?

Time Management might not seem like a particularly exciting subject but when you think about where you spend your time and what it's actually costing you, it puts the importance of good time habits into perspective.

One of the most relevant quotes I found and use often, is:...

To read more - just register for the free IFA Time Life Newsletter and you'll also receive my free Top Time Tips for you and your business.

May 09 - Dealing With A Holiday Backlog

Something to think about when you return from a few days break as we're coming up to that time of year. To avoid spending the first week back dealing with all those emails, here are a few tips to get through them quicker.

Set aside an hour to go through your inbox. It's probably going to take longer than that but it's a start.

First scan - DON'T READ OR RESPOND TO ANY EMAILS ON THIS SCAN. Just go through quickly and eliminate the spam and any 'junk' emails you know you don't need to read. Use the sort function to sort by sender or subject, which makes it quicker and easier to delete.

Delete anything that doesn't require your attention or information you MUST have. Don't save it 'just in case'.

To read more - just register for the free IFA Time Life Newsletter and you'll also receive my free Top Time Tips for you and your business.

March 09 - How To Manage Your Social Networking Time

With more online social networks starting up almost every day there are even more places to spend your time online. Many business people are active in places liked Linked In, Facebook, IFA Life, UK Business Forums, Ecademy and Ning.

While these can all drive traffic to your website while raising your profile as an expert in your field, they can also be a source of distraction in your working day if you're constantly popping in and out to check messages or post comments.

Manage your time online in the same way that you manage any other aspect of your work ...

To read more - just register for the free IFA Time Life Newsletter and you'll also receive my free Top Time Tips for you and your business.

February 09 - Easy Ways To Improve Your Study Technique

Like many IFAs at the moment you are probably studying for one exam, certification or other. CPD as it's known or more likely CND (Continuing Necessary Development) is becoming a part of every IFAs life.

Here are a few tips and tricks to improving your study skills:

• Mind Mapping
• Speed Reading
• ...

To read more - just register for the free IFA Time Life Newsletter and you'll also receive my free Top Time Tips for you and your business.

January 09 - 10 Steps For Achieving Your Goals

At this time of year - people are setting goals and planning for the year. Whatever you prefer to call them goals, objectives, targets - the process of writing down what you want to achieve is a powerful tool.

It needs to be ongoing process so that you can check and adjust as you go. Think about the bigger picture as well as the steps you'll need to take along the way...

To read more - just register for the free IFA Time Life Newsletter and you'll also receive my free Top Time Tips for you and your business.

And the winner is ...

The winner of the IFALife prize draw for a signed copy of my book is:

Nicholas Manterfield of Brookfield Financial Planning.

Nicholas's name was drawn from the list of business cards that were left with Phil and I at the IFALife stand at Adviser08 up in Manchester.

Well done Nicholas - the book is on it's way to you.

What's On Your Business Card?

Having got back from the IFA Adviser08 event - I returned with a number of business cards. Now you'd think that the idea of a business card is to provide your details in one easy to read format. Have a thought when you get your business card designed and printed.

Readable print. I'm not yet in need of reading glasses although I'm starting to find I need longer arms these days but some of the print is so teeny, weeny on some of these business cards that you need a good light and a magnifying glass to read it.

Contrasting colours. While you might think that shiny silver looks good, light coloured writing on silver doesn't - again, I need to get out the reading glasses and angle it just right so I can read the letters and numbers. The same applies to light colours or where there's not much contrast between the text and background - it's difficult to read.

Photos. If you're going to have a photo on your business card, there's no harm in smiling. I think a passport-like blank stare isn't a good look, although at least it does serve as a prompt for when you next meet the person.

I like to write on the back of business cards - notes, comments, when we met - but glossy surfaces make this difficult to do - I've noticed this on my own cards. Worth considering when I next get them printed.

IFA Adviser08 - Manchester

I know a few IFA Life members are going to be at the IFA Adviser event in Manchester tomorrow - I'll be there too. Travelling from Brighton today, to give a talk tomorrow afternoon in The Big Ideas theatre.

Boost efficiency - Proven time management techniques for Independent Financial Advisers

Phil Calvert is also doing two talks. If you're going to be there, come and visit the IFA Life stand and say hello, as I'll be there for most of the day, with copies of my book and your chance to win a signed copy and much more.

TM4D - 12 Step Programme

For all of you who don't have time to read the book!

Step 1 - Click here to order the book - and make an added contribution to Cancer Research by using my link.

Step 2 - When Amazon confirm the order, make a note of the delivery date

Step 3 - Book 10 minutes out in your diary on said delivery date (lunch break or when you finish work).

Step 4 - Book arrives - take the opportunity for a break. Spend 10 minutes (that you've already booked time for) reading the Table of Contents and the Intro - this will take about two to three minutes. Spend the remaining time making a note of which Chapters are most relevant to your immediate needs.

Step 5 - Decide how many Chapters you need/want to read to make the biggest impact. There are 18 chapters in all, two of those are in the Parts of Tens - so shorter and not all may be relevant.

Step 6 - Now set aside 30 minutes in your diary each day (or every other day) for the Chapters you need/want to read. Either at the very beginning of the day, before you get going or at the end of the working day - you might think of relevant points you want to address. Prioritise the most important chapters first.

Step 7 - Read first 'most relevant chapter' - decide on one key action you're going to take or a tip that you can apply from what you've read.

Step 8 - Take action. Apply the tip or take the necessary action as soon as possible.

Step 9 - Next 30 minute slot - read the remainder of the existing chapter or the second 'most relevant chapter' (Rinse and repeat steps 5-7, as necessary). Some chapters are a little longer and may have actions and checklists that you need to complete. Set yourself a target for when you plan to complete the book. (Ch1)

Step 10 - Take the book with you everywhere, so you can put the tip in Ch17 into action and keep reading when you've got a few minutes spare.

Step 11 - Give yourself a pat on the back (Ch10).

Step 12 - If you're having trouble with any of the Steps 1-11 - give me a call.

Organise Your Diary, Contacts And Tasks

I've just had a demo of a great new time management tool E-link, which enables you to link your calendar, tasks, contacts, emails and documents in one easy-to-use front-end. Impressed by the initial demo which does many of the things I've always wanted to do with Outlook, without having to buy into a full blown CRM system, which I don't need or find that either Outlook doesn't quite do what I want in the most intuitive way or that I need to purchase any number of Add-ons to get close.

Now I need to start using it in earnest with real data but I'm already excited by the possibilities of linking emails, contact history and documents. I'll keep you posted and let you know what I think.