For those using Redtail as the CRM are you using the integrated email that will backup and store your email. (for compliance purposes). How do you like it? Does it slow your email down? How does it integrate with Redtail? Can you email from your email, and will it automatically add a note to Redtail? What other email solutions are you all using?

We were just on this podcast, though it is focussed on Australia and the advice landscape there, the parallels are there. Plenty of other episodes here that would be great to listen to. https://ensombl.com/podcasts/advicetech61/

Wanted to share a longer-term idea with the group and welcome your feedback and/or critiques... Have too much on my plate to pursue this right now, but thinking of setting up my own Skool community (like this one) but for consumers. In addition, I would signup for something like Elements to offer a largely self-serve financial planning tool to all members. The purpose of such a community would be to offer an educational environment to support people that I can't serve 1:1 in my advisory practice. These would be people that want some level of support but aren't interested in or not willing to pay for my full-service offering. It could also be for younger people or for people that want to "test the waters" before reaching out for a consultation in my advisory business. In addition to the Skool community and Elements planning tool, I would also offer regular "office hours" to be available to answer questions. I would also rely on tools like fpPathfinder and a service like Bento Engine (already using both) to provide additional resources, education, and outreach. I recognize that this would require a lot of time and attention, but it would also help fulfill my goal of serving and supporting more people with quality financial information and education. Would likely set this up as a separate entity from my advisory business as it wouldn't be advice-based. Purely education and information. This would avoid having to deal with compliance, etc. I would charge something for a group like this, but it would be affordable for most people who might have an interest. My current advisory business: Solo advisor working as an employee advisor for a mid-sized RIA. My clients are mine - not the firm's - and I think and operate very much like an independent advisor. Currently have just over 50 clients. So there it is... welcome any feedback, thoughts, or ideas as I continue to think about pursuing this in the future.

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Team - Thanks in advance for any feedback on this topic. This is something I have been working to research for sometime and have been unable to find a really great solution. Here is our problem... We are currently a hybrid RIA-BD firm with Cambridge Investment Research. We have historically had direct commission mutual fund business at AMF/others and although it was still always more cumbersome to open 529s vs other account types, we were able to use these CollegeAmerica/Bright Directions types to facilitate. Our goal by the end of 2023 is to transition to RIA only to streamline our operations and become more in alignment with regulatory initiatives moving forward. We have made considerable progress on this front but we are running into the same hang-up with many of our households, their 529 accounts. The primary challenges we are running into are that A) It doesn't seem like there are many fee-based 529 providers out there and B) It is a challenge to debit fee's from 529 accounts because of regulations/legislation/tax code issues. Questions for you: Does your firm use a fee based 529 approach with clients? If not, what approach do you take? What firms/platforms do you use? What additional challenges have you ran into with 529 plans? Am I alone with this being a challenge to others? Thanks again for all of your insight!