Brett Amendola, Agency Sales Director, Barnum Financial Group, Wethersfield | Crisis reconnecting investors, advisers

As the financial crisis continues to take hold across the country how have financial professionals changed the way they deal with their clients?

Successful advisors see adversity as a chance to reconnect with clients and stay focused on long-term goals.  This crisis has brought advisors back to their clients to improve upon their face-to-face relationships. We have begun to institute new programs such as free investment seminars throughout the state, e-mail newsletters, plus our advisors are committed to reaching out to 100 percent of their clients.

Are financial professionals having second thoughts about their careers going forward?

With all the projected layoffs occurring in the economy, professionals are not willingly leaving the industry. We are staying optimistic and seeking new strategies and products to protect our future. Good financial advisors will always be needed.

Are you seeing more or fewer customers come to you for financial advice these days?

Whether times are steady or volatile, individuals and families will always need an advisor to oversee their financial future. In a bear market, it is more critical than ever to seek professional guidance. At Barnum Financial Group, we are not waiting for our clients to call us. Since August, we have been very proactive in reaching out and making sure they are being educated and given the tools to make smart decisions.

What are you telling them?

We are telling them to stay optimistic and enthusiastic. Some things never change. People still want to retire, educate their children, and protect their families. We are also seeking new strategies and products to protect our clients’ future. For example, our preference plus select annuity, through the use of certain riders, allows investors to take advantage of upticks in the market, but protects against down turns. This lets the client know the worst he/she will ever do is receive the return of their initial investment through an income stream. We are also using some fixed annuities to give the clients peace of mind with a fixed rate of return.