Comments on: [SpecialtyBuzz] An Interview with Finance Writer Yolander Prinzel

By: Yolander Prinzel

Yolander Prinzel — Fri, 29 May 2009 04:37:14 +0000

The compliance know-how as well as the true understanding are both great selling points. As you well know Bumbles, the information I write is going to represent the agent or advisor. They don’t want to post false or misleading info. Being able to completely trust their writer and having a writer who doesn’t need the information explained to her is fantastic

By: Bumbles

Bumbles — Thu, 28 May 2009 17:44:20 +0000

This is a very daunting field to specialize in – for the compliance restrictions alone. I have worked for a financial planner for 16 years and know intimately about compliance revisions. Yolander’s point is very true that if you can think like the compliance world then you can work within the required legal parameters with the need for few revisions and I would think that would be a huge selling point to her clients. I find the field interesting because every investor’s needs and situation are different – plus the rules and products are constantly changing so – never a dull moment! Nice to hear there are writers in the industry staying true to what is best for the grandparents of the world.

By: Yolander Prinzel

Yolander Prinzel — Thu, 28 May 2009 14:36:29 +0000

I should also mention that, “advice” is a term I use loosely. Educating would be a better term since, whether we are talking insurance of finance, I did not give individual advice to investors.

By: Yolander Prinzel

Yolander Prinzel — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:11:30 +0000

I think if they were truly passionate about finance, their passion could help override their inexperience. With the compliance and lawsuit concerns of the financial advisors and insurance agents in this climate, it would be difficult.

Keep in mind, I’m used to advising clients on the phone. I’ve had many sell a stock to buy another and then, when their new stock does poorly, call me to tell me that they didn’t understand what they were doing so I should “undo” everything. Of course, you can’t just undo, and all of our conversations were recorded, orders were repeated, and confirmations were sent out, so they had no leg to stand on. I try to be very clear that no one can actually give you advice except your financial advisor or CPA–those who know all the details of your financial situation and goals. Since I never directly say, “You, Jennifer, should buy this stock” I don’t get too worried about liability. I have also incorporated to help separate my personal assets from business assets.

By: Freelance Writerville » Blog Archive » Why Forums are Your Frenemies- Part 2

Thu, 28 May 2009 12:55:24 +0000

[...] Read The Life and Times of a Freelance Writer’s interview with Yolander. [...]

By: Jenn Escalona

Jenn Escalona — Thu, 28 May 2009 12:55:16 +0000

Do you think someone who does not have your long years of work experience in finance would truly be able to break into finance writing? How big a barrier would that be?

Also, I’m dying to know if you have ever had a situation where someone misapplied your advice? How strong is the worry that they will? I ask, because I blog for a law site and I have similar concerns sometimes.