Early in their
practice Mike and Kim faced a crossroads. "How can we best
manage the information for these complex financial situations?" With
the workload growing, they decided that the traditional Excel
spreadsheet approach was not effective in managing their clients’ data.
They needed a clear picture of their clients’ complex financial
situations. As it turned out, Navigator was just
the answer they were looking for.
By implementing FN into their practice,
Mike and Kim found their solution: an integrated accounting and
portfolio tracking system. According to Mike, "After using
FN, we have become the focal point for monitoring and maintaining
our clients’ financial
information. With the data we maintain and reports we produce,
we are now able to work more closely and effectively with the
client’s
financial, legal and insurance advisors. We are better prepared
to plan for their retirement, insurance needs, and business ventures.
With FN and its numerous reporting capabilities we have an understanding
of a client’s financial position at any given point in time."
Hiltrud Cathcart, a staff member of McCabe & Totah,
needed a way to retrieve information quickly from multiple brokerage
firms such as: Bear Stearns, UBS, Solomon Smith Barney and Morgan
Stanley. BrokerLink, an add-on module, was the answer
because it downloads transaction data from all of the major brokerage
firms. According to Hiltrud, "I used to spend hours entering
investment transactions. With BrokerLink, the time I
spend is reduced substantially. BrokerLink is a great
tool!" She believes
it has reduced her data entry time by over 70%. All of the staff
at McCabe & Totah take advantage of FNI’s user support
program. Their inquiries range from basic software functions and
applications, to system implementation for the purpose of tracking
complex investment strategies from partnerships to hedge funds
and similar financial investments. To supplement their knowledge,
the staff participates in training classes and utilizes consulting
services provided by FNI.
When reflecting on what her firm has achieved,
Kim Totah says, "The Navigator software enables
us to have the kind of relationship with our clients that they
want to have. We are able to stay on top of their situation without
taking a lot of their time. We have achieved our goal of efficiently
providing information and making us a more integral and important
part of our client’s financial team of advisors."