Many of you already understand the benefits Bedel Financial brings to you in the form of comprehensive wealth management. However, you might not be familiar with the many other ways we provide value to our clients. Here are three of our favorites.
Q: What is My BFC Keeper (MBK)?
A: Our client vault (My BFC Keeper) is available for all clients who wish to participate. It ensures that private documents can be shared between our clients and their Bedel Financial team in a highly secure way. All communications pass through a secure channel, fully encrypted with keys embedded in a private certificate. It’s more secure than email, especially web-based email programs such as Yahoo and Gmail. With MBK, your files are stored on our servers versus in the cloud. Investment reports, insurance policies and estate plans are ideal for safekeeping, but you could also include copies of passports, real estate transactions or tax returns. And it’s mobile friendly, so you can access it on the go!
Q: What client events does Bedel Financial host annually?
A: The BFC Forum (held each fall) and the Ladies Luncheon (held each spring) are our signature events. Each offers those who attend the opportunity to network and hear insight and opinions from experts in their field. Topics are typically related to wealth planning, investments and financial well-being. Past speakers include: Greg Valliere, chief global strategist at Horizon Investments; Charo Boyd, public affairs specialist at the Social Security Administration; Pamela Everhart, head of Regulatory Affairs for the Public Affairs and Policy Group at Fidelity Investments; and Kathleen Passanisi, speaker, humorist and author. Both events are well attended and often wait-listed.
Q: What is the Bedel Barometer?
A: In 2009, Bedel Financial identified key areas that have historically been strong indicators of the strength in the U.S. economy. They include:
- Stock market performance
- Consumer spending
- Manufacturing activity
- Consumer price stability
- Housing market
- Volatility
- TED spread (the difference between interbank loan interest rates and short-term U.S. government debt)
We use these indicators to determine what the economy will do in the year ahead. In the short run, the Bedel Barometer should be used as a measure of the overall health of the U.S. economy—not as an indicator of the health of the stock market. Since its inception, the Bedel Barometer has consistently shown a positive score. That suggests the economy was initially moving toward growth and has since sustained that growth.