Finding speakers for an investment group
June 19, 2013 12:07 PM Subscribe
How do I find possible speakers for an investment group?
I have recently volunteered some time at the local chapter of an investment group. They have asked me to line up speakers who would be willing to address the group a meeting.
The HQ of the organization provides one speaker a year. We arrange the rest.
Apparently, we want speakers who will speak for free, so that usually leads to someone who has a newsletter or service to promote, and speaking is a form of advertising for them.
I guess I could search the net for newsletters and start calling at random, but I am guessing there are MeFi'ers that have better ideas on finding speakers.
How can I find interesting, willing speakers for my investment group?
Gnossos
I have recently volunteered some time at the local chapter of an investment group. They have asked me to line up speakers who would be willing to address the group a meeting.
The HQ of the organization provides one speaker a year. We arrange the rest.
Apparently, we want speakers who will speak for free, so that usually leads to someone who has a newsletter or service to promote, and speaking is a form of advertising for them.
I guess I could search the net for newsletters and start calling at random, but I am guessing there are MeFi'ers that have better ideas on finding speakers.
How can I find interesting, willing speakers for my investment group?
Gnossos
You could find a fee-only financial advisor. Yes, they'd be promoting themselves and would hope to get more clients, but the substance of their talk is more likely to be unbiased than if you selected someone with an investment specialty, like an insurance saleman or real estate broker. Also, you could contact the public affairs office of a local college and see if someone from the business school or economics department would be willing to talk.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 12:33 PM on June 19, 2013
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 12:33 PM on June 19, 2013
You should be able to find any number of Trust and Estates attorneys willing to talk about various tax advantageous vehicles. Of course, they'll be selling their own services too.
posted by bswinburn at 12:38 PM on June 19, 2013
posted by bswinburn at 12:38 PM on June 19, 2013
Look for Toastmasters Advanced Clubs or a Toastmasters Speakers Bureau in your area.
posted by mogget at 12:58 PM on June 19, 2013
posted by mogget at 12:58 PM on June 19, 2013
Google "CFA Society [name of metro area]" and contact someone from the local chapter. These are groups of people who hold a CFA charter and will mostly be investment professionals of some sort. They'll either have a member who can speak or know of other speakers that may be interested.
posted by mullacc at 1:37 PM on June 19, 2013
posted by mullacc at 1:37 PM on June 19, 2013
By Investment Group what are you trying to have someone speak to you about?
How to invest? Interesting topics tangentially related to investing? What's going on in the world that we should be talking about?
This is sort of broad. If your group has enough people.
Yes, they'd be promoting themselves and would hope to get more clients, but the substance of their talk is more likely to be unbiased than if you selected someone with an investment specialty
Oh this is just silly. Fee-only isn't some panacea, and fee-only planners may or may not know wtf they are talking about. In reality I'd imagine in terms of actual content there would be no difference. Only some jackass FA would try to hard sell an investment club.
I have an investment specialty, I sell it. You can't buy it, but I am still selling something. I guarantee you I know a heap more about finance and investing then some fee only guy who helps you do asset allocation.
posted by JPD at 1:39 PM on June 19, 2013
How to invest? Interesting topics tangentially related to investing? What's going on in the world that we should be talking about?
This is sort of broad. If your group has enough people.
Yes, they'd be promoting themselves and would hope to get more clients, but the substance of their talk is more likely to be unbiased than if you selected someone with an investment specialty
Oh this is just silly. Fee-only isn't some panacea, and fee-only planners may or may not know wtf they are talking about. In reality I'd imagine in terms of actual content there would be no difference. Only some jackass FA would try to hard sell an investment club.
I have an investment specialty, I sell it. You can't buy it, but I am still selling something. I guarantee you I know a heap more about finance and investing then some fee only guy who helps you do asset allocation.
posted by JPD at 1:39 PM on June 19, 2013
Angel list?
posted by oceanjesse at 5:13 PM on June 19, 2013
posted by oceanjesse at 5:13 PM on June 19, 2013
Best answer: The key word here is local. Honestly, unless someone has something to sell to your group, the attractions of talking to a mixed back of local people interested in a topic as broad as investment are limited.
Unless: your potential speakers have time on their hands and/or giving something back or prestige or recognition is valuable to them.
I would try and find someone who is within the community and has some expertise in your area. The sweet spot is someone who is recently retired and likes the idea of giving people the benefit of their expertise and isn't so worried about the money side. You might also find some traction among women who were highly qualified investment professionals in a former life but have recently traded it for the life of a stay at home mom.
Use your network - ask everyone you know, including the people in your group and get the message out. This is your most powerful resource. As Linkedin reminds us ad infinitum, the number of 2nd and 3rd level connections you have from a handful of people is large. Somewhere in your and their network is someone with the expertise you want where a favour can be called in or asked for, a personal relationship put to use.
Failing that, look for places where retired investment professionals might be. I'd start at the local golf club or country club. Put a professional looking notice together and speak to the management about being able to advertise your group there.
Finally - you need to be really clear both on who your group is (i.e. the audience) and what you want. Investment is a broad topic. If I were coming to give my expertise for free I'd want to be very sure that I knew my audience, and that my expertise would be appreciated (and this goes double for anyone who has something to sell). What I'm really saying is that you want to forestall early the possible perception that your group is a bunch of local know-it-alls or cranks. You need to position your group as a bunch of smart, engaged people willing to listen - a group who have credibility and who it would be fun or worthwhile to talk to.
posted by MuffinMan at 12:10 AM on June 20, 2013
Unless: your potential speakers have time on their hands and/or giving something back or prestige or recognition is valuable to them.
I would try and find someone who is within the community and has some expertise in your area. The sweet spot is someone who is recently retired and likes the idea of giving people the benefit of their expertise and isn't so worried about the money side. You might also find some traction among women who were highly qualified investment professionals in a former life but have recently traded it for the life of a stay at home mom.
Use your network - ask everyone you know, including the people in your group and get the message out. This is your most powerful resource. As Linkedin reminds us ad infinitum, the number of 2nd and 3rd level connections you have from a handful of people is large. Somewhere in your and their network is someone with the expertise you want where a favour can be called in or asked for, a personal relationship put to use.
Failing that, look for places where retired investment professionals might be. I'd start at the local golf club or country club. Put a professional looking notice together and speak to the management about being able to advertise your group there.
Finally - you need to be really clear both on who your group is (i.e. the audience) and what you want. Investment is a broad topic. If I were coming to give my expertise for free I'd want to be very sure that I knew my audience, and that my expertise would be appreciated (and this goes double for anyone who has something to sell). What I'm really saying is that you want to forestall early the possible perception that your group is a bunch of local know-it-alls or cranks. You need to position your group as a bunch of smart, engaged people willing to listen - a group who have credibility and who it would be fun or worthwhile to talk to.
posted by MuffinMan at 12:10 AM on June 20, 2013
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posted by Foci for Analysis at 12:18 PM on June 19, 2013