Click each question for corresponding answer.
1. I HAVE SEEN ADVISORS MARKET THEMSELVES AS MEMBERS OF ED SLOTT'S ELITE IRA ADVISOR GROUP℠. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TERMS "ELITE" AND "MASTER ELITE?"
A member of Ed Slott's Master Elite IRA Advisor Group℠ has been a member for two consecutive years or longer.
These members have completed training on all of our modules - thorough, diagnostic checklists created specifically for members of Ed Slott's Elite IRA Advisor Group℠. Our modules lay a strong foundation for delving into this expert information and mastering retirement distribution planning. Members of Ed Slott's Master Elite IRA Advisor Group℠ also may use this respective logo and title within their marketing and branding.
Benefits and pricing are the same for Master and Elite members.
2. HOW DOES ED SLOTT AND COMPANY, LLC MAINTAIN QUALITY CONTROL WITHIN THEIR GROUP OF ADVISORS? WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS OF BEING A PART OF THIS PRESTIGIOUS GROUP?
Members must successfully pass our bi-annual exams based on material covered during our workshops and webcasts. Our members are required to attend at least 1 of the 2 workshops per year. We encourage attendance at both - they are included in membership fees and allow you to get the most information and networking benefits from membership!
If a workshop or webcast is missed, the materials are posted in the Elite section of this website so that our advisors do not miss a beat.
3. HOW MANY "LEADS" CAN MEMBERS OF ED SLOTT'S ELITE IRA ADVISOR GROUP℠ EXPECT TO GENERATE BY BEING LISTED ON THE "FIND AN ADVISOR SEARCH?"
Ed Slott's Elite IRA Advisor Group℠ is a study-based group. Our mission is to match consumers with educated, competent financial advisors, and part of fulfilling that mission is to supply consumers who visit the Find an Advisor section with contact information for advisors who train with Ed on a continuous basis.
This being said, referrals from our website vary greatly from advisor to advisor. Some have received many, and some have received none. We stress that when making the decision to become an Elite advisor, to realize it is first, foremost and finally a commitment and investment in education and an aid to clients, rather than a lead-generating group.
4. I'VE COMPLETED ED SLOTT AND COMPANY'S 2-DAY IRA WORKSHOP AND/OR IRA SUCCESS E-LEARNING PROGRAM. HOW IS ED SLOTT'S ELITE IRA ADVISOR GROUP℠ DIFFERENT?
Ed Slott and Company's 2-Day and IRA Success e-Learning are both stand-alone programs, meant to provide a strong basis across all aspects of retirement distribution planning.
Ed Slott's Elite IRA Advisor Group℠ builds on that foundation, probing further into complicated tax laws and case studies through webcasts, email updates and workshops, as well as providing resources such as Ed Slott's IRA Advisor newsletter, charts, articles white papers and custom-designed modules. The group strives to assist members in positioning themselves as Ed Slott-trained advisors, through specific and customizable products, connections with media sources, and business-building techniques as well as networking time with the nation's top advisors.
Ed Slott and Company's 2-Day and IRA Success programs are classified as Intermediate Level, whereas Ed Slott's Elite IRA Advisor Group℠ workshops are Expert Level.
5. WHAT IS THE FIRST STEP IN JOINING ED SLOTT'S ELITE IRA ADVISOR GROUP℠?
The first step is completing a 2-Day IRA Workshop or all 12 sessions of our IRA Success e-Learning program. Then you must fill out a Membership Agreement and go through a satisfactory background check. Please contact Matt Smith at (516) 536-8282 or at [email protected] for more information on upcoming groups and to complete this agreement.
6. WHAT IS THE RETENTION RATE WITHIN THIS GROUP?
We have a retention rate of about 90%.
7. WHO MAKES UP ED SLOTT'S ELITE IRA ADVISOR GROUP℠? HOW DO I TELL IF THE GROUP IS FOR ME? WHO IS A TYPICAL MEMBER?
Our group encompasses a range of financial advisors, CPAs, EAs, estate planning attorneys and insurance agents. Many of our members are independent, representing well over 25 different broker dealers. 80% of our members are an IAR, 30% have their own RIA. Joining this group allows for networking with high-caliber advisors, who have an average of 20+ years in the business, average over $50,000,000 in assets under management and have an average GDC of over $500,000.
8. HOW DOES ED SLOTT AND COMPANY HELP THEIR MEMBERS POSITION THEMSELVES AS EXPERTS IN THE FIELD?
Ed Slott and Company strives to assist members in positioning themselves as Ed Slott-trained advisors, through our specific resources and customizable products, connections with media sources, and business-building techniques as well as idea-sharing and networking time built into workshops. We have resources to connect with Ed's public television specials, and whenever there is a major change to the tax law or IRS code, we supply our members with easy-to-share explanations via video, email, handouts, charts and/or social media so they can position themselves as experts within their network of centers of influence, clients and prospects. For a more detailed conversation, please contact Matt Smith, Member Relations Manager, at [email protected] or (516)-536-8282.
