Tag Archives: Dictation

One awesome productivity tool you probably don’t realize you already have

Posted on June 6, 2013 by in Efficiency, Software

Dictation features included in your computer's operating system are awesome productivity tools you probably didn't realize you already have

The dictation feature in your computer’s operating system is an awesome productivity tool you probably don’t  realize you already have. Learn how to use it.

One of the easiest, most powerful productivity tools you can use is dictation software, but I’m willing to bet that most of you don’t use it.

Maybe you don’t want to buy software like Dragon Dictate, or you’re turned off by the inconvenience of using your phone to call in to a dictation service.

And most of the time, you want your dictation right away, not in 24 hours.

Speak vs. Type

Personally, I can type around an average of 70 words per minute, but dictating boosts my words-per-minute rate to well over 140, an easy 100% increase in productivity.

Did you know that you probably already have dictation software?

It’s free, and it works well, so you might as well try it.

Native Dictation

Dictation software is now built in to Windows and Mac OS; you just have to know how to turn it on and use it, a process neither OS makes obvious.

Head on over to my Morningstar Advisor column One Productivity Tool Right Under Your Nose to learn how to activate dictation in your operating system and start using it to boost your productivity.

 

Redtail and Mobile Assistant integration delivers streamlined CRM updates using mobile dictation services

Posted on December 3, 2012 by in On Air

Adding notes to your CRM isn’t the most glamorous part of being and financial adviser, but it’s an essential function that allows you to provide high-quality service to your clients. Fortunately you have options to decrease the time spent updating client records.

In a surprise FPPad On Air broadcast, I connected with Redtail Technology CEO Brian McLaughlin and Mobile Assistant president Corey Westphal to talk about the integration the two companies recently rolled out to its users. I highlighted the integration previously here at FPPad (see: Redtail Adds Mobile Assistant Integration to Transcribe Notes into CRM), but now you can hear the back story behind the idea to integrate and learn how the integration works behind the scenes.

(click to watch on YouTube)

FPPad Bits and Bytes for April 20

Posted on April 20, 2012 by in Bits & Bytes

My first item of note this week is an Operations and Technology Survey currently being hosted by ByAllAccounts. In return for providing your email address and survey responses, you’ll receive an executive summary of the survey results. I think it’s a worthwhile tradeoff.

Click here to take the 5-minute survey.

Now on to this week’s stories of interest:

10 Apps to Keep Your Business Organized from Mashable.com

[He’s a general interest article from tech website Mashable.com with 10 great app suggestions. Kudos to Mobile Assistant for being recommended in tip #9!] We asked a panel of successful young entrepreneurs for the mobile apps that keep them on track in their work and on the go. Here are their favorite suggestions.

Advisors Assistant® Now Offers Integration with Orion Services from i-newswire.com

[Advisors Assistant is a top-five CRM program, according to the 2011 Financial Planning Tech Survey, and is very popular with small firms with revenue under $1 million. With a new integration with Orion, Advisors Assistant users can save clicks when wishing to view portfolio information associated with a client record.] Client Marketing Systems, Inc., parent company of Advisors Assistant®, is pleased to announce a new integration with Orion Advisor Services, LLC, an online service bureau and portfolio management system.

Unlike iCloud, Google’s Rumored Cloud Storage Could Be a Privacy Nightmare from Cult of Mac

[I like this article’s balance between opportunities of Google’s long-awaited file storage service and the potential privacy pitfalls of such a service. Advisers seeking client-friendly file sharing solutions similar to Dropbox and Box will want to take note.] Google could easily amass a good deal of data on users of its expected cloud storage service.

Never mind Tamarac, Envestnet is getting RIAs on board with its own stand-alone software from RIABiz.com

[Envestnet’s purchase of Tamarac, Inc. in February for $54 million certainly boosted the company’s technological capabilities, but they continue to win advisers with its own Vantage offering.] Envestnet took its Silicon Valley- and Trivandrum, India-based technology unit and began to offer it as a standalone service called Envestnet Vantage.

Video Spotlight: Corey Westphal of Mobile Assistant on gaining efficiencies through voice-to-text and transcription services

Posted on March 14, 2012 by in Video Spotlight

Dictation services and voice-to-text tools should be well-known topics to FPPad readers. Mobile Assistant is one of the leading transcriptions services for financial advisers and has been featured numerous times here on FPPad.

In the latest video spotlight, Corey Westphal, president of Mobile Assistant, gives an overview of transcription services offered, addresses quality review of all dictations, and details turnaround expectations for users of the tool. Mobile Assistant also supports integrations with popular CRMs including Redtail and Advisors Assistant so notes can be automatically added to client records.

 

(click here to view on YouTube)

FPPad Bits and Bytes for August 12

Posted on August 12, 2011 by in Bits & Bytes

Enjoyed the wild ride this week? The market must be captivating everyone’s attention, as there’s been a distinct lull this week of tech-related news worth sharing. And I’m in New Orleans to round out this week strategizing on where FPPad is headed over the next few years. So stay tuned.

Now on to this week’s stories of interest:

Did you send a blast e-mail (or several?) to clients this week? Then you should read my column this month at Morningstar Advisor, Tools to Manage Your E-Mail Newsletter.

Automate & Integrate Arkovi Reports with Evernote, Box.net & more from Arkovi.com

[Arkovi continues to expands its capabilities, a very good sign that they’re proactive in support of new social media platforms.] We are pleased to announce today that Arkovi customers can easily automate the distribution, via email, of their Arkovi archives to any email destination. Most compelling, this includes integration with Evernote, Box.net and Zoho Docs along with any cloud storage platform or digital storage destination that provides an email address for adding files.

Bulletproof Your Practice Using Mobile Dictation from Mobile Assistant

[Corey Westphal, President of Mobile Assistant and a good friend, talks about two important features advisers should seek in their dictation solution.] Increased client documentation combined with time savings is hard for most advisors to imagine, but mobile dictation accomplishes both.

Legal analysis: The chances that Wealthcare beats UBS or upends the financial planning community at RIABiz.com

[You use financial planning software. Say MoneyGuidePro. Well then you need to read Ron Rhoades’ contribution regarding Wealthcare vs. UBS at RIABiz] Wealthcare Capital Management (i.e. Financeware, Inc.) alleges that UBS, by providing “financial advice and reports” to clients “utilizing computerized financial advising software and systems, including, for example, MoneyGuidePro” has infringed two patents.

 

Last Chance for a Free Mobile Assistant 30 Day Trial

Posted on November 12, 2010 by in Efficiency

This is a reminder that today is the last day to submit your name, e-mail, and phone number to receive a free 30 day trial of Mobile Assistant dictation services.

All the details to get the trial are in this post, How To Try Mobile Assistant Free For 30 Days.

How To Try Mobile Assistant Free For 30 Days

Posted on November 6, 2010 by in Efficiency

We love speaking with advisors about tools and resources they can use to save time and be more productive.

One set of tools that come up frequently are voice-to-text and dictation services. In fact, adopting dictation services is Tip #3 in our eBook on productivity tips for advisors (see below how you can get the eBook for free).

So you want to try and dictate client meeting notes, but don’t yet know what service to use. Or perhaps you identified a service, but the trial period is too short or the recording length is too limited to gain any useful experience.

We’ve teamed up with Mobile Assistant, one of the leading transcription services with a history of serving financial and medical professionals, to give FPPad subscribers free, unlimited use of the service for 30 days. Mobile Assistant’s standard trial is 20 minutes of dictation, so you can get 20,000 times more use out of the service through this offer!

How To Get The Free Trial

Here’s what you need to do to get the free trial.

1. You must be an FPPad subscriber to receive the free trial. Subscribing to the FPPad newsletter is free.

  • New subscribers: Fill out the form below before Saturday, November 13 before Wednesday, December 1. We need your name, the e-mail address where you want Mobile Assistant reports sent, and the phone number you want to register with the service. We strongly recommend a direct phone number and not a general office number, as Mobile Assistant will verify your account by Caller ID when you call in to the service. Also, as a thank you for subscribing, your welcome e-mail will include a link to download our eBook 7 Essential Tips For The Productive Advisor.
  • Existing subscribers: Click the subscriber option link on the bottom of a recent email from us to update your information. Click the edit contact information link and add the phone number you wish to use for the Mobile Assistant trial.

2. Mobile Assistant will create accounts using your subscription information. An invitation will be sent out to the e-mail address provided with a welcome message and a user guide within about 24 hours.
3. Activate your account and do as much dictation as you like for 30 days.
4. At the end of the 30 day trial, you’ll receive a link to a short survey requesting your feedback on the dictation service.
5. After completing the survey, you’ll receive a coupon code for a discounted subscription to Mobile Assistant should you wish to continue using the service.

[Sign up expired]