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title: Have a Working Knowledge of Technology description: [AFW M.1.43] Michael Epiphany #43 published: true date: 2026-06-30T08:09:13.348Z tags: editor: markdown dateCreated: 2021-06-05T21:27:01.723Z

"It doesn’t matter how many resources you have... If you don’t know how to use them, they will never be enough." -Michael


Why Bother?

  1. Technology is a tool. Take the time to learn it and develop a high degree of working knowledge of it.

  2. Reduce frustration. Whether you like it or not technology is infiltrating your business life more and more each day. By improving your mastery of it, you will reduce or even eliminate your frustration. If you don't, you will fall more and more behind and get more and more frustration.

There's a reason that more and more of our business is increasingly moving towards more "tech", "online" and more "digital" - it really does streamline our processes, makes things quicker and easier, and reduces errors.


Proper Attitudes About Technology

  1. Don't be scared. At over a quarter of a century training advisors I can tell you that the biggest reason for not learning tech (or other seemingly complex topics is fear. Many people talk themselves out of begin able to learn it before they even try.

  2. Hmmmm, what does this do? Slow down, look around , click everything, right-click everything, try every possible option just to see what it does. When approaching a new service, tech, method, web page, process etc, first s-l-o-w-d-o-w-n and take a breath. Observe the new shiny object, read everything, get a sense of what's going on. Be curious, not scared.

  3. Take time to learn new even if it means it takes longer (initially). Often times it is quicker to do things the "old way" because you're used to it. Resist the temptation to do that. It may take two or more walkthroughs to learn the new way, but it will be worth it. When learning a new piece of tech, such as a phone, Google Drive, LaserApp etc. it is best if you dive in with the intent of mastering it, even if it initially takes more time than doing the "old" way.

  4. Be Curious, Ask and Search. When you see someone do something in way that seems great, be curious and ask! In addition, do a Google search and search on YouTube (80% of new things I learn to do are found using these two methods).

Try to understand why/how one or two levels deep. Think through how, or why, a system/tech/procedure operates one or two levels deep. That way when something changes on the "surface" level you won't feel lost. Don't overdo it, but just has it's beneficial to understand why you change gears in your car (what's the purpose), you don't need to know how to build an engine.


Low Cost Advisor Tech Stack

Watch AF MKOM 1670 - Low Cost Advisor Tech Stack VIDEO

Goal: simple, free/low-cast, easy, you own data and stay in control.


Free

  • The AdvisorFirst Wiki (this site). Master the navigation system on the left side.

  • Email. Master Inbox-to-Zero. Outlook and whatever email service you use with your custom email.

  • Your calendar. Outlook, Proton, Google, etc. To-do's with deadline go on your Calendar. Also, your clients' birthdays and VA anniversaries.

  • Booking and appointment scheduling service. I use Cal.com. It’s free and open-source.

  • Master creating and presenting hypotheticals for illustrations (including calculating costs). Always use real historical returns and rolling-periods.

  • Master Google Sheets. Client's worksheet (for contacts, birthdays, VA anniversaries and client data collection), AdvisorFirst Master Spreadsheet (calculators). Master how to use it and create your own.

  • Fund family client dashboard: AMF, Jackson, Transamerica.

  • DSTVision. I use this primarily to download a summary of all my clients accounts across all fund families (once a month).

  • Telegram .

  • AdvisorFirst Advisors Chatroom. Chatroom excliusively for IP Advisors who are part of the AdvisorFirst Group. Ask questions, make comments etc.

  • Note-Taking & To-Do system. I use Joplin is a free, open source, and end-to-end encrypted note taking and to-do application, which can handle a large number of notes organised into notebooks. The notes are searchable, can be copied, tagged and modified, and you can add any type of attachments. The notes are in Markdown format. It works on Linux, Windows, Mac, Android & iOS.


  • Docusign. $300 / year

  • Benchmark Email - this is what I use for my client and advisor newsletters. $180 / year if you run a business, you need email marketing. Note: you'll need a custom email to make it work properly.

  • Custom web site

    • Domain registrar: I use Cloudflare. ~ $30 / year

  • Web host: I use Carrd. It’s free but there are premium upgrades available. Use my referral code. ~ $30 / year

  • Custom email.

    • You need an email service that allows editig the DNS settings (Outlook, Gmail, Yahoo, Apple won't work). I use Proton. It's a secure and encrypted email provider based in Switzerland. It also includes Email Alias (SimpleLogin), Calendar, Drive Storage, Password Manager and a VPN. Use my code to receive one free month of Mail Plus. $160 / year
  • Innovation Partners Email Archiving Service. $300 / year

Non-Tech Honorable Mentions


Don't Spend Money On

  • Financial planning software
  • CRM
  • marketing posting services
  • laserapp
  • Real or virtual assistants