Friday, May 14

Show them the Money!

Finding personal financeangles on any beat

Today’s agenda:

Financial services

Storytelling methods

Show them the money! Finding personal finance angles on any beat

The $even Dimensions of Personal Finance

Question:We’ve been talking about the Seven Dimensions

checklist for a few days now. Have any of you used it to come up with story ideas on your particular business beats?

Please answer Y or N

Finding consumer stories in the financial services sector

Show readers what their accounts cost

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/banking/2009-09-30-checking-account-fees-rise_N.htm

Financial services

Earning Interest-bearing accounts

Rewards cards, rewards checking

Perks and protection from credit cards

Careers: Know the credentials ~ CFP, CFA, CPA, broker, planner, adviserSales vs. expertise

Financial services

Spending: Deposit account fees

Credit cardsTypes of issuers Secured vs. unsecured Gift cards, pre-paid cardsCredit card reform – statement formats, etc.

www.creditcards.com

Financial services

Saving: Deposit accounts, institutionsOnline, alternative banksPromos and perksFed and interest rates

Low rates harm savers

Financial services

Borrowing: Secured loans – home, car, HEL, etc.

Personal loans

Finance companies

Rent-to-own

Payday loan / Cash advance

Pawn shops

Microlending

Islamic lending

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Banking/BetterBanking/BetterBankingDyn.aspx?cp-documentid=23492948

Financial services Investing Again, sales vs. advice – much overlap

Markets

Buy-and-hold vs. trading

Types of accounts & hidden expensesAnnuities and insurance as investments

Consumer protection

Non-securities investing – coins, metals, commodities

Beware dispensing investment adviceExperts may contribute to special features, packages

http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/retirement/2010-04-30-401k28_CV_N.htm?csp=34

Financial services

Taxes Taxable vs. non-taxable accounts

Employer-sponsored account policies, procedures

Converting taxable to non-taxable

Inherited retirement accounts

MRDs

Financial services

Risk Inappropriate or bad advice

Products such as cancer insurance, pre-paid legal

Institutional failure

Investor education

Consumer protection

Death and divorce – pensions, SS, etc.

Scams

Elderly

E-mail

http://finance.yahoo.com/retirement/article/108836/6-ways-employers-will-change-401ks-in-2010?mod=retire-401k

Question:

Does anyone in the group currently write a blog, column, Q&A or other first-person feature?

Please answer Y or N

Big piece of art

To readers, nothing is sexier than a dollar sign!

You’ll become a reader resource

Objective stories are helpful, informative

Other styles offer more leeway for advocacy and accessiblity – address the reader directly

Columns – watchdog, humor, umbrage

Blogs – tips, quick hits, informal, interactive

Q & A – access to experts, executives, gurus

Book, magazine and website reviews

Diaries – readers share personal experience

Infographics – digestible, clip-and-save

Calculators , quizzes, checklists

Layer and link related coverage

Personal finance storytelling

http://moneycentral.msn.com/personal-finance/

Personal finance storytelling

Financial makeovers:Labor-intensiveStrict methodology Beyond voyeurism SnapshotNarrative, personalActionable Follow-up

The $even Dimensions of Personal Finance

Thanks for participating!

Please feel free to e-mail me with additional questions and suggestions at MPreddy@aol.com.

Show them the money! Finding personal finance angles on any beat