Voyager Digital (VYGVF) – Provides Business Update and March 2021 Metrics

 


Voyager Digital Provides Business Update and March 2021 Metrics

 

– Announces AUM Over US$2.4 Billion at March-End –
– Announces Over 1 Million Verified Users –
– Key Metrics Grew in Excess of 35% from February to March –

NEW YORK, April 6, 2021 /CNW/ – Voyager Digital Ltd. (“Voyager” or the “Company”) (CSE: VYGR) (OTCQB: VYGVF) (FRA: UCD2), a publicly-traded holding company, whose subsidiaries operate a licensed crypto-asset platform that provides investors with a turnkey solution to invest in and trade crypto assets, is pleased to provide stakeholders with a business update for the month ended March 31, 2021.

The Company has the following key metrics as of March 31, 2021:

  • Assets Under Management (AUM) exceeded US$2.4 billion
  • Total Funded Accounts at the end of March 2021 were over 270,000
  • Total Verified Users on the platform were over 1 million

Key monthly operating metrics for January through March 2021 are as follows:


March

2021

February
2021

January
2021

Net Deposits

$650M

$400M

$170M

New Funded Accounts

95,000

70,000

65,000

New Verified Users 

395,000

190,000

250,000

Principal Value traded

$2.5B

$1.6B

$840M

All figures are preliminary and unaudited and subject to final adjustment. All amounts are in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated.

“March was another record-setting month for Voyager as our retail-focused, zero-commission platform continued to attract an active community for both Bitcoin and our industry leading offering of over 50 altcoins,” said Stephen Ehrlich, Co-Founder and CEO of Voyager. “All of our significant revenue-driving metrics increased in excess of 35% during the month of March from the previous month. As demand continues to accelerate for the Voyager Platform, we are enhancing our infrastructure to meet this swiftly growing demand and accommodate anticipated future growth as we expand our suite of offerings in the coming years.”

Mr. Ehrlich concluded, “Our management team is focused on the long-term opportunity to capture significant market-share within this rapidly expanding industry. The initiatives we are embarking on, such as adding new products to our platform and further geographic expansion, are designed to competitively position Voyager for long-term success. We will continue to execute on these initiatives and look forward to providing our investors another update on our next quarterly conference call.”

The Company also announced that going forward, it expects to provide updates for key operating metrics on a quarterly basis. Voyager believes this is consistent with industry best practices and will more closely align with the Company’s long-term focus. The Company expects to provide its next financial and operational update to investors on its next quarterly conference call, expected to occur in late May.

Voyager continues to actively engage with investors and expects to participate in the following upcoming events in April 2021:

15-Apr

Global Chinese Financial Forum

Info

21-Apr

Stifel Canada 2021 Cross Sector Insight Conference

Info

22-Apr

SNN – Planet Microcap Showcase

Info

27-Apr

H.C. Wainwright & Co. Cryptocurrency, Blockchain & FinTech Conference

Info

Voyager remains committed to advancing its trusted, secure, and compliant platform to serve the needs of its loyal community by offering a broad selection of digital assets, with industry leading interest rates, on a simple to use app for trading and investing in cryptocurrencies. For more information and to view the latest company presentation about Voyager Digital, please visit https://www.investvoyager.com.

About Voyager Digital Ltd.

Voyager Digital Ltd. is a publicly traded holding company whose subsidiaries operate a crypto-asset platform that provides retail and institutional investors with a turnkey solution to trade crypto assets. The Voyager Platform provides its customers with competitive price execution through its smart order router and as well as a custody solution on a wide choice of popular crypto-assets. Voyager was founded by established Wall Street and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs who teamed to bring a better, more transparent, and cost-efficient alternative for trading crypto-assets to the marketplace. Please visit us at https://www.investvoyager.com for more information.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this press release.

Other

The links to the investor events above are provided for convenience only. Voyager makes no representation or warranty as to the content of such links or as to the suitability of such investor events for any particular investor. Voyager disclaims all responsibility and liability in respect of such investor events and the links provided herein (and the content contained therein) do not form part of this press release and do not form part of Voyager’s public disclosure record.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain information in this press release, including, but not limited to, statements regarding future growth and performance of the business, momentum in the businesses, future adoption of digital assets, and the Company’s anticipated results may constitute forward looking information (collectively, forward-looking statements), which can be identified by the use of terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate,” “intend,” “continue” or “believe” (or the negatives) or other similar variations. Because of various risks and uncertainties, including those referenced below, actual events or results may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are subject to the risk that the global economy, industry, or the Company’s businesses and investments do not perform as anticipated, that revenue or expenses estimates may not be met or may be materially less or more than those anticipated, that trading momentum does not continue or the demand for trading solutions declines, customer acquisition does not increase as planned, product and international expansion do not occur as planned and those other risks contained in the Company’s public filings, including in its Management Discussion and Analysis and its Annual Information Form (AIF). Factors that could cause actual results of the Company and its businesses to differ materially from those described in such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, a decline in the digital asset market or general economic conditions; the failure or delay in the adoption of digital assets and the blockchain ecosystem by institutions; a delay or failure in developing infrastructure for the trading businesses or achieving mandates and gaining traction; failure to grow assets under management, an adverse development with respect to an issuer or party to the transaction or failure to obtain a required regulatory approval. In connection with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, the Company has made assumptions that no significant events occur outside of the Company’s normal course of business and that current trends in respect of digital assets continue. Forward-looking statements, past and present performance and trends are not guarantees of future performance, accordingly, you should not put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, past performance or current trends. Information identifying assumptions, risks and uncertainties relating to the Company are contained in its filings with the Canadian securities regulators available at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements in this press release are applicable only as of the date of this release or as of the date specified in the relevant forward-looking statement and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after that date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Readers are cautioned that past performance is not indicative of future performance and current trends in the business and demand for digital assets may not continue and readers should not put undue reliance on past performance and current trends. All figures are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.

Investor Relations:
Michael Legg
(212) 547-8807
[email protected]

Phil Carlson / Scott Eckstein
(212) 896-1233 / (212) 896-1210
[email protected] / [email protected]

Media:
Anthony Feldman / Raquel Cona
(347) 487-6194 / (212) 896-1204
[email protected] / [email protected]

Angus Campbell
44 7881 625098
[email protected]

Source: Voyager Digital Ltd.

Release – Voyager Digital (VYGVF) – Provides Business Update and March 2021 Metrics

 


Voyager Digital Provides Business Update and March 2021 Metrics

 

– Announces AUM Over US$2.4 Billion at March-End –
– Announces Over 1 Million Verified Users –
– Key Metrics Grew in Excess of 35% from February to March –

NEW YORK, April 6, 2021 /CNW/ – Voyager Digital Ltd. (“Voyager” or the “Company”) (CSE: VYGR) (OTCQB: VYGVF) (FRA: UCD2), a publicly-traded holding company, whose subsidiaries operate a licensed crypto-asset platform that provides investors with a turnkey solution to invest in and trade crypto assets, is pleased to provide stakeholders with a business update for the month ended March 31, 2021.

The Company has the following key metrics as of March 31, 2021:

  • Assets Under Management (AUM) exceeded US$2.4 billion
  • Total Funded Accounts at the end of March 2021 were over 270,000
  • Total Verified Users on the platform were over 1 million

Key monthly operating metrics for January through March 2021 are as follows:


March

2021

February
2021

January
2021

Net Deposits

$650M

$400M

$170M

New Funded Accounts

95,000

70,000

65,000

New Verified Users 

395,000

190,000

250,000

Principal Value traded

$2.5B

$1.6B

$840M

All figures are preliminary and unaudited and subject to final adjustment. All amounts are in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated.

“March was another record-setting month for Voyager as our retail-focused, zero-commission platform continued to attract an active community for both Bitcoin and our industry leading offering of over 50 altcoins,” said Stephen Ehrlich, Co-Founder and CEO of Voyager. “All of our significant revenue-driving metrics increased in excess of 35% during the month of March from the previous month. As demand continues to accelerate for the Voyager Platform, we are enhancing our infrastructure to meet this swiftly growing demand and accommodate anticipated future growth as we expand our suite of offerings in the coming years.”

Mr. Ehrlich concluded, “Our management team is focused on the long-term opportunity to capture significant market-share within this rapidly expanding industry. The initiatives we are embarking on, such as adding new products to our platform and further geographic expansion, are designed to competitively position Voyager for long-term success. We will continue to execute on these initiatives and look forward to providing our investors another update on our next quarterly conference call.”

The Company also announced that going forward, it expects to provide updates for key operating metrics on a quarterly basis. Voyager believes this is consistent with industry best practices and will more closely align with the Company’s long-term focus. The Company expects to provide its next financial and operational update to investors on its next quarterly conference call, expected to occur in late May.

Voyager continues to actively engage with investors and expects to participate in the following upcoming events in April 2021:

15-Apr

Global Chinese Financial Forum

Info

21-Apr

Stifel Canada 2021 Cross Sector Insight Conference

Info

22-Apr

SNN – Planet Microcap Showcase

Info

27-Apr

H.C. Wainwright & Co. Cryptocurrency, Blockchain & FinTech Conference

Info

Voyager remains committed to advancing its trusted, secure, and compliant platform to serve the needs of its loyal community by offering a broad selection of digital assets, with industry leading interest rates, on a simple to use app for trading and investing in cryptocurrencies. For more information and to view the latest company presentation about Voyager Digital, please visit https://www.investvoyager.com.

About Voyager Digital Ltd.

Voyager Digital Ltd. is a publicly traded holding company whose subsidiaries operate a crypto-asset platform that provides retail and institutional investors with a turnkey solution to trade crypto assets. The Voyager Platform provides its customers with competitive price execution through its smart order router and as well as a custody solution on a wide choice of popular crypto-assets. Voyager was founded by established Wall Street and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs who teamed to bring a better, more transparent, and cost-efficient alternative for trading crypto-assets to the marketplace. Please visit us at https://www.investvoyager.com for more information.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this press release.

Other

The links to the investor events above are provided for convenience only. Voyager makes no representation or warranty as to the content of such links or as to the suitability of such investor events for any particular investor. Voyager disclaims all responsibility and liability in respect of such investor events and the links provided herein (and the content contained therein) do not form part of this press release and do not form part of Voyager’s public disclosure record.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain information in this press release, including, but not limited to, statements regarding future growth and performance of the business, momentum in the businesses, future adoption of digital assets, and the Company’s anticipated results may constitute forward looking information (collectively, forward-looking statements), which can be identified by the use of terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate,” “intend,” “continue” or “believe” (or the negatives) or other similar variations. Because of various risks and uncertainties, including those referenced below, actual events or results may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are subject to the risk that the global economy, industry, or the Company’s businesses and investments do not perform as anticipated, that revenue or expenses estimates may not be met or may be materially less or more than those anticipated, that trading momentum does not continue or the demand for trading solutions declines, customer acquisition does not increase as planned, product and international expansion do not occur as planned and those other risks contained in the Company’s public filings, including in its Management Discussion and Analysis and its Annual Information Form (AIF). Factors that could cause actual results of the Company and its businesses to differ materially from those described in such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, a decline in the digital asset market or general economic conditions; the failure or delay in the adoption of digital assets and the blockchain ecosystem by institutions; a delay or failure in developing infrastructure for the trading businesses or achieving mandates and gaining traction; failure to grow assets under management, an adverse development with respect to an issuer or party to the transaction or failure to obtain a required regulatory approval. In connection with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, the Company has made assumptions that no significant events occur outside of the Company’s normal course of business and that current trends in respect of digital assets continue. Forward-looking statements, past and present performance and trends are not guarantees of future performance, accordingly, you should not put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, past performance or current trends. Information identifying assumptions, risks and uncertainties relating to the Company are contained in its filings with the Canadian securities regulators available at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements in this press release are applicable only as of the date of this release or as of the date specified in the relevant forward-looking statement and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after that date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Readers are cautioned that past performance is not indicative of future performance and current trends in the business and demand for digital assets may not continue and readers should not put undue reliance on past performance and current trends. All figures are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.

Investor Relations:
Michael Legg
(212) 547-8807
[email protected]

Phil Carlson / Scott Eckstein
(212) 896-1233 / (212) 896-1210
[email protected] / [email protected]

Media:
Anthony Feldman / Raquel Cona
(347) 487-6194 / (212) 896-1204
[email protected] / [email protected]

Angus Campbell
44 7881 625098
[email protected]

Source: Voyager Digital Ltd.

RocketFuel Blockchain (RKFL) – Launches Payment Solution that Supports Multiple Cryptocurrencies and Direct Bank Transfers

 


RocketFuel Launches Payment Solution that Supports Multiple Cryptocurrencies and Direct Bank Transfers with One-Click eCommerce Ease

 

Global travel portal Sky-tours and cryptocurrency tax accounting firm BearTax are first customers to integrate RocketFuel-powered crypto payments for frictionless checkouts

SAN FRANCISCOMarch 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — RocketFuel Blockchain, Inc. (OTC: RKFL) (“RocketFuel” or the “Company”), a global provider of one-click online payment options using Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, today announced the launch of its blockchain-based payments solution. RocketFuel is the first cryptocurrency payment service to provide a seamless and elegant one-click checkout experience that today’s digital- and mobile-centric consumers have come to expect from eCommerce marketplaces. The service allows merchants and consumers to easily pay via 43 different cryptocurrencies or direct bank transfer in a completely secure environment. The first merchants to implement RocketFuel’s crypto acceptance functionality include global online travel portal Sky-tours and cryptocurrency tax accounting firm BearTax.

RocketFuel eliminates the need for payment intermediaries, significantly reducing merchant costs associated with card network fees, bank fees, and chargeback costs, and improves merchant cash flow. Using RocketFuel’s secure API, merchants can integrate RocketFuel’s payment solution in their online stores to offer highly optimized purchase experiences while reducing cart abandonment rates and fraud-related costs. In addition to being able to make payment from any cryptocurrency digital wallet, shoppers can also make payments in just one or two clicks directly from today’s cryptocurrency exchange accounts, including Coinbase, Gemini, Kraken, Binance, and Bitstamp.

“Ecommerce has become mainstream, but the payment technologies available to merchants are old fashioned, based on technologies which are not in-line with the needs and demands of modern consumers who prefer digital and contactless payments over cards or cash,” said Peter Jensen, CEO of RocketFuel. “Cryptocurrency represents the future of payments and is already disrupting the status quo by offering merchants a better, more economical option for their businesses and customers.”

Sky-tours implemented RocketFuel’s eCommerce cryptocurrency solution in its popular global travel portal to handle the surge in traffic to its site due to the recent post-pandemic revival of travel and tourism. “In the wake of Covid, the war on cash became a very real thing and RocketFuel’s universal payment method empowered us to continue doing business regardless of the type of currency being used,” said Randy Alleyne, CEO of Sky-tours. “RocketFuel is a pioneer in breaking down the barriers to entry on both sides of the transaction and changing the economics for merchants like us so we can operate in a highly efficient and profitable manner while preserving the security and trust consumers expect from our service.”

BearTax, a cryptocurrency tax accounting firm, leveraged RocketFuel’s solution to satisfy customer requests to pay for its services via cryptocurrencies. “As a provider of cryptocurrency tax software, we have a very high bar for working with other crypto providers and they must adhere to a stringent set of standards,” said Vamshi Vangapally, CEO of BearTax. “RocketFuel checked all of the boxes and more, and has been a great partner – opening the door to innovative crypto payment solutions that makes our customer’s lives easier.”

Until now, demand among merchants and consumers for cryptocurrency payments has been limited and cast off as a future method of managing digital currency. All of this changed last year with the pandemic serving as a catalyst to the acceptance of cryptocurrency as a global, currency-agnostic method of payment. Last year, in the US alone, eCommerce grew by 44%, accelerating online sales by 10 years in mere months and fueling demand for crypto-based purchases. In addition, within the next few years experts forecast there will be over 200 million cryptocurrency wallet holders worldwide ready to participate in this new era of payments.

About RocketFuel Blockchain, Inc.

RocketFuel Blockchain Inc. is a global payment processing company offering online merchants next generation blockchain payments solutions that include efficient and intuitive acceptance of 43 cryptocurrencies and direct bank transfers, a highly secure and efficient shopping cart experience, and significantly lower fees and associated costs.

RocketFuel’s solutions focus on enhanced customer privacy protection eliminating the risk of data breach while improving speed, security and ease of use. RocketFuel users are able to enjoy seamless check-out and forget the clunky cart paradigm of the past. RocketFuel merchants are able to implement new impulse buying schemes and generate new sales channels that were unavailable in present day eCommerce solutions. More information about RocketFuel is available at: www.RocketFuelBlockchain.com

Forward-Looking Statements

The Company believes that this press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Terms such as “may,” “might,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “project,” “estimate,” “pro-forma,” “predict,” “potential,” “strategy,” “anticipate,” “attempt,” “develop,” “plan,” “help,” “believe,” “continue,” “intend,” “expect,” “future,” and terms of similar import (including the negative of any of these terms) may identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements regarding the plans and objectives of management for future operations, are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Actual results and the timing of certain events and circumstances may differ materially from those described by the forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties. Factors that may influence or contribute to the accuracy of the forward-looking statements or cause actual results to differ materially from expected or desired results may include, without limitation, market acceptance of the company’s products and services; competition from existing products or new products that may emerge; the implementation of the company’s business model and strategic plans for its business and our products; estimates of the company’s future revenue, expenses, capital requirements and need for financing; current and future government regulations; and developments relating to the company’s competitors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because of the risks and uncertainties related to them. For further information on such risks and uncertainties, you are encouraged to review the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2020. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments, except as required by law.

COMPANY CONTACT
Email: [email protected]   
Phone: 424.256.8560

INVESTOR CONTACT
Ben Yankowitz
Email: [email protected]  

PRESS CONTACT
Email: [email protected] 

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rocketfuel-launches-payment-solution-that-supports-multiple-cryptocurrencies-and-direct-bank-transfers-with-one-click-ecommerce-ease-301259181.html

SOURCE RocketFuel Blockchain

Release – RocketFuel Blockchain (RKFL) – Launches Payment Solution that Supports Multiple Cryptocurrencies and Direct Bank Transfers

 


RocketFuel Launches Payment Solution that Supports Multiple Cryptocurrencies and Direct Bank Transfers with One-Click eCommerce Ease

 

Global travel portal Sky-tours and cryptocurrency tax accounting firm BearTax are first customers to integrate RocketFuel-powered crypto payments for frictionless checkouts

SAN FRANCISCOMarch 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — RocketFuel Blockchain, Inc. (OTC: RKFL) (“RocketFuel” or the “Company”), a global provider of one-click online payment options using Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, today announced the launch of its blockchain-based payments solution. RocketFuel is the first cryptocurrency payment service to provide a seamless and elegant one-click checkout experience that today’s digital- and mobile-centric consumers have come to expect from eCommerce marketplaces. The service allows merchants and consumers to easily pay via 43 different cryptocurrencies or direct bank transfer in a completely secure environment. The first merchants to implement RocketFuel’s crypto acceptance functionality include global online travel portal Sky-tours and cryptocurrency tax accounting firm BearTax.

RocketFuel eliminates the need for payment intermediaries, significantly reducing merchant costs associated with card network fees, bank fees, and chargeback costs, and improves merchant cash flow. Using RocketFuel’s secure API, merchants can integrate RocketFuel’s payment solution in their online stores to offer highly optimized purchase experiences while reducing cart abandonment rates and fraud-related costs. In addition to being able to make payment from any cryptocurrency digital wallet, shoppers can also make payments in just one or two clicks directly from today’s cryptocurrency exchange accounts, including Coinbase, Gemini, Kraken, Binance, and Bitstamp.

“Ecommerce has become mainstream, but the payment technologies available to merchants are old fashioned, based on technologies which are not in-line with the needs and demands of modern consumers who prefer digital and contactless payments over cards or cash,” said Peter Jensen, CEO of RocketFuel. “Cryptocurrency represents the future of payments and is already disrupting the status quo by offering merchants a better, more economical option for their businesses and customers.”

Sky-tours implemented RocketFuel’s eCommerce cryptocurrency solution in its popular global travel portal to handle the surge in traffic to its site due to the recent post-pandemic revival of travel and tourism. “In the wake of Covid, the war on cash became a very real thing and RocketFuel’s universal payment method empowered us to continue doing business regardless of the type of currency being used,” said Randy Alleyne, CEO of Sky-tours. “RocketFuel is a pioneer in breaking down the barriers to entry on both sides of the transaction and changing the economics for merchants like us so we can operate in a highly efficient and profitable manner while preserving the security and trust consumers expect from our service.”

BearTax, a cryptocurrency tax accounting firm, leveraged RocketFuel’s solution to satisfy customer requests to pay for its services via cryptocurrencies. “As a provider of cryptocurrency tax software, we have a very high bar for working with other crypto providers and they must adhere to a stringent set of standards,” said Vamshi Vangapally, CEO of BearTax. “RocketFuel checked all of the boxes and more, and has been a great partner – opening the door to innovative crypto payment solutions that makes our customer’s lives easier.”

Until now, demand among merchants and consumers for cryptocurrency payments has been limited and cast off as a future method of managing digital currency. All of this changed last year with the pandemic serving as a catalyst to the acceptance of cryptocurrency as a global, currency-agnostic method of payment. Last year, in the US alone, eCommerce grew by 44%, accelerating online sales by 10 years in mere months and fueling demand for crypto-based purchases. In addition, within the next few years experts forecast there will be over 200 million cryptocurrency wallet holders worldwide ready to participate in this new era of payments.

About RocketFuel Blockchain, Inc.

RocketFuel Blockchain Inc. is a global payment processing company offering online merchants next generation blockchain payments solutions that include efficient and intuitive acceptance of 43 cryptocurrencies and direct bank transfers, a highly secure and efficient shopping cart experience, and significantly lower fees and associated costs.

RocketFuel’s solutions focus on enhanced customer privacy protection eliminating the risk of data breach while improving speed, security and ease of use. RocketFuel users are able to enjoy seamless check-out and forget the clunky cart paradigm of the past. RocketFuel merchants are able to implement new impulse buying schemes and generate new sales channels that were unavailable in present day eCommerce solutions. More information about RocketFuel is available at: www.RocketFuelBlockchain.com

Forward-Looking Statements

The Company believes that this press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Terms such as “may,” “might,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “project,” “estimate,” “pro-forma,” “predict,” “potential,” “strategy,” “anticipate,” “attempt,” “develop,” “plan,” “help,” “believe,” “continue,” “intend,” “expect,” “future,” and terms of similar import (including the negative of any of these terms) may identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements regarding the plans and objectives of management for future operations, are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Actual results and the timing of certain events and circumstances may differ materially from those described by the forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties. Factors that may influence or contribute to the accuracy of the forward-looking statements or cause actual results to differ materially from expected or desired results may include, without limitation, market acceptance of the company’s products and services; competition from existing products or new products that may emerge; the implementation of the company’s business model and strategic plans for its business and our products; estimates of the company’s future revenue, expenses, capital requirements and need for financing; current and future government regulations; and developments relating to the company’s competitors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because of the risks and uncertainties related to them. For further information on such risks and uncertainties, you are encouraged to review the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2020. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments, except as required by law.

COMPANY CONTACT
Email: [email protected]   
Phone: 424.256.8560

INVESTOR CONTACT
Ben Yankowitz
Email: [email protected]  

PRESS CONTACT
Email: [email protected] 

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rocketfuel-launches-payment-solution-that-supports-multiple-cryptocurrencies-and-direct-bank-transfers-with-one-click-ecommerce-ease-301259181.html

SOURCE RocketFuel Blockchain

QuoteMedia (QMCI) – Margins Take A Hit As Revenues Ramp

Monday, March 29, 2021

QuoteMedia (QMCI)
Margins Take A Hit As Revenues Ramp

QuoteMedia, based in Fountain Hills, Arizona, provides cloud-based financial data, market news feeds, and financial software solutions.  Its customers include financial service companies, online brokerages, clearing firms, banks, media portals, public corporations and individual investors.  The company provides a single source solution providing products such as streaming quotes, charting, historical data, technical analysis, news and research.  Information can customized and provided to multiple platforms including terminals and mobile devices.

Michael Kupinski, Director of Research, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

    In-line fourth quarter. Total company revenues were $3.266 million versus our $3.275 million estimate and operating cash flow, as measured by adj. EBITDA, was $58,000 versus our loss estimate of $21,000. Notably, the company’s Corporate Quotestream business had a very strong quarter, with revenues up 39%, which was somewhat offset by a 9% revenue decline in its Interactive Content segment revenues.

    Gross margins declined.  The year over year Q4 decline in gross margins from 52.0% to 41.6% reflects the revenue growth in its lower margin Corporate Quotestream business and the revenue weakness in its higher margin Interactive Content business. Management guided to an acceleration in revenue growth to 20% in subsequent quarters and for full year 2021, but gross margins are expected to be …



This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).

*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary.  Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision. 

Release – QuoteMedia Inc. (QMCI) – Announces 5 Percent Revenue Growth for 2020


QuoteMedia Announces 5% Revenue Growth for 2020

PHOENIX, March 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — QuoteMedia, Inc. (OTCQB: QMCI), a leading provider of market data and financial applications, announced financial results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.

QuoteMedia provides banks, brokerage firms, private equity firms, financial planners and sophisticated investors with a more economical, higher quality alternative source of stock market data and related research information. We compete with several larger legacy organizations and a modest community of other smaller companies.  QuoteMedia provides streaming data feeds, on-demand request-based data (XML/JSON), web content solutions (financial content for website integration) and applications such as Quotestream Professional desktop and mobile.

Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $12,402,224 versus $11,793,731 in the comparative 2019 period, resulting in a 5% increase. Consistent with our forecasts, revenue for the fourth quarter of 2020 was $3,266,083 versus $2,975,094 in the comparative 2019 quarter, resulting in a 10% increase.

“This has been a very successful year for QuoteMedia,” said Robert J. Thompson, Chairman of the Board of QuoteMedia, Inc. “Despite the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic we experienced healthy improvements in revenue, significantly increased staffing, and made major advances in product and business development.

“Looking ahead, based on customers currently under contract, we are expecting a significant improvement in revenue growth and a return to profitability in 2021. For the first quarter of 2021, we are forecasting revenue growth of approximately 20% and expect to maintain this trajectory for the remainder of the year. We also expect our cash balances to rebound in 2021 as our revenue catches up with the increased expenditures associated with the new products and data expansion initiatives undertaken in 2020.

“The economic downturn related to COVID-19 did not leave us unaffected, as it forced some of our clients to halt projects and even caused some to cease business activities entirely. As a result, we saw a 365% increase in bad debts compared to 2019. Still, we are continuing to take advantage of new opportunities arising from the economic downturn, as the added pressure on financial sector firms to find more efficient and cost-effective solutions to their data and technology needs is leading them to explore QuoteMedia’s offerings. Additionally, we are seeing an increase in the need for our services for customers working remotely during the pandemic, and we expect this to be a lasting trend.

“As a result of increased expenses related to our recent expansion activities and the impact of Covid-19, we experienced a net loss of $646,324 for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to net income of $558,997 in the comparative 2019 period. Our adjusted EBITDA was $734,068 for the year ended December 31, 2020 versus $2,124,498 in the comparative 2019 period. The company undertook major growth initiatives in 2020 and we expect to continue and expand these programs in 2021. We have invested in technological and infrastructure advancement, new product development, data collection and aggregation initiatives, the extension of our global market coverage, and new marketing campaigns. These strategic investments are producing very positive results. This year will mark the launch of major new product lines, data sets, proprietary analytics, and key partnerships, and we are very excited about our future.”

QuoteMedia will host a conference call Friday, March 26, 2021 at 2 PM Eastern Time to discuss the 2020 financial results and provide a business update.

Conference Call Details:

March 26, 2021, 2:00 PM Eastern

Dial-in numbers: 877-876-9173, 785-424-1667

Conference ID: QUOTEMEDIA

An audio rebroadcast of the call will be available later at: www.quotemedia.com

About QuoteMedia

QuoteMedia is a leading software developer and cloud-based syndicator of financial market information and streaming financial data solutions to media, corporations, online brokerages, and financial services companies. The Company licenses interactive stock research tools such as streaming real-time quotes, market research, news, charting, option chains, filings, corporate financials, insider reports, market indices, portfolio management systems, and data feeds. QuoteMedia provides data and services for companies such as the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, TMX Group (TSX Stock Exchange), Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE), London Stock Exchange Group, FIS, U.S. Bank, Broadridge Financial Systems, JPMorgan Chase, CI Financial, Canaccord Genuity Corp., Hilltop Securities, HD Vest, Stockhouse, Zacks Investment Research, General Electric, Boeing, Bombardier, Business Wire, PR Newswire, FolioFN, Regal Securities, ChoiceTrade, Cetera Financial Group, Dynamic Trend, Inc., Qtrade Financial, CNW Group, Industrial Alliance, Ally Invest, Inc., Suncor, Virtual Brokers, Equities.com, Leede Jones Gable, Firstrade Securities, Charles Schwab, First Financial, Cirano, Equisolve, Stock-Trak, Mergent, Cision, Warrior Trading and others. Quotestream®, QMod TM and Quotestream Connect TM are trademarks of QuoteMedia. For more information, please visit www.quotemedia.com.

Statements about QuoteMedia’s future expectations, including future revenue, earnings, and transactions, as well as all other statements in this press release other than historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. QuoteMedia intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that are identified from time to time in the Company’s SEC reports and filings and are subject to change at any time. QuoteMedia’s actual results and other corporate developments could differ materially from that which has been anticipated in such statements.

Below are the specific forward-looking statements included in this press release:

  • Looking ahead, based on customers currently under contract, we are expecting a significant improvement in revenue growth and a return to profitability in 2021.
  • For the first quarter of 2021, we are forecasting revenue growth of approximately 20% and expect to maintain this trajectory for the remainder of the year.
  • We also expect our cash balances to rebound in 2021 as our revenue catches up with the increased expenditures associated with the new products and data expansion initiatives undertaken in 2020.

QuoteMedia Investor Relations
Brendan Hopkins
Email: [email protected]
Call: (407) 645-5295

Note 1 on Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We believe that Adjusted EBITDA, as a non-GAAP pro forma financial measure, provides meaningful information to investors in terms of enhancing their understanding of our operating performance and results, as it allows investors to more easily compare our financial performance on a consistent basis compared to the prior year periods. This non-GAAP financial measure also corresponds with the way we expect investment analysts to evaluate and compare our results. Any non-GAAP pro forma financial measures should be considered only as supplements to, and not as substitutes for or in isolation from, or superior to, our other measures of financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP, such as net income attributable to QuoteMedia, Inc.

We define and calculate Adjusted EBITDA as net income attributable to QuoteMedia, Inc., plus: 1) depreciation and amortization, 2) stock compensation expense, 3) interest expense, 4) foreign exchange loss (or minus a foreign exchange gain), and 5) income tax expense. We disclose Adjusted EBITDA because we believe it is a useful metric by which to compare the performance of our business from period to period. We understand that measures similar to Adjusted EBITDA are broadly used by analysts, rating agencies, investors and financial institutions in assessing our performance. Accordingly, we believe that the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors. The table below provides a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income attributable to QuoteMedia, Inc., the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

QuoteMedia, Inc. Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation to Net Income

2020 2019
Net income (loss) $ (646,324 ) $ 558,997
Depreciation and amortization 1,331,910 1,113,129
Stock-based compensation 37,872 411,714
Interest expense 4,582 6,259
Foreign exchange loss 3,791 31,385
Income tax expense 2,237 3,014
Adjusted EBITDA $ 734,068 $ 2,124,498

SOURCE: QuoteMedia

Release – QuoteMedia Inc. (QMCI) – Welcomes Bookmap as Newest Quotestream Connect Partner


QuoteMedia Welcomes Bookmap as Newest Quotestream Connect Partner

 

PHOENIX, March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — QuoteMedia, Inc. (OTCQB: QMCI), a leading provider of market data and financial applications, is pleased to introduce Bookmap, as its newest Quotestream Connect Partner. QuoteMedia has integrated its Quotestream Connect data APIs for use within Bookmap’s impressive data visualization software.

Quotestream Connect includes QuoteMedia’s low-latency, highly accurate Streaming Datafeed API, state of the art On-Demand APIs, and an extensive User Management System, for integration into third party applications developed by Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) like Bookmap.

“We are always happy to add ISVs like Bookmap as Quotestream Connect Partners,” says Dave Shworan, CEO of QuoteMedia Ltd. “Bookmap is an innovative company, and it’s rewarding to see our data being utilized by users of this remarkable software application.”

QuoteMedia has integrated its Canadian and London order book APIs within Bookmaps’ exceptional Level 2 focused software platform, providing users the unique ability to visualize liquidity and trends in these markets.

“QuoteMedia is a real frontrunner in the financial market data industry, and we’re excited to partner with them to open Bookmap to the Canadian and London Stock Exchange markets,” says Tsachi Galanos, Bookmap CEO. “With QuoteMedia’s data solutions, traders using Bookmap to trade these markets will be able to visualize the real support and resistance levels and will take better trading decisions, gaining an edge over other traders.”

About QuoteMedia

QuoteMedia is a leading software developer and cloud-based syndicator of financial market information and streaming financial data solutions to media, corporations, online brokerages, and financial services companies. The Company licenses interactive stock research tools such as streaming real-time quotes, market research, news, charting, option chains, filings, corporate financials, insider reports, market indices, portfolio management systems, and data feeds. QuoteMedia provides data and services for companies such as the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, TMX Group (TSX Stock Exchange), Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE), London Stock Exchange Group, FIS, U.S. Bank, Broadridge Financial Systems, Ridge Clearing, JPMorgan Chase, CI Financial, Canaccord Genuity Corp., Hilltop Securities, HD Vest, Stockhouse, Zacks Investment Research, General Electric, Boeing, Bombardier, Business Wire, PR Newswire, FolioFN, Regal Securities, ChoiceTrade, Cetera Financial Group, Dynamic Trend, Inc., Qtrade Financial, CNW Group, Industrial Alliance, Ally Invest, Inc., Suncor, Virtual Brokers, Equities.com, Leede Jones Gable, Firstrade Securities, Charles Schwab, First Financial, Cirano, Equisolve, Stock-Trak, Mergent, Cision, Warrior Trading and others. Quotestream®, QMod™ and Quotestream Connect™ are trademarks of QuoteMedia. For more information, please visit www.quotemedia.com .

QuoteMedia Investor Relations
Brendan Hopkins
Email: [email protected]
Call: (407) 645-5295

About Bookmap

Bookmap Ltd. is a financial services firm and the creator of Bookmap ( www.bookmap.com ). The Bookmap team brings experience in High Frequency Trading, which was instrumental in creating the Bookmap trading platform that visualizes both real-time order book data combined with historical depth-of-market (DOM) data. Bookmap accurately shows the entire market liquidity and trading activities, enabling traders to identify market trends and hidden price patterns with high precision.

Bookmap connects to more than 30 exchanges and platforms, covering futures, stocks and cryptocurrencies. It is used by scalpers, day traders, swing traders and algo traders all over the world. In addition to the platform, Bookmap established a marketplace that offers unique add-ons, such as a stop & iceberg order detector, third-party market data, and educational services. For more information, please visit www.bookmap.com or send an email to [email protected] .

SOURCE: QuoteMedia

QuoteMedia (QMCI) – Setting The Table For A Strong 2021

Monday, February 22, 2021

QuoteMedia (QMCI)
Setting The Table For A Strong 2021

QuoteMedia, based in Fountain Hills, Arizona, provides cloud-based financial data, market news feeds, and financial software solutions.  Its customers include financial service companies, online brokerages, clearing firms, banks, media portals, public corporations and individual investors.  The company provides a single source solution providing products such as streaming quotes, charting, historical data, technical analysis, news and research.  Information can customized and provided to multiple platforms including terminals and mobile devices.

Michael Kupinski, Director of Research, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

    Prospect of landing a big fish improves. We believe that the recently added new product feature sets and sourcing its own data should allow the company to compete for larger clients, more terminals, more usage. This provides the prospect for an acceleration in revenue growth to strong double digits growth, which would be expected for a company of this size, with improving margins.

    Q4 preview.  Q4 is likely to have a hangover from Covid related noise, including the prospect for higher bad debt expenses and expense accruals. As such, the improving revenue and cash flow trends that we originally thought would become evident may be masked by non recurring items. We are lowering our Q4 revenue estimate from $3.475 million to $3.275 million and our cash flow (adj. EBITDA) estimate …



This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).

*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary.  Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision. 

Indonesia Energy (INDO) NobleCon17 Presentation Replay


Indonesia Energy (INDO) President Frank Ingriselli at NobleCon17 – Noble Capital Markets 17th Annual Small & Microcap Investor Conference – January 2021. Following the formal presentation, Noble Capital Markets Senior Research Analyst Michael Heim joins Frank to moderate a Q&A session.

NobleCon 17 Complete Rebroadcast

QuoteMedia (QMCI) – Improving Revenue Picture; Raising Price Target

Friday, November 13, 2020

QuoteMedia (QMCI)

Improving Revenue Picture; Raising Price Target

QuoteMedia, based in Fountain Hills, Arizona, provides cloud-based financial data, market news feeds, and financial software solutions.  Its customers include financial service companies, online brokerages, clearing firms, banks, media portals, public corporations and individual investors.  The company provides a single source solution providing products such as streaming quotes, charting, historical data, technical analysis, news and research.  Information can customized and provided to multiple platforms including terminals and mobile devices.

Michael Kupinski, Director of Research, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

    Positive revenue upturn. Q3 revenue growth reflected an acceleration from Q2, 6.0% versus 1.5%, an indication that the company’s investments into new products are paying dividends. Revenues were better than our estimate, $3.14 million versus $3.04 million. Cash flow, as measured by adjusted EBITDA, was $271,000, better than our $222,000 estimate.

    Gross margins took a tumble.  Gross margins were 45.7% reflecting a shift in revenue mix toward lower margins. We expect that gross margins should improve somewhat in Q4 as the revenue mix shifts more favorably toward its Corporate Quotestream and Interactive products …



This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).

*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary.  Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision. 

The GEO Group, Inc. (GEO) – Initiating Coverage of The GEO Group

Monday, June 29, 2020

The GEO Group, Inc. (GEO)

Initiating Coverage of The GEO Group

With over 94,000 beds owned, leased or managed across its business lines and serving over 260,000 people daily, GEO is a leading provider of mission critical real estate to its governmental partners. The Company is the first fully integrated equity REIT specializing in the design, financing, development, and operation of secure facilities, processing centers, and community reentry centers in the U.S., Australia, South Africa, and the U.K.

Joe Gomes, Senior Research Analyst, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

We are Initiating Coverage on this Company.

    Initiating Coverage. We are initiating research coverage of The GEO Group. GEO enjoys significant growth opportunities across its business segments, in our view. An aging and overcrowded public option needs GEO’s beds to perform its societal function, while GEO’s extensive, and growing, post-release options present another avenue of growth.

    Leading Provider of Mission Critical Real Estate. With over 94,000 beds owned, leased or managed across its business lines and serving over 260,000 people daily, GEO is a leading provider of mission critical real estate to its governmental partners. The Company is the first fully integrated equity REIT specializing in the design, financing, development, and operation of secure facilities, processing centers, and ….




    Click to get the full report.

This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).

*Analyst
certification and important disclosures included in the full report. 
NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of
this research summary.  Proper due diligence is required before
making any investment decision.
 

Alternative Investments and 401(k) Plans

Alternative Investments Will be Allowed in Defined Contribution Retirement Portfolios

Will retirement planners be comfortable with investments that are not regulated by the SEC? The participants of defined benefit pension funds have long enjoyed the potential for higher returns in alternative investments. So why haven’t these investment options been included in defined contribution (DC) plans? After all, private equity deals and hedge funds further diversify asset mix, increase potential return, and help provide capital for small businesses. These are just some of the reasons this unregulated asset class, once reserved for the very wealthy, will now be permitted by the Department of Labor (DOL) under ERISA protections.

Impact
on Retirement Plans

The guidance came about after a review by the DOL, which then issued a letter dated June 3, 2020. The letter specifically offers legal protection to target-date-funds (TDF) that include allocations in private equity investments.  The main purpose of the guidance is to assure companies that offer investments in funds that include private equity, that they are permitted, thereby reducing their liability. The formal letter was prompted by lawsuits from employees, against Intel, Verizon, and others. Their cases caused other companies to steer away from these investments. The uncertainty of suitability effectively limited the options of employees seeking to diversify or maximize the potential for their retirement savings. Employees may still choose options that don’t include non-registered investments, but for those that want the potential benefit, their employers may now comfortably offer them.  

According to the Employee Benefits Security Administration, Acting Assistant Secretary Jeanne Wilson, “This [DOL information] letter should assure defined contribution plan fiduciaries that private equity may be part of a prudent investment mix and a way to enhance retirement savings and investment security for American workers.

The DOL letter highlights that private equity should not be available as a stand-alone option when creating a plan that has protection under the guidance, as well as other considerations, including:

  • The impact of the private equity allocation on diversification, expected return, and fees on a long term basis.
  • The ability of plan fiduciaries to oversee private equity investments vs. hiring an expert consultant.
  • The percent invested in private equity, noting that the limits illiquid assets to 15% for registered open-end investment companies.
  • Whether plan participants will be permitted to take benefit distributions and move into other investment options.
  • Agreement by plan fiduciaries to value private equity investments according to accounting standards and subject those investments to an annual audit.
  • Whether the long-term nature and liquidity restrictions of any private equity investments align with the ability of plan participants to take distributions or change investment options as they wish.
  • The adequacy of disclosures provided to participants regarding the character and risks of the plan investment option that includes a private equity component, so as to allow participants to make an informed assessment before investing.

Take
Away

Investment options that include private-equity may now legitimately be offered in 401(k), 403(b) and 401(A) plans to participants without the employee first qualifying as an accredited investor. Target-date-funds with longer investment horizons can include unregistered equity-based options that may enhance retirement growth when compared to investment choices containing only publicly traded securities. The option of asset allocation TDR funds with a private equity component gives individuals access to options used by professionally managed defined-benefit pension plans. Private equity investments within TDFs would provide further diversification, perhaps reducing investment risk and could lead to enhanced returns for participants above returns achieved solely in the public market.

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Sources:

Department
of Labor Information Letter

US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ISSUES INFORMATION LETTER ON PRIVATE EQUITY
INVESTMENTS

History
of Target Date Funds

Private Equity Could Boost DC Plan Participant Returns

Curbside Financial Advisors

Financial Services During Social Distancing

Prior to February 1993, I had never heard the term “Disaster Recovery Plan.” To be sure, most of the ivy league MBA’s I worked alongside hadn’t either. Unfortunately, that year, the parking garage bombing at the World Trade Center brought heightened awareness to disaster planning. It was quickly placed at the top of most large Wall Street firms “To Do” list.

Planning from scratch to have the ability, during a crisis, to work remotely took a lot of work. Offsite offices were set up in other parts of Manhattan and across the river in New Jersey, where copies of our physical files were sent at the end of each trading day. As a fund manager, I’d go once a month to one of these locations to trade; we were testing for holes in our process.  My employer was one of the largest fund managers in the world; they wanted to be out front and be considered a role model in disaster preparedness.

Administering all that needed to be done was an arduous task. My department appointed someone who had no other responsibilities except for disaster planning.  Germaine, the woman, given responsibility for designing and implementing our plan, received weeks of offsite training and an officer-level promotion. She took her role seriously. Germaine assigned four searchers on each floor, two for the Men’s room and two for the Ladies rooms. Monthly she made sure we had updated phone list printouts to bring home with office numbers. Our trading turrets had direct lines and speed-dials, so we made sure we recorded actual numbers from all the broker/dealers we did business with. Each floor in the building was assigned someone to learn first aid and be the Fire Marshall.  I volunteered for this responsibility.  Part of what I did was, whether I was in my office or out on the trading desk, I kept a small bag with a first aid kit, transistor radio, extra batteries, and a whistle. Fire Marshalls were expected to be ready at all times. I even planned vacation time around other Fire Marshalls.

To be honest, I never took any of this seriously. We worked in a building that had been there forever, and in a big city. Work is always open — it always will be was the belief. Plus, conducting business from home would be impossible, it seemed. I thought, how could someone even follow compliance procedures for physical documents from home? So, despite our disaster recovery plan, whether we were hit with two feet of snow, railroad strikes, race riots, subway bombings, or hurricane threats, none of us ever questioned if we were going to the office. Regardless of circumstance, we decided how we were getting to the office.

Flash Forward

That was over 25 years ago, and much has changed. Back then, work and office were near synonymous. Home was separate; my briefcase may have looked like I was bringing work home; instead, it was always full of boating magazines, how could you work outside an office? Today, we don’t need “the office” to work. We all have the same quality connectivity at home that we do in a commercial building, our phones are all speed dial, and if we haven’t saved every phone number of anyone we’ve met in the past ten years, there are other medium we could use to contact them. A phone isn’t even the preferred method of contact between many coworkers, and our work desks are not always our most productive work area.

The changes brought about by technology and attitudes of management to allow technology to be used at it’s optimum have ushered in a wave of flexibility in the workplace that we never conceived of in the early ’90s. Working from home (WFH) has taken great strides forward. Over the past couple of months, a global threat has forced WFH to take another giant leap forward. The challenge today, unlike 1993, is that a plan has to be created and implemented almost simultaneously. Almost everyone across the globe is impacted, and it is recommended that face-to-face meetings not occur.

These are challenges few planned for. For financial planners and advisors, the extra challenge is that at a time when rollercoaster markets and IRA season, and layoffs create a “need” to see clients, government authorities are telling us we should not be in contact with anyone. There are some great solutions.

Public-Facing Professionals

Advancements in technology, including the ability to convey, retrieve, and file information electronically are light years ahead of even a decade ago. For investment professionals, the ability to get real-time quotes, conduct research, apply comparative analysis, and execute effectively is often better than it was at the top Wall Street trading desks when George Bush was president. For professionals that sit down and meet with clients regularly, small computer-based demonstrations and scenario tools that are on a laptop or tablet, make work-life much easier. So, switching gears and spending fewer hours or no hours in the office is barely a disruption. The disruption is limited physical contact with mom & pop clients. Don’t ignore them, if you have the time, do even more than before to interact with them.

Your clients trust you; they’ve become your family; within the past six weeks, they might need to meet with you more than ever before. Let’s just say: Last year, you began a client relationship with a family that had two children going to college and funded a new IRA account with you. They are deciding what to do with this year’s contribution. And, a woman you’ve been working with for ten years was just let go when her company closed and is considering early retirement, she wants you to look through all of your papers. Also, there is a client who you’ve known since high school that wants to discuss the best way to invest in gold. Meanwhile, your third-largest client wants to look you in the eye and hear why his account is a third as large as it had been. None of these meetings should be had over the phone or through an email discussion; They’re too important, yet, meeting in person is not at all advised.

Addressing the immediate needs of clients should be done ASAP. For the others checking-in, especially during times of crisis, builds stronger bonds. I like to say when you’ve been “in the trenches” with someone, you build a lasting bond. We’re all “in the trenches” right now. Be with them. You don’t need special technology to not only “visit” with as many people as you can, but use technology to visit with far more than you ordinarily would have. They probably have the technology in their own homes too. Only use phone calls when you have to. Find out what they have available and cater to them,  they may not even know. If you have an assistant, see if they can schedule appointments and talk to the client through whatever tech issue they may have to either Facetime, Skype, Zoom or even Go to Meeting. I’ve found that my less technically savvy interactions are with people that have never heard of anything on that list but have a Gmail account. You or an assistant can ask them to open their Gmail account, look for “Chats” on the left side of their monitor and open it. Once opened, providing you are also using a Gmail account, open yours and send them a Chat Hangout request.  Then click on the camera icon on the request to be with them.

Financial Planning

Compliance, notarizing, and suitability updates at times require the exchange of documents.  If your clients live close, taking the extra step and stopping in their driveway to pick up forms or collect a signature may give you something to all talk about down the road. While you’re there, you shouldn’t greet with a handshake or other physical greeting. Almost everyone will understand and perhaps appreciate that you are looking out for them by staying six feet or more away. FedEx overnight is also a means of getting the required paperwork. Although this may seem like an additional cost, so much of your business has been streamlined by not meeting in an office that it could actually be viewed as a transfer of costs.

It’s now the end of the first quarter. Do you typically rebalance client portfolios? Chances are there have been gargantuan shifts. High-quality bonds are richer than they had been, and equities are lower than they were. The reason to rebalance investments is because it takes gains in the rich sectors and buys into the sectors that now may offer value. It isn’t a perfect plan, but over time the strategy is better than letting the percent balance mix move too far off the plan.

Record-Keeping

If you’re a financial professional, you don’t need anyone to tell you that if you’re using your car more, house more, and home internet more, that these are business expenses that you should document for your own tax bill. Keep meticulous records; it adds up. Remember, you’re the last profession the IRS will accept faulty financial recordkeeping from.

Limits on WFH

Is there a cat laying on your keyboard? A dog barking during your phone call. Did you forget to dress better (or at all) for your video conference? There are downfalls and limits to what can be done at home. But these limits are now inconveniences, not impossibilities. If you have to do curbside delivery of financial documents for a while, it may not seem like the best use of time, but you are probably gaining more than you can measure from the exercise.

Despite what you have been told, being socially distant from clients is ill-advised; all that is required is being physically distant — for just a little while.

 

Paul Hoffman

Managing Editor

 

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