It’s often the little things that build deep bonds with clients.

For most students entering college and university, this fall is at the same time an exciting and scary time … and that’s equally true for their parents.

This past Sunday, the New York Times published a series of nine short articles titled: “College advice from people who’ve been there awhile”, featuring advice from some of America’s best known and most respected educators. You’ll find links to those articles below.

If you have clients with children heading off to college or university this fall, consider emailing these tips, both for them to read and perhaps to pass on to their children

Of course, it’s not just clients with kids entering university who might appreciate advice. Here’s an article from yesterday’s Globe and Mail about a conversation with teens going back to high school; this might be especially appropriate for parents of 13 to 15 year olds.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/family-and-relationships/skip-the-motivational-talk-ask-how-theyre-doing/article1278029/

If you want, you can take this one step further. Recently, I talked to an advisor who makes note of cases where her clients have children going off to university. For particularly important clients, she has her assistant go online to that university’s bookstore and order sweatshirts for her clients with that university’s crest on them – when they arrive, she attaches a note of congratulations and sends them off.

This advisor has hosted top clients to dinners, theatre evenings and golf games, in some cases costing hundreds of dollars. In her experience, nothing she’s done has given her the same return on the dollars invested as these sweatshirts – she’s gotten delighted phone calls, notes of thanks, luncheon invitations and in one case an offer to introduce her to her client’s extended family and work colleagues.

Smart advisors look for every opportunity to let clients know they’re thinking of them and to tap into important moments in clients’ lives. Consider whether there are some cases where the start of university this fall provides that opportunity.

New York Times

Sunday, September 5, 2009

Educators give some helpful advice to young adults entering school this fall.

The Hunt for a Good Teacher  By STANLEY FISH
Find the best teachers and take a writing class.

An Argument Worth Having     By GERALD GRAFF
Cut through the jargon, analyze and debate.

Get Lost. In Books.     By HAROLD BLOOM
Read the authors that are difficult and demand rereading.

Don’t Alienate Your Professor     By CAROL BERKIN
Once in class, participate.

Play Politics     By GARRY WILLS
Have passion for learning and for your beliefs.

Go the Wrong Way     By MARTHA NUSSBAUM
Think about life, not just a job.

Off-Campus Life By JAMES MacGREGOR BURNS
Read a good newspaper; it will be your path to the world at large.

My Crush on DNA By NANCY HOPKINS
Fall in love with your vision of the future.

Change Course By STEVEN WEINBERG
College is never what one expects.