Can I subscribe to the PDF Newsletter service without receiving hardcopies?
How much storage does each client have in the Client Vault?
The storage amount for each client can be set by the advisor when each client vault is created, unless performing a bulk client creation.
When using bulk client creation, all clients will share the available Vault storage space (which is 2000 MB with performance reporting capabilities, and 3000 MB if it does include performance reporting capabilities.)
How do I create internal hyperlinks on my site?
1) Via the BackOffice, in the text editor, add the text you want to hyperlink (example: Who We Are) and then select it with your mouse. Click on the tool in the 3rd row, second section (looks like 3 chain links) and a pop-up window will appear.
We’ll use this URL as an example:
http://sample1.advisorsites.com/whoweare.aspx?spid=3841&Title=Who We Are1
2) Remove everything at the beginning of the URL, up to and including .com (http://sample1.advisorsites.com)
3) Before the remaining URL /whoweare.aspx?spid=3841&Title=Who We Are1 add two periods: ..
4) The remaining URL will look like this: ../whoweare.aspx?spid=3841&Title=Who We Are1
5) Then click “ok” at the bottom of the page
When the site goes live, the internal links will then remain, connecting to the correct pages. The link will also work if the firm ever changes the main URL of your site.
How can I make the text on my site have the same font style?
In the admin menu at left, the “Visual Settings” tab can be used to create a style sheet for all of the content on the site (fonts, colors, sizes, etc.) Then, using the text editor for each page, in the top row of tools, the sixth graphic is of a whisk broom which can be used to strip out any formatting using the Font, Span, and Word options in the pop-up box. Once this is used for the content on each page of the site, any content imported into the site will match the established style settings.
Once the external formatting has been removed, the text can be reviewed and ensured it is laid out correctly in the text editor.
The default “viewing” font in the BackOffice is 10 pt Arial – however the style sheet will ensure the fonts appear correctly on the live site.
How can I format images which are placed into my site?
Using the text editor, right-clicking on the images you have placed into the site, and at the bottom of the pop-up menu is "image properties" - select this option.
Another pop-up box will appear which will allow for formatting of image placement, size, borders, spacing, alignment, etc. to ensure the image appears correctly and to your satisfaction.
If you are uploading new images to your website, know that the size of the image file will affect how fast that page on your site will load.
Photo files from most digital cameras are very very large (3-5 megabyte) and should be reduced to less than 75-100k prior to uploading them. Reducing the pixel dimensions of the image to the size needed on the website is a good way to start.
You can also use this online service, www.imageoptimizer.net but you may have to experiment a little to see which quality level works best for the photo.
If you need help reducing the size of the photo file, please contact service@advisorproducts.com and someone can help you.
Can I add Google Analytics to my website?
Yes.
To begin, you’ll need to set-up an account with Google at http://www.google.com/analytics/ and placed into each content page of your site via the ‘Edit Properties’ tool in the navigation column at left in the BackOffice. Alternately, you can provide the corresponding code to our developers (service@advisorproducts.com) and they'll add it using your annual service time.
On custom websites, our developers can add the code to the master file for the entire site which will track visits to every page of the site.
Additional instructions can be found here: http://www.slideshare.net/AdvisorProducts/seo-google-analytics
Do you have generic descriptions for content pages provided by Advisor Products?
Featured News Page
Exclusive in-depth personal finance news articles about cutting edge planning strategies and investment ideas for people like you.
Financial Briefs Page
Financial articles which are prepared each month in an easy-to-read format covering a variety of topics.
Articles of Interest Page
Articles which are gathered from across the web covering a wide range of topics we feel can be useful to your current state of financial affairs.
Financial Calculators Page
25 Java-based financial calculators which calculate various scenarios to help you consider options for your financial plans.
Market Data Bank Page
Six charts using Standard and Poor's data offering an in-depth graphical view of performance in the previous quarter and valuation measures.
Stock Quotes Page
Stock quotes and indices, market and stock news, UPI, US, world, and business news, updated throughout the day.
Web Links Page
A selection of external websites which may be useful for your investments and financial planning.
Check My Account Page
This is the gateway to your account information hosted by our custodian.
Who is liable if someone hacks into our Vault? What happens if an account is compromised?
In the contract you signed with Advisor Products when purchasing the Vault, the topic of liability is addressed, outlining the responsibility and role of Advisor Products. We recommend reviewing that information and contacting us if you have any further questions.
In the event of a system breach, we will notify you and, with your assistance send the proper notification to your clients. We will also notify the appropriate authorities, if required. We recommend that you contact your legal advisor and determine what precautions and contingency plans need to be in place for your clients’ records.
How does website archiving work?
Website archiving allows your firm to keep copies of every page on your site in .html format.
For websites on the platinum level, archiving is automatically turned on at the launch of your website.
For websites with gold licenses, archiving your website must be done manually through the website BackOffice. We recommend that the created .zip file of your site be saved to your local system.
For websites on silver licenses, archiving is not available. To purchase, please contact our marketing team at 516-333-0066 x 223.
For firms associated with compliance using our BackOffice compliance engine and sites with Platinum licensing, archiving occurs automatically every time changes are made to the site. An automated email is sent to you when the Archive .zip file is ready for download via the BackOffice.
Storage of the archive files is kept on Advisor Products' servers as a courtesy for at least the past three (3) months. Storage beyond three months is not guaranteed, and is dependent on overall storage capacity of our servers. Access to files after three months will incur a service fee.
Website archiving can also be manually scheduled via the BackOffice for routine archiving which can serve as a system restore for your site to ensure the site is preserved at particular time points.
Advisor Products recommends downloading the archived files via the BackOffice on at least a quarterly basis, to ensure your firm has proper back-up files of the site.
You may want to check with your compliance officer and/or legal advisor on storage requirements and frequency of updating archive files.
If you encounter any difficulties with the archiving process or have further questions, please contact our service team at service@advisorproducts.com
Can I upload a video to my Designer Series or Template website?
Yes. HOWEVER, please note that all videos can only be uploaded to content areas. Videos cannot be uploaded to banners in either website.
Will Advisor Products be offering new design templates for their Designer Series Website?
Yes. We will be unveiling new design motiffs in the coming months. For more information please contact your project manager, or advisor products at 516-333-0066.
How long will it take for my website to go live once the okay is given to Advisor Products?
It should take no more than 24hs for your website to go live once the okay is given to Advisor Products.
If your website needs to be reviewed by compliance, please allow for 3-5 business days as API cannot take your website live before compliance approval has been made.
Will I be charged a fee of $75 to switch out an article from my Template Newsletter if my company does not endorse or sell the product being referenced in the article?
No. If your firm does not sell or endorse a paticular product (i.e. Annuities or Insurance), API will send you, at no additional cost, alternate articles to select from.
How can I add videos to pages of my website?
Video files up to 25mb can be added to the content area via the BackOffice.
For larger files, you can submit them to our developers (service@advisorproducts.com) and they will upload the file using a portion of your annual service time.
How do I create clients in bulk?
While logged in as the Advisor Admin account, you can create clients in bulk through Manage Clients > Bulk Client Creation. Download and save a local copy of the Excel template to your computer.
Following the instructions on the first sheet in the file, enter up to 150 new clients into the BulkClient sheet. After the file has been populated with the account information for your clients, select the Excel file in the Bulk Client Creation screen to upload it to our server.
All bulk client uploads are processed overnight and e-mail notification is sent to the Advisor Admin letting them know of all successful client creations. In the case of any errors, you will be notified and the accounts may not have been created. Please address the errors and re-upload a new bulk client Excel file to be processed or contact Advisor Products for assistance.
Why were my clients not created using Bulk Client Creation?
If the Excel file was uploaded on the same day, please wait until overnight for the file to be processed and an e-mail notification will be delivered to the Advisor Admin account.
Other possible reasons why a client may not be created using the Bulk Client Creation are the following:
1) The Advisor Field must be populated with the Advisor's username. If the AdvisorVault cannot find a valid Advisor account based on the provided username, it will not be able to create and associate the new client account.
2) Required fields were not populated. Not all fields are required but information like the client's E-mail address must be included.
3) Special characters were used in the new client's username.
What is the Investments directory in my Template Folder Structure?
The Investments directory is a special reserved folder used by the AdvisorVault for our Performance Reporting module.
If you have not added the Performance Reporting module to your Vault, the Investments directory may be deleted from the Template Folder structure similar to deleting any other folders under Modify Template Folders.
We have recently added the ability to remove the Investments directory from your Template Folder structure as well as from all client's Vaults if it is not being used. Please contact us at service@advisorproducts.com for assistance.
If the Performance Reporting module has been enabled for your Vault, this folder cannot be deleted and must remain including its two sub folders (Portfolio and Portfolio_XML_Reports).
Any PDF reports uploaded using this module must be placed within the folder Portfolio or a respective sub folder.
All XML reports will automatically be placed within the client's Vault under Portfolio_XML_Reports.
What is the Portfolio_XML_Reports directory?
The Portfolio_XML_Reports directory is used by our Performance Reporting Module. Any XML dynamic reports uploaded to the Vault will utilize this directory in each respective client's Vault to store their account information and reports.
The directory is not visible to the client as the data stored is instead displayed as graphs and charts under Portfolio Reports.
How do I customize a client's Vault directory structure?
After a client Vault has been created using the Template Folder structure, it can be customized independently from the Template Folder and any other client Vaults.
Simply find the respective client's Vault under Documents and the Advisor's username that it is associated with. All client Vaults will be listed by their username. Any directories added or removed will only apply to that individual client's Vault.
For this reason since all clients may have unique and customized Vault folder structures, it is not possible to remove a folder in bulk. As a precaution, when creating clients using the Template Folder structure, make sure it has been reviewed and finalized first.
Can I add a global e-mail address to be used for e-mail archiving purposes?
Yes, please contact Advisor Products with the e-mail address that you would like to use. We will add it to your Vault so that any non-password e-mails will CC the address provided which can be used for archival purposes.
What is common practice for setting up the Advisor / Client Relationship?
The AdvisorVault is programmed around a one to one relationship between Advisor and Client accounts. Each client must be assigned to an Advisor when created but this relationship can be reassigned at a later time.
This was primarily built upon a system where each Advisor within a firm works with their own individual groups of clients. In this scenario, each Advisor can be created with their own account and clients will be assigned respectively.
If however clients do not have assigned Advisors and instead work from a pool of Advisors from your firm, it is recommended to create a single Advisor account on behalf of the firm. All clients can then be assigned to that Advisor which all Advisors would access.
This is a very important step when setting up and configuring your Vault so please feel free to contact us at Advisor Products to discuss this further.
Can a client Vault be associated with multiple e-mail addresses for couples or families?
Each client Vault can only include a single e-mail address for security purposes.
If additional e-mail addresses need to be configured for notifications, we recommend setting up a distribution list, or an e-mail address that can forward any e-mails from the Vault to additional addresses that you want to use.
Are there typical naming conventions that we can use for our client usernames?
When creating new client accounts, you will need to determine a naming convention that can be used so that each account is recognizable and easy for your client to use.
Some typical conventions used as follows:
Full Name: John Smith
jsmith
johnsmith
johns
Naming Restrictions:
Any special characters except underscore( _ ) cannot be used.
The period or space character cannot be used.
The username cannot begin or end with an underscore ( _ ) .
Are there restrictions on file types (.mp3, .doc, .xls, etc.) that can be uploaded?
All file types can be uploaded to the Vault as long as it is less than approximately 25mb in side.
If there are issues opening files directly from the Vault, you can also compress and Zip the file before uploading.
When uploading .mp3 or video files, please always zip before uploading. A known issue exists between Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player causing certain audio and video files to not play correctly unless saved locally first.
What can we include in the Brochure design?
Advisor Products currently offers nine different brochure motifs, each which can be modified to match the colors of your firm's brand.
Please provide your firm's Logo (logo files should be full-color, high-resolution, suitable for print - 300dpi or better – preferred file formats are vectored .eps or .tif.)
If you have any questions regarding the format, resolution or size of the file, feel free to contact your project manager.
• Your disclosure text (please include the exact text required to be included at the bottom on the last page of the brochure)
We can swap out any or all of the default images in each design either from out image library (http://imagelibrary.advisorproducts.com or from iStockPhoto (www.istockphoto.com)
Addition options for a Choice Brochure include:
• Your photo (images should be full-color, high-resolution and suitable for print - 300dpi or better – preferred file formats are .eps, .tif.)
If you have any questions regarding the format, resolution or size of the file, feel free to contact your project manager.
• Your bio for inclusion on the last page of the brochure, should be no more than 300 words.
Your bio text and photo are included as standard features in an Elite Brochure.
In what file format will you provide the final logo files?
Advisor Products will provide a compressed file which contains your logo in color and black & white, saved in various file formats for your records.
Also included will be a style sheet which features the logo, the pantone colors and font used in the new design for your reference.
AI = Adobe Illustrator – This is the original art the logo was created in. This is the MASTER copy.
BMP – This is a low resolution format good for web & email proposes
EPS – This is a vector format file that is was “created to outline” and is usually used for high resolution printing. This will be an artist’s first choice when designing a marketing piece and is best for print products.
GIF – This is a transparent web file
JPG – This is a low resolution format good for web & email proposes
PDF – This is a low resolution format good for web & email proposes
TIF – This is a high resolution file good for MS Office templates (ie word, excel, powerpoint, etc) and in-house printing on laser & inkjet printers.
We recommend making a backup copy of the final files, or burn them to a CD for archival purposes.
If you need the logo created in an alternate file format, we can create them as well.
Our new site is live, but we're not seeing our new website on our internal computers. What can I do?
Here are some helpful tips to ensure your new site is available for viewing on your internal network and computers.
1. Hosts file not correct:
In rare cases a machine may also have an LMHosts file
Both of these are Typically stored at: C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\
The name of the hosts file must always be exactly hosts and never hosts.txt this is the Most Common mistake made when editing the hosts file.
2. Clear the Local DNS Cache
Internet DNS can take up to 48 hours to update, but even when it does the local computer can still have the old IP address cached locally.
Any time a host file or DNS has been modified you need to Clear the Local DNS Cache:
If the DNS server the machine is using has not been updated yet and you attempt to reach the site, the Old IP will again be cached locally and need to be cleared again.
On most Windows machines this is done by clicking Start then run then typing cmd and hit enter.
On the black screen type ipconfig /flushdns hit enter
On Vista machines you need to Modify the Start button to Include the RUN command so you can use it.
In all cases the user Must be a Local Administrator or have Administrator rights on the machine.
3. Run a Ping test
A definitive test to see if the machines is resolving the website name to the proper ip address is to Ping it from command line:
Click Start then Run then type cmd and hit enter.
On the black screen type ping thenameofthewebsitehere and hit enter
For example to check www.advisorproducts.com I would type ping www.advisorproducts.com
It not so important that you receive back Successful Pings, some firewalls will block this traffic. What we're really testing for is to see what ip address the name resolves to.
All of our websites resolve to an IP address starting with 69.18.153.something.
For example for www.advisorproducts.com the entire test would look like the below. Again the most important text to look for is the very first line in Bold. That tells us that the name is resolving to 69.18.153.50 and shows that the name is resolving to one of our servers. You should be able to perform this test on your local computer and come up with the same result.
C:\>ping www.advisorproducts.com
Pinging www.advisorproducts.com [69.18.153.50] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 69.18.153.50: bytes=32 time=19ms TTL=112
Reply from 69.18.153.50: bytes=32 time=17ms TTL=112
Reply from 69.18.153.50: bytes=32 time=20ms TTL=112
Reply from 69.18.153.50: bytes=32 time=15ms TTL=112
Ping statistics for 69.18.153.50:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 15ms, Maximum = 20ms, Average = 17ms
C:\>
4. Many companies use their External Domain name as their Internal Domain name in Active Directory.
You can ask if they are using Exchange/Active Directory, you may need to talk to their IT person. One way is to ask if they have 3 login fields when they login to their machine. UserID, Password and Domain.
If they have that domain field you can bet they are using Active Directory.
If the domain in active directory is the same as the name of their website you will need to talk to their IT person. They will need to do some work in the local servers DNS to work around the issue.
5. Browser Based Issues
Be sure to close all of the browsers and then open one single fresh browser to test the site with.
Be sure to hit CTRL+F5 this clears the Browsers cache and loads a fresh copy directly from the webserver.
It is very typical for Microsoft's Internet Explorer 7 to have overactive security measures turned on. Using a fresh copy of Opera or Firefox will give you an alternate browser to test with.
Norton/McAfee/Spydoctor and numerous other Firewalls, Spyware protection and toolbars in IE and on the machine can also interfere with displaying websites.
6. Large companies (banks) use Internet Proxy services.
This is brings in a slew of possible issues that we can't cover here but you can ask to speak to their IT person and explain the issue directly. If they are using Proxy Services they will have an IT Department in house.
You may want to coordinate with your IT specialist to check your system.
If you do not have an IT specialist, you may need to contact a local service such as a member of Best Buy’s Geek Squad or another computer service provider to determine why the site is not visible on your office computers.
How can I begin using my e-newsletter?
The e-newsletter product is available for use once your website is live.
If you have a new website, the e-newsletter will become function once the site is launched. For existing websites, the e-newsletter will be active once added to your website.
We have six different graphics which can be customized and added to your site, allowing visitors to your site to sign up to receive the e-newsletter when you distribute it.
If you have an existing client list which you want to import into the system, we recommend using an excel file with three fields (first name, last name, and email address).
The training video in the BackOffice will walk you through the set-up of an e-newsletter and if you need further assistance feel free to contact our developers via email at service@advisorproducts.com and they will help you set up the first e-newsletter message and send it out.
I use API’s mailing service for my newsletters. To whom do I send my mailing list each quarter?
Please send your mailing list to printservices@advisorproducts.com.
Pressing Upload Reports in the Left Navigation returns message "This feature is not available"
The Upload Reports functionality is included only in the Performance Reporting module for the AdvisorVault. This module allows your firm to bulk upload PDF reports and dynamic XML account information based on a Client Mapping list created during each first upload of client files. After uploading report files when this module was purchased, each account uploaded can be mapped to one or more client accounts in the AdvisorVault and subsequent uploads will automatically distribute these files to the corresponding Vaults.
If this module was not purchased, documents and reports can be uploaded manually to each client's Vault using the Documents link in the left navigation. Each client's vault directory will be found under their respective Advisor folder.
Can I send a New Client welcome e-mail at a later time?
If the automatic e-mail action for Client Creation is enabled, then you will be prompted with your associated e-mail template when manually creating a client Vault. Options to Send, Save As and Send Later are displayed. If Send Later is chosen, you can send these welcome e-mails under Manage Clients and Send Invitation E-mails in the top right corner of the screen.
Additionally if clients are created in bulk using the Bulk Client Creation functionality, all clients will not be automatically sent. Instead the welcome e-mails will be listed under Send Invitation E-mails for each client Vault.
Are general instructions available to send to clients that are having trouble logging in?
The following instructions can be tweaked and provided to your clients.
1. Log in with your username and password.
2. If you cannot remember your password, press Forgot Password on the login screen.
3. If you cannot remember the security question and answer for the Forgot Password functionality, you will need to contact us in order to reset your password.
4. For further issues, please see the Having Trouble Logging In link on your AdvisorVault login page.
How should I welcome my clients into the Vault and how can I follow up to see if they've successfully logged in?
Instead of welcoming all of your clients together in a bulk welcome, we recommend breaking it down into smaller batches particularly when you are working with your client over the phone or in person. This way you can walk them through any issues they may face and also make sure they were able to log in with the temporary password which is valid for only 24 hours.
After your client has been sent the initial welcome e-mail, if they did not successfully log in before the 24 hour expiration of their temporary password, you can reset their password under Manage Clients in the left navigation of the Vault. This will send another e-mail using the "Client Password Reset" e-mail action with a different temporary password.
In order to check if your clients have successfully logged in, you can find this information under Login Count and Last Login Date under Manage Clients.
Avoid Frames On Your Website
External Links Pointing to Your Website - SEO for Financial Advisors
Optimizing URLs for Financial Advisor Websites
Optimize the Titles in the Title Bar - SEO Techniques for Financial Advisors
Writing Social Media Profiles for Financial Advisors
Financial Advisors - Go Local for Search Engine Optimization
Using Keywords and Website Writing Best Practices for Financial Advisors
Financial Advisors Need to Sync Internet and Marketing Strategies
Financial Advisors Should Develop a One Page Internet Strategy
Realistic Expectations for Social Media for Financial Advisors
Metadata for Search Engine Optimization for Financial Advisors
Social Media For Financial Advisors - It's For Real
An Overview - Seven Ways Advisor Products Is Different
Advisor Products Helps You Optimize Your Website
Can Your Financial Advisor Website Vendor Help You With Social Media?
Are Compliance Tools Offered By Your Financial Advisor Website Vendor?
How do I get Search Engines to "recrawling" my site
With the launch of your new site, you may want to contact Google (Bing, Yahoo, etc.) to request they crawl your site which can help with search engine results.
Typically, Google regularly crawls sites every 4-6 months. If your site is going live now and is brand new - this will affect your site's search results. Even if the site has been live for a while, there is no way to know when Search Engines will crawl the pages of your site to include them in organic search results.
Be sure you have first updated the keywords, title tags, and meta tags in the BackOffice for your site. Once you have completed these updates, we suggest contacting Google at http://www.google.com/addurl/?continue=/addurl to request a 'recrawl' of the site to update the page links.
Other search engines which you can submit to are:
Bing at http://www.bing.com/webmaster/SubmitSitePage.aspx
Yahoo at http://siteexplorer.search.yahoo.com/submit;_ylt=A0oG7zHJ87ZNAWEBp5.s.M4F
We have found that requests for site recrawls may be processed within a number of weeks or even months, depending on the current list of sites submitted. Unfortunately, there is no way to determine when the recrawl takes place as search engines do not promise any set response time.
A $750 Dollar Video Studio For Financial Advisors
Financial Advisors - Email Is Not Secure
Financial Advisors - Policies and Training for Security
For Financial Advisors - How To Optimize Your Google Places Listing
Financial Advisors' Greatest Fears When Going Independent
Operations and Technology When Going Independent As A Financial Advisor
Designing An Effective Compliance Program When Going Independent As A Financial Advisor
Going Independent As A Financial Advisor - Registering With The SEC Or State(s)
Going Independent - Business Planning For Your RIA
How To Build An Effective Template Financial Advisor Website
For Financial Advisors - How To Write A Blog
How To Build An Effective Custom Financial Advisor Website
How To Change Content Or Format And Add Pages To Your Financial Advisor Website
How To Add An Event Calendar To Your Financial Advisor Website
How To Build An Effective Part Custom Part Template Financial Advisor Website
For Financial Advisors - What Are Google Places Listings And Why Are They Important
How can I get all of my content to appear at the top of the page?
At the bottom of the text editor is a list of code info, beginning at left with “Normal,” “HTML,” and “Preview”
Click on "tr" and a pop-up menu will appear, then select properties.
In the middle of the right column is “VerticalAlignment” where you can select ‘Top.’ Then click save, and all cells in the table will have the content be top-aligned.
Options also exist for the text to be center or bottom aligned.
Can I have the Dow Jones Indices on my website?
During the last few years, the Dow changed their billing structure for all accounts and wanted to adjust each contract to new rates. Unfortunately, the new pricing structure is beyond what API considers reasonable for the services and features offered. While there may be individual clients that would be willing to pay higher rates, API does not believe that scalable rates are in your best interest.
We remain in negotiations with Dow Jones in the hope that we will achieve the best possible price for our clients. We would love to offer this feature along with the other resources in our Market Summary, and appreciate your understanding at this time.
If you have any questions, please contact our marketing team at 516-333-0066 ext 223.
How often are new articles posted to the Newsletter BackOffice
On average there will be 12-15 new articles posted each month. If you need additional information please contact Brien Shanahan, Editorial Manager at bshanahan@advisorproducts.com
How can I change the settings for my accordion text feature?
Via the BackOffice, click on the page where the accordion feature appears.
This will take you to the Edit Content Page.
- Under instructions, in the upper left of the page, is "Click here to modify advance control style"
- On the new page are a number of features - including font, font color and size, border, tab height and width, and whether the first button is set to open or close in the default view.
How can we make our new Advisor Products website live?
If you are hosting your own DNS, you will need add A records pointing to our servers.
- a blank host (A) record to 69.18.153.50
- a ‘www’ host (A) record to 69.18.153.50
If you want Advisor Products to host DNS for you, you must point your nameservers to our DNS provider as listed below or provide us with credentials to your domain registrar (e.g. GoDaddy or Network Solutions) and we will do it for you.
- ns1.p10.dynect.net
- ns2.p10.dynect.net
- ns3.p10.dynect.net
- ns4.p10.dynect.net
If you need assistance in this matter, please contact our developers via email at service@advisorproducts.com.
Advisor Products Search Engine Optimization Services for Financial Advisors
Financial Advisors - Use Videos To Improve Search Engine Rankings
Security Obligations For Financial Advisors
For Financial Advisors - How Security Breaches Happen
For Financial Advisors - How Do You Protect Your Client Data
For Financial Advisors - How To Securely Share Files With Clients
How do I claim my Google Places business profile?
Why am I unable to open my uploaded PDF file? Error: File does not begin with '%PDF-'
Check the size of the PDF file uploaded. If larger than 5mb, try to reduce the size by lowering the quality of images in the file or separating it into multiple PDF files.
If the file was created using a scanner, there may be an option to reduce the file size upon creation.
After lowering the file size, upload to the AdvisorVault and see if the error persists.
In PortfolioCenter while using the Enhanced Reports, the exported files do not follow the naming convention compatible with the AdvisorVault. How do I fix this?
When these new reports are exported, the naming convention they follow is as follows:
Lastname, Firstname_AccountNumber_Date.pdf (as opposed to the old format: “AccountNumber_Date.pdf” which is compatible with the vault)
So when these files are uploaded to the vault, they are not recognized as being mapped and also due to the ‘comma’ in the lastname, firsname these cannot be mapped as well!
The naming convention can be reset to the old one by checking a radio button which does not include the lastname, firstname.
This should export the files using the regular naming convention compatible with the AdvisorVault.
Downloading pdfs in IE9 leads to blank screen?
Any/all HTTPS pages and data downloads are blocked when the Internet Options/Advanced option, "Do not save encrypted pages to disk" is selected. This option is set by default during the IE9 installation. The AdvisorVault is a secure site(https) and hence the pdfs fail to download/open when this option is selected.
To prevent this go to the 'tools' tab on your IE9 browser. Then go to 'Internet Options' -> 'Advanced' tab and under the security settings uncheck the option "Do not save encrypted pages to disk" and save the setting.
How does the AdvisorVault handle account logins through the browser?
In the scenario you are trying to log in as two different accounts at once for testing purposes:
The AdvisorVault utilizes sessions and cookies when handling account logins. When using Internet Explorer, we recommend explicitly logging out of your account before accessing another account otherwise the sessions will override one another and you may see unexpected behavior in the different windows.
The AdvisorVault was not meant to handle more than one login at a time as advisors and clients will typically only have one account to log in with. Only when all browser windows are closed will Internet Explorer terminate the session so this is why if you log into two different accounts, the first window will suddenly begin showing the latter account’s content.
If you are looking to test functionality or work in two accounts at the same time, try opening a different browser like Google Chrome or Firefox and log in so the sessions do not conflict within the browser. Some functionality like Upload Multiple Documents may not work in Chrome and Firefox but you should be able to do basic navigation and functions if needed.
How do I make the client AdvisorVault Home page display the portfolio reports I uploaded for them?
Home page for clients can be set to Investments/Portfolio folder in the client's document library
An option was added to the Advisor Admin backoffice that sets the Investments/Portfolio folder as the home page for client's when they log in. This makes it easier for clients to find their portfolio reports.
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To enable this feature:
Log in to AdvisorVault as an Advisor Admin, click on Edit Profile , then click on Configure Home Page For Clients. Select the radio button next to Documents-Investments/Portfolio folder and click Update. When clients log in, their Investments/Portfolio folder will be displayed by default.
Additionally a shortcut can be added to your client's navigation by checking and adding a link for "Display a left menu button that links to Investments/Portfolio". This will add a convenient button for all of your clients to click that will bring them directly into the Portfolio directory.
Is there a default Session Timeout time due to inactivity?
The AdvisorVault will automatically timeout and log an account out if 2 hours of inactivity have passed. This is a global setting and cannot be changed.
How do I create new E-mail Templates?
By default, AdvisorVault comes with e-mail templates that will automatically be used when certain events trigger. This includes welcoming new clients, passwords being reset and even when files are uploaded. These e-mail templates can be easily changed to match your branding and language by reviewing them under the E-mail Templates link in the left navigation when logged in as an AdvisorAdmin account.
Editing a default template will automatically create a new template with -Customized to prevent overwriting the original e-mail content. Then in order to make sure they are associated with the event, make sure to configure this under the Automatic E-mails tab.
How do I make it easier for my clients to find their uploaded PDF Performance Report files?
By default, uploaded PDF reports using the bulk Upload Reports functionality in the vault will place files in your client's vault under the Investments/Portfolio folder. To help clients find this folder, a button can be added to the client's vault by logging in as the AdvisorAdmin account and configuring the Home Page for clients under Edit Profile.
A new option has been added allowing you to Display a left menu button that links to Investments/Portfolio. Clicking the checkbox allows you to edit the name of the button at the end of the option. Clients will then see a button below Portfolio Reports and before My Documents with the name provided that takes them directly to their PDF reports.
Are calculators FINRA reviewed?
The calculators are provided to API by KJE Computer Solutions. KJE provides calculators to numerous firms that are regulated by FINRA and update the calculators to adhere to FINRA rules. Please see their statement about FINRA compliance at http://www.dinkytown.net/money/FAQ.html#bb
How do I reduce the size of my photos for use on my website?
If you are uploading new images to your website, know that the size of the image file will affect how fast that page on your site will load.
Photo files from most digital cameras are very very large (3-5 megabyte) and should be reduced to less than 75-100k prior to uploading them.
Reducing the pixel dimensions of the image to the size needed on the website is a good way to start because images right from the camera can be more than 16 times the size needed. For example the image from an 8 Megapixel camera could be 3500 x 2300 pixels, but your web page only needs 400 x 300 pixels. Most software supplied by the camera makers can do this for you.
You can also try using this online service, www.imageoptimizer.net, you may have to experiment a little to see which quality level and size works best for the photo and your site.
If you need help reducing the size of the photo file, please contact service@advisorproducts.com and someone can help you.
How do I stop clients from uploading documents to AdvisorVault?
There is a "Manage Permissions" page in the Advisor Admin backoffice that provides that control. The control works globally so all clients will not be able to upload documents. There is also another control on that page that covers professional's uploading of documents.
To access this feature:
-Log in as Advisor Admin
-Click "Edit Profile" button in the left menu
-Click the "Manage Permissions" link on the upper right
-Click on the "Can only view files" checkbox
-Click update
The application of the new permissions could take some time as all the client folders and files have to be updated.
Once this operation completes, all clients will no longer see the upload button in their document vaults and they will also no longer be able to delete files or manage the permissions of the files.
NOTE: After the checkbox is checked and saved, if the checkbox is then subsequently unchecked and saved again, then clients will be given the normal permissions that they would have after being created. Any modifications to permissions made after that client was created and prior to setting them to "view only" will not reinstated.
I am using XML portfolio reporting in AdvisorVault, how do I hide some of the reports?
For firms using the Portfolio Reporting option and uploading Portfolio Center AWC or Advent XML report data, the advisor admin can select which HTML reports are shown to their clients.
To use this feature:
1) Log in as the advisor admin
2) Select Edit Profile
3) Click the Manage XML Reports link
4) Uncheck the reports that are not to be displayed
5) Click Submit
How can I stop clients from creating professional accounts?
You can hide the Manage Professionals button in client vaults on the Permission Options page in the Advisor Admin website.
1) Log in as an Advisor Admin
2) Go to "Edit Profile" in left menu
3) Click the "Permissions Options" link on the upper right
4) Uncheck the box next to "Clients can create/manage/view professionals"
5) Click the "Update" button to save the settings.
How can I block clients from editing their profile information?
You can hide the "Edit Profile" button in client vaults on the "Permissions Options" page in the advisor admin backoffice.
1) Log in to AdvisorVault as an advisor admin.
2) Go to "Edit Profile" via the button in the left menu.
3) Click on "Permission Options" link in the upper right.
4) Uncheck the box next to "Can edit profile" under Client User Permissions.
5) Click the "Update" button.
How do I let my clients see their Albridge portfolio reports in AdvisorVault?
AdvisorVault allows clients to view and save their Albridge PDF portfolio reports. AdvisorVault downloads the reports as requested by the client. Currently AdvisorVault supports reporting on the default combined account portfolio as well as custom portfolios set up by the advisor.
AdvisorVault supports this feature via a webservice based connection with Albridge Portfolio Reporting so once it is set up there is no need to upload data.
If you are using Albridge and want to enable this option contact support@advisorproducts.com to get this functionality turned on.
You will have to contact your Broker/Dealer or Albridge provider to get a ParnterUserId that is used to identify and authenticate your account in Albridge.
Make sure your Google Places address is hidden if you don't service clients at the address you entered.
Google made a change in Google Places earlier this month that could make your Google Places listing dissapear from search results.
Google is requiring businesses using Google Places to hide their address if they do not service any of their clients at the address that was entered.
When setting up their listing, Google requires businesses that see customers outside of their listed street address to use "Service Areas", a locale that is defined either by a radius around a particular address or by zip codes or city or town names.
In order to update your Google Places listing, log in to Google Places (http://www.google.com/places/ ) and edit your listing.
Open the "Service Areas and Location Settings" section, a checkbox option "Do not show my address on my Maps listing" will be visible. Check that box if you don't see clients at the listed address and save the change.
If you need help, please contact support@advisorproducts.com
Why do my clients see the AdvisorVault Login screen in when using the Safari browser
The AdvisorVault login screen requires cookies to be working for the login to AdvisorVault to complete.
Safari will not accept cookies from AdvisorVault that is framed into Personal Portals until the client has visited AdvisorVault directly in their browser at https://apiav.com. Once that has happened the client can then log into their portal and their vault should be visible.
What types of files can I bulk upload using Upload Reports in AdvisorVault?
AdvisorVault Portfolio Reporting bulk upload can accept the following types of files:
Adobe Acrobat PDF ( .pdf )
Word ( .doc , .docx )
Excel ( .xls , .xlsx )
Powerpoint ( .ppt , .pptx )
Comma Separated Values - CSV ( .csv )
Text ( .txt )
AVDC: .tmp File Created When Drag and Dropping from AVDC
When downloading files from your AdvisorVault to your local computer, make sure the files are not being transferred to a network drive as this may cause issues. Instead download the files to your desktop or a local directory first and then copy them to your network folder.
How can I resend my Welcome e-mail to a client that did not receive the initial e-mail?
If you would like to resend a Welcome e-mail to your client, you will need to reset their password first. By default this will use the Client Password Reset e-mail template but this can be configured to send a Welcome E-mail instead.
1) Under E-mail Templates, copy the HTML contents of your New Client Welcome e-mail template
2) Find your e-mail template for the Client Password Reset event
3) Customize a new Client Password Reset e-mail with the contents of the New Client Welcome
4) Set the template to be used for the Client Password Reset event to the above new template
5) Under Manage Clients, reset the client’s password which will now send the customized New Client Welcome instead of the generic password reset template
6) Reset the e-mail template for Client Password Reset back to your previous configuration
How do I update a client vault username?
How do I update a client vault username? (0 out of 0 people found this answer useful)
1) Usernames in AdvisorVault once created cannot be changed. In order to change a client’s username, a new account will need to be created and all client information will need to be migrated manually.
2) To begin, create a new client account with the updated username using “Manage Clients” in the left navigation. When selecting the Template Folder structure, make sure the same was used for the original account and make note of any custom changes that were done. Once created, send the welcome e-mail so the client may log in and create a new permanent password
3) Migrate any files and documents from the original account to the new account.
3.a If professional accounts are associated with the original account, the professional should be associated with the new account as well. This will automatically create the Professional’s directory for the client. In case a professional was granted permission to any other folders, these will need to be updated on the new account as well.
3.b If folders were changed, create and delete any folders as needed to match the original account.
3.c Any files excluding XML reports in the Investments"Portfolio_XML_Reports directory need to be manually moved including any automatically distributed PDF or report files.
3.c.i If a large amount of files need to be moved, this can be expedited using AVDC (AdvisorVault Desktop Connector). This can be downloaded from AdvisorVault when logged in as an Admin account. For assistance in this process, reach out to the Advisor Products service team at service@advisorproducts.com.
3.c.ii If manually migrating files, choose not to send the e-mail notification when file uploads are complete.
3.d If the automated Portfolio Reporting module is used, any client mappings to the original account will need to be added to the new account.
3.d.1 Click on Upload Reports in the left navigation and select Mapped Accounts.
3.d.ii Record all Account Numbers that are associated with the original account.
3.d.iii During the next upload of Report Files or XML files, find the above mapped accounts and add the new client account to the list of mapped accounts.
After the client has successfully logged into the new account and all files have been migrated, you may delete or disab
How can I upload a document and link to it from one of my website's pages
To upload a document ( PDF, word, excel,etc...) to your website and then link to it from one of the pages on your site:
1) In the backoffice for your website, select the page you want to put the link on.
2)In the editor type and then highlight the text you want to link to the file you are going to upload.
3)Click the "Downloadable Files"
button. This will open the Downloadble Files window.
You can link the text to any of the documents listed in the left pane or you can upload a new document by following these steps :
4) Click the Browse button and find the file you want to upload.
5) Click the Upload button to copy the file to your website.
6) Click the Insert button to complete the linking of the file to the text.