• "I'm too small"
• "It will never happen to me"
• "I don't have time now"
• "I'll figure it out when it happens"

Fact is, every business needs a plan, whether you work out of a home office or have a firm of 350 employees - your customers expect you to be there when needed.  As a financial advisor, in a volatile fiscal environment, you don't have time to "figure it out" when your computers crash or the power goes out.

Your auditors know the importance of a documented Business Continuity Plan (BCP).  That is why they now include a review of your BCP during the audit.  Tech Valley Continuity wants to make sure you have the proper documents to pass that audit.

What you get - for starters:

• Professionally prepared business continuity plan
• Disclosure statement for your website, compliant with FINRA 4370(e)
• Recommendations for improving your continuity preparedness

Additional consulting / solution services offered:

• Alternate work facilities
• Computer backup / recovery / alternate data center
• Redundant telephone / data connectivity
• Emergency notification to clients, employees, stakeholders
• Periodic testing / review of your continuity plans
• Web-based business continuity plans

Bottom line, your auditor will require a business continuity plan - FINRA requires you to have a business continuity plan.  You can spend hours doing it yourself, filling out spreadsheets and word-smithing documents, or you can have Tech Valley Continuity do the work while you're out making trades - It's Your Call.

Business Continuity Plans for Financial Advisors

When the auditor sits down to examine your business continuity plan, you can hand them a bunch of spreadsheets which they will scrutinize, looking for "stuff" they have uncovered in previous audits, because they know you have exerted the minimum amount of effort.

Conversely, you can show them a professionally prepared, bound document that will address everything they require - and more.  They will know you are serious about ensuring the survivability of your company.  They will know that you are the type of financial advisor they want representing their company.

Opening Statement to Disclosure Statement

FINRA 4370(e) States:

"Each member must disclose to its customers how its business continuity plan addresses the possibility of a future significant business disruption and how the member plans to respond to events of varying scope.  At a minimum, such disclosure must be made in writing to customers at account opening, posted on the member's Web site (if the member maintains a Web site), and mailed to customers upon request."

Using FINRA approved guidelines for Independent Financial Advisors, Tech Valley Continuity will prepare your disclosure statement for you to post on your website and provide to clients.