FSO FAQs

Most of these sites offer only a static "online" brochure (albeit an expensive one) without any content to drive traffic to the site. And, they are burdened with maintenance and hosting fees (which add up quickly month after month).

No other site comes close to what the FSO Website offers you. With almost 3,000 pages of useful, unbiased content, your clients—and potential clients—will access your site on a continual basis for information they won't find anywhere else. This content will encourage them to turn to you to assist them in implementing these ideas. Without any effort on your part, you'll be building your practice and strengthening existing client ties.

What are the goals of Financial Strategies Online?

Financial Strategies Online has three primary goals (providing a win-win situation for all concerned):

1. To help clients. FSO provides general financial guidance for the many life events that clients may face during different stages of their lives. It also provides guidance in the many major areas in which they need ongoing help: Business, Taxes and Investments.

2. To create an appreciation of the high level of knowledge needed to provide the services that you offer. FSO tries to make clients aware of the extensive training, research and review involved in providing professional services to them.

3. To build your practice. This is accomplished by alerting clients and potential clients to situations where professional guidance is needed and by providing a higher level of service because of the vast amount of helpful information in FSO.

What criteria are used in choosing the calculators offered on FSO?

The numerous financial calculators offered through external links are specifically screened to allow clients to perform only (1) some general calculations (information they would never call on you for or you couldn't charge for if they did) or (2) some interim calculations for arriving at certain financial goals (input information which should make your job easier). However, we do not provide clients with the calculators for performing the concluding calculations if such calculators might provide misleading suggestions in the absence of professional guidance. These calculators are available only to you in this Subscriber Site—in case you choose to use them.

Keep in mind that clients have access to calculators on other financial planning sites. If FSO fails to provide an appropriate number of calculators, clients might go elsewhere—and perhaps get in trouble because they might rely on a calculator for guidance in an area that really requires professional input. Therefore, we try to strike the proper balance in the calculators we offer.

If you ever feel that certain information or calculators can cause clients to attempt do-it-yourself in situations where professional guidance is necessary for informed action, please let us know and we will revise the material.

What criteria are used in choosing the external sites offered on FSO?

The external links, which are found within the Financial Guides and Planning Aids, are intended to allow clients to access helpful information outside of FSO. Although virtually all of our links are to noncommercial sites (such as those hosted by the government, universities and nonprofit organizations), we do provide some links to respectable commercial sites (such as The New York Times, CNN, Dun & Bradstreet, Standard & Poor's) that contain advertising (usually a minimum amount). This is done for the simple reason that these sites contain helpful information that is not otherwise available.

Note: We receive no compensation for providing the link to a site that contains advertising.

Your clients will appreciate the extensive listing of external links, which will enhance their perception of your Website as a very helpful resource.

Do my clients need a password to access my site?

No. Simply provide your clients with either your private URL (i.e., http://www.GoFSO.com/Robinson) or your registered URL (if you set up domain forwarding) and they can access your site.

Do I have to learn a new software program to customize my site?

No. FSO does everything for you! Simply fill out our easy-to-use online forms and then, at the touch of a button, all of your content and site preferences are instantly published to the Internet!

Note: FSO is not an ISP, although all content modifications are processed live across the Web, you will need an ISP account in order to access the Internet.

What kind of support do you offer to your Subscribers?

We provide four different types of support (9am to 5pm EST) to our subscribers:

1. E-mail support. You can directly e-mail us at CustomerService@GoFSO.com and we will promptly respond by e-mail.

2. Fax support. Fax your question to: (203) 629-8200 and we will either e-mail (if you provide your e-mail address) or fax you the response.

3. Phone support. Where the above procedures are not suitable, we will respond by telephone. This is not as efficient as the three methods noted above—phone support may not provide as precise or detailed a response since it does not utilize our Tech Support database. Contact Customer Service at (203) 869-0200.

Does FSO handle Domain Name Registration?

Registering a domain name for your firm is essential to your marketing efforts. FSO enables Subscriber's to purchase domain registration & web hosting services from Register.com or FSO will register your domain name for a one-time setup fee of $30.00.

I registered a domain name. How do I set up a redirect or domain forwarding?

In order for your Website visitor's to be able to access your FSO Website by typing in your custom domain name (www.MyFirm.com), that domain name will need to be redirected ("pointed" or "forwarded") to your Website located on FSO's server at http://www.GoFSO.com/MyFirm.

After you subscribe, we tell you how to set up domain forwarding with your Web host or domain name registrar.

What would my Web address be?

During the customization process you are asked to select a Web address (Step 2). You can enter up to 30 characters including no spaces or symbols. There is no need to enter any domain suffixes such as .com, .net, .org.

If you selected Robinson, your Web address would be:

http://www.GoFSO.com/Robinson

What customization plans are available?

We offer three levels of customization to fit every need and budget (see Subscription Plans for more details).

Our Gold Plan includes both previous items, plus a large selection of professional designs to choose from, five customizable pages profiling your firm and a "Contact Us" link.
Our Platinum Plan integrates our content with a site designed completely to your specifications. To order the Platinum plan contact FSO's Design Team at (203) 869-0200.

How soon will my site be online?

In as little as 15 minutes after you sign up, your site will be online and available to clients and prospects.

How often can I change my site?

As often as you'd like, at no additional charge.

How do I make changes to my site?

Simply go online & log on to FSO's private Subscriber Site and make your modifications through our easy-to-use SiteBuilder Wizard. Follow the steps and click on "Accept" to save your changes. It takes just minutes.

No need to use a Web authoring program or know how to publish your site to the Internet. When you are finished select "Build My Site" which will publish your site to the Internet.

Do you provide any online resources to help me get the most out of FSO?

Yes. Our private Subscriber Site provides you with innovative ways to market FSO to your clients to maximize usage and build client loyalty. The members-only Subscriber Site also provides professional resources, FAQs, Professional Resources, Marketing Tips, customization ordering, domain name registration ordering and other useful features to help you manage your subscription and promote your Website.

How should I customize my site?

You should customize your site to tailor it to the needs of your firm and client base. However, if you decide to do nothing else, you still will have a great looking site that's always current and well-maintained. Here are some tips for making the most of each section of your customized site:

In General

When you first create your site, we suggest that you accept most of the pre-written (default) content in order to get your site online quickly. Later on, you can customize your content as you become more familiar with your site and the image you want it to project. Editing the pre-written descriptions gradually can make the customization process even easier.

Welcome Page

Introduce both your clients and potential clients to your firm and your Website. Use our suggested message or write your own.

Firm Profile Page

You might include a brief history of your firm, a mission statement that expresses your firm's philosophy, a list of professional associations and memberships, a list of partners and/or staff (including their pictures), you can also highlight their educational and professional accomplishments, and other information you deem appropriate. We provide suggested language which you can use or modify as you please.

Client Services Page

Our online interface provides a default listing of over 40 types of services and related descriptions from which you may choose. Additionally, you have the option of adding your own custom services to the list. If you specialize in a certain industry or type of client (e.g. doctors, construction contractors, homeowners' associations), add this specialty.

If you intend to register your site with search engines, remember that your client services page is a key to how you will be found on the Web. We have designed the Website to include in the HTML coding, which is read by search engines, all client services chosen by you for inclusion on your "Client Services" page, including services added by you. If you are a Web Trust specialist, make sure that you add "Web Trust" as a service so that your firm's name will appear when a potential client types "Web Trust" in a search engine.

Firm Notes Page

You can use the customizable headings that we provide or revise them to fit your specific needs. Under Client Communications, you might enter important messages, suggested deadlines (e.g. the date by which tax information should be submitted), or newsletter-type items that are very specific to your firm's practice. Under Firm Announcements, you might include partner achievements and/or member or firm participation in professional programs. Under Personal News, you might mention births by and/or marriages of firm members. You can even edit a section heading and include a section for Employment Opportunities and list positions which your firm is recruiting or you can create your own categories to convey to clients whatever information you want them to have. Just choose your category.

We also offer the capability to add custom Internet links to your site. Thus, you can exchange links with professional and local resources, such as attorneys, banks, insurance firms, brokerage firms, and local businesses, whereby they provide a link to your site on theirs in return for your providing exchange links on your site). Visitors to your site will appreciate your collection of customized links.

Can I add my firm's logo and other graphics to my Website?

Yes. FSO's SiteBuilder Wizard includes the functionality to upload your firm's logo from your desktop computer or display an unlimited amount of graphics and/or files to your Gold Plan Website. The files are hosted absolutely free!

Can I display a map to my office on my customized Website (Gold Plan)?

Yes. FSO's SiteBuilder Wizard easily enables you to display a map showing your firm's office location on the Contact Us page of your Gold plan Website. Your firm's name is clearly labeled on the map, showing your clients exactly where your firm is located.

Can I track the number of hits on my customized site?

Yes. We have developed the functionality to provide our Subscriber's with a real-time hit counter which tracks visitor traffic to your FSO Website (Gold Plan only). The hit counter is displayed for your private viewing on the SiteBuilder Wizard menu page. The display shows the number of visitors who accessed your Website.

Can I email the Client Newsletter & other pages to my Clients?

Yes. You can either send a page and/or a link by email to your clients depending on the type of browser you are using.

Note: Following the instructions listed below, you can email any page of our content to your clients.

Please follow these instructions:

Internet Explorer 4.x (and later)
(Send Page or Link via Email)

Go online and navigate to the Client Newsletter in your browser.
Select File | Send | Page By Email (or Link By Email)
Address & compose your email and click on Send.

Netscape Navigator 4.x (and later)
(Send Page or Link via Email)

Go online and navigate to the Client Newsletter in your browser.
Select File | Send Frame (or Send Page)
Address & compose your email and click on Send.

America On Line 4.x (and later)
(Send Link via Email)

Go online and navigate to the Client Newsletter in AOL.
Right click (with your mouse) on the page you want to email and select Add To Favorites.
Click on Write to compose an email; address and compose your email.
Click on Insert Favorite Place (heart icon); and select the Favorite Place you just created (Client Newsletter).
Click on Send Now.

We also have developed the technology in our SiteBuilder Wizard to provide all Gold Plan subscriber's with access to our FSO EmailBot. You will be able to send a single email to all of your clients—a great tool for sending out reminders, tax deadlines, firm updates, etc.

Can I set up a client mail list and send a single email to all of my clients?

Yes. Need a better way to keep in touch with your clients? FSO's EmailBot provides you with a FREE (yes, we said FREE!) way to keep in touch with your Website visitors by giving you a Web-based email list management system (Gold Plan only).

Collects visitor email addresses automatically.
Sends email to all your visitors with just one click.
Manages your mailing lists for you.

Don't throw away repeat business!

Once clients leave your site, they're gone—unless you bring them back with email. Spread the news about your firm's services and tax changes. This could easily be your most valuable marketing tool ever-and there's no cost whatsoever to you!

You will have the ability to let your clients join right from your Website. They will simply enter their email address in a text box and click on Join! You manage, control and send emails to your private mailing list directly from FSO's SiteBuilder Wizard.