Blog Update July 2023
This one’s going to be kind of brief.
I’ve been mostly focused on recording and editing video, which I can happily report that I’m actually enjoying a bit.
It is challenging, but the good thing about knowing virtually nothing about a topic is you feel like you’re learning so much, so fast.
I’m giving away the punchline. Let’s jump in for the update.
The Numbers
June was a better month from a visitor and pageview standpoint.
We were up a little over May with 83 visits and about 200 pageviews. I thought it was higher than that, but looking at the numbers that’s where it fell.
The fact that we’re finally indexed (and appear to be able to stay that way) has helped.
We’re still not getting very many clicks from web search, but we are showing up more and more.
Truthfully, I don’t expect this to get much better until we get the YouTube channel fully rolling.
I just don’t have the time to spend chasing backlinks and doing much to actively improve our SEO. That will have to wait.
YouTube
I’ve got 10 videos recorded and 8 edited as of today (7/1/23).
Initially, I was very, very slow at making videos. I’m determined to try and ensure the recording and editing are high quality, so I’ve probably been too picky and spent too much time perfecting things that I don’t know how to perfect.
Looking back at the first video I recorded, it’s terrible. I’m not even sure I want to post it.
I felt that way after editing my 3rd video and seeing the contrast in quality if that gives you an idea of how quickly one’s skill can progress if they just start trying to make something.
That’s not to say I’m very good at editing. I’m still average at best, but at least I feel like the videos are of sufficient enough quality for the subject matter.
That is to say, these are videos about finance. I’m not trying to produce a series of feature films to rival the Star Wars franchise or something of the like.
The largest challenge is getting numerical data in digestible pieces in the video. I’ve gotten better, but I’ve seen some graphics other folks have used which are better. I wish I knew what they knew.
Anyhow, the 3rd and 4th videos I shot consumed about 15+ hours for editing. That is an unacceptable pace.
There’s no way I can realistically expect to shell out one post and one video each week at that rate.
Part of the problem is that I was trying to cram way too much animation and B-roll into the videos. Editing those things take time, but they don’t necessarily add much to the content.
The last four videos I recorded and edited went much faster, but they are still taking about an hour of editing for each minute of finished video.
I expect that my pace will improve here the more experience I get in editing.
That Other Thing
In the last couple of blog updates I’ve given a mysterious tease about yet another side project I’ve been working on.
Well, the big news is that I’ve been preparing to take the Series 65 exam which is the test that anyone who provides financial advice professionally, must pass before being licensed to work as an “investment advisor”.
I use the term “investment advisor” in quotes because that’s the legal term used by FINRA, NASAA, and the SEC to define who must take the exam.
Broker-dealers do not have to take the Series 65 necessarily, though they can if they wish.
So, why am I taking this test? There are a few reasons.
First, I think it’s important for establishing credibility for the site and the YouTube channel.
Obviously, having passed a professional exam means something. And trust me, this one is very thorough.
Next, it provides me with a higher degree of confidence that I know what I’m talking about.
I’ve put myself out there as an expert, but the truth is that’s never been put to the test aside from my own personal portfolio.
You can’t fake your way through this test, so I expect it will provide a self-assurance boost as I write and record about topics.
Finally, I’ve thought about starting a Registered Investment Advisor firm from this and the Series 65 would be a must-have for that.
I’m not going to get into details about those plans, mostly because there aren’t any. I’ve been very clear before that I enjoy my job in supply chain management for the big utility and I have no plans to leave that any time soon.
Frankly, it’s too good of a job to walk away from. Especially for taking on the risk of going to zero income and starting my own business.
Also, I want to show that there’s a path to starting an RIA for anyone out there who has personal doubts.
I’ll get into it more in the video, but basically, people who are new to the financial industry have a difficult time getting going without indenturing themselves to a large brokerage that only wants them to serve as inexpensive salespeople.
Meanwhile, the financial planning market is busting at the seams and in dire need of good, fee-only advisors.
So, you have a market full of salespeople eager to earn fat commissions and the same market is full of customers that don’t want to pay for advice that way.
It’s complicated, but the financial services industry is so woefully inefficient. There’s an enormous opportunity for people willing to operate their business on a fee-only basis, but the path to doing so is very challenging.
I’ll get off my soapbox, but I guess I’m doing this as a bit of an experiment. The good news for me is I wouldn’t have to be unemployed if I opened an RIA under my own name.
Of course, I may not have time to bother with it either. We’ll just see how it pans out.
Wrap-Up
This month was slow from a posting/publishing standpoint, but that’s part of the plan.
I’d look for our videos to start popping up on YouTube in September and we will make a big hubbub when we do.
We’ll be dishing them out very frequently at first and eventually dial it back to one video and one post per week.
At least that’s the plan anyway.
I take the Series 65 exam on Friday, July 7th. I’ll post an update after and let you all know whether or not I passed.
Truthfully, I’m a bit nervous. I’ve spent many evenings and hours studying over the last couple of months and it is by no means a sure thing.
Hope for the best.
UPDATE:
I passed!
I took the Series 65 exam earlier today and I’m happy to report that I survived and even managed to pass the test.
I don’t really have anything to add at the moment, but I will be working on a few posts related to my experience soon.
In all likelihood, I’ll just make a new page for those posts since most of you probably have no aspirations of taking the Series 65.
