'Obama' Consulting Group?

"I'm asking you to believe. Not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington...I'm asking you to believe in yours." -- Barack Obama

Although this entry isn't to be taken as an endorsement of Senator Barack Obama, I am very much in love with the way he has conducted his campaign. His process-oriented approach has focussed on the way politics is being done in Washington. Yes, he speaks of policy, and he has a solid stance on the issues. However, it's not the issues that have gotten people in the very grass-roots level involved. Potential voters, in the past, that have been apathetic are being made passionate. Amazing, really.

Due in large part to this, I've taken a great deal of inspiration watching this political figure run his campaign. Why? I feel this boutique consulting firm [Onus] is taking baby steps to doing just that by 'campaigning' the way business is done in the retail investment industry. By staying away from the actual investment advice side of the business and focussing directly on the client-broker relationship (at times, for example, a buy-at-all costs approach), it's possible to get people involved and conscious at the grassroots level. Embedded fees? Fee-based vs. commission-based? Advisor accountability? Extra! Extra! Read all about it....This consciousness is improving the quality of financial advice without actually giving any. The more a client knows entering a relationship, the healthier that relationship will be.

The success of Obama reminds me that this attitude can make a difference.

To have a voice to aid bringing transparency to the retail investment industry (leaving the investing to the brokerages) and examing the client-broker relationship....Can we help in being successful? Can we help in bringing about real change in Bay Street's retail investment industry?

Time will only tell. Even Obama has a long way to go.