Damon Ladd-Thomas

The Communication Corner -Business Networking | Bold Spicy News

2010-11-17T05:11:00.000-08:00

The Communication Corner -Business Networking | Bold Spicy News

Master Networker Damon Ladd-Thomas as WBCX Guest

LISTEN TO FULL AUDIO RECORDING HERE

After starting my business in 1997, I knew I needed to expand my networking skills. While it’s true that making vital professional connections had been important in my previous occupation–twenty-three years as a fund raiser–starting my own company required building a new network. Soon I started studying the most widely known network gurus. I read Harvey Mackay’s classic, Dig Your Well Before You’re Thirsty. Not long afterward, I read Bob Burg’sEndless Referrals. Although I met Harvey and Bob, and established an ongoing friendship with Bob, until today I had not interviewed a networking authority in “The Communication Corner", my weekly hour-long interview program for WBCX, 89.1 FM, “The Voice of Brenau.” Fortunately, this morning I hosted Damon Ladd-Thomas, an amazing networker.

Based in Grayson, Georgia, not far from my office in Gainesville, Georgia, Damon and I had met through the Internet, and through his primary Web sites I learned about his ability to attract, engage, and create bonds with prominent achievers. Check those two sites:

DAMON LADD-THOMAS.COM

GEORGIA COMMERCE CLUB

What’s most amazing: Damon’s so-called “day job” identifies him as an Investment Advisor. While you listen to our interview, Damon will amaze you with his networking prowess. He accomplishes more with his avocation than many leaders do in their real jobs.

You will become a far more productive networker when you listen to Damon’s advice about:

*The relationship between networking and exceptional success
*How he incorporated the work/balance life style advocated by Timothy Ferriss in his book, The 4 Hour Work Week
*The power of a contact management system
*The most personal “touch base” tactics that keep us in touch with clients, colleagues, and prospects
*Creative, memorable ways to acknowledge promotions and birthdays
*What Seth Godin means about associating with “tribes”
*Why your support group should be neither too negative nor too complimentary
*Why “you-centered” networking prevails over “I-centered” flaunting of your own credentials

LISTEN TO DAMON LADD-THOMAS’ INTERVIEW
To hear my interview with Damon Ladd-Thomas, click the link below.

LISTEN TO FULL AUDIO RECORDING HERE

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LISTEN TO FULL AUDIO RECORDING HERE

Producer, General Manager, and Chevy's Mom Extraordinaire Kristina Rhoades

Damon Ladd-Thomas On WBCX-89.1FM, Tuesday, November 16, 9:00 A.M.

2010-11-14T06:41:00.000-08:00

Effective Social Media Networking

CLICK TO LISTEN LIVE 89.1FM "The Voice of Brenau"

Damon Ladd-Thomas to Appear on another wonderful installment Dr. Bill Lampton's 'Communication Corner' Radio Show this Tuesday.

Dr. Bill Lampton will discuss with the C0-Founder of the Georgia Commerce Club the topics of Social Media, Effective Networking, and Marketing the Asset called YOU!

Listen to the interview on 89.1 FM live this Tuesday, November 16th at 9 A.M. It is also available for online listening on the Listen Live links.

ABOUT DR. BILL LAMPTON:

University of Georgia Speech Communication faculty member, then vice president of three colleges and a medical center, before establishing Championship Communication in 1996. Book author, The Complete Communicator, Change Your Communication, Change Your Life! Helps you “Learn More. . .Earn More.” Speaker, seminar leader, and communication coach for Ritz-Carlton Cancun, Gillette, Duracell, Procter & Gamble, Celebrity Cruises, CenturyTel, British Columbia Legal Management Association, University of Georgia Athletic Association and other top-tier clients.

Avid golfer, likes great ballad singers, Italian food, college football, and people who are good listeners.

LISTEN LIVE to Dr. Bill Lampton Tuesday Mornings at 9AM.

Bold Spicy News gets all new Look! | BS News

2010-11-05T04:13:00.000-07:00

Bold Spicy News gets all new Look! | BS News

Danny Cavanaugh, artist and graphic design 'phenom' has given us a whole new look. The Mike's Ad shop team just gets better everyday!

New to the Mike's Team:

Danny Cavanaugh (Graphic Design ‘Phenom’)

Danny studied Commercial and Fine Art at duCret School of Art. His uncompromised artistic and computer graphic skills in the advertising field have earned him National accolades. From ‘web’ graphic design, packaging & display, and direct mail advertising, Danny has the ability to understand an incredibly diverse customer. His ability to transition conceptual ideas into tangible design to meet targeted goals and objectives, sets Danny and his craft apart from the competition.

Let Danny and the team know what you think...

and the Bull's Head with attitude!

Georgia’s Complete Election Results (SOS) | BS News

2010-11-03T05:16:00.000-07:00

Georgia’s Complete Election Results (SOS) | BS News

George Soros | BS News

2010-11-01T14:43:00.000-07:00

George Soros | BS News

2010: Year of the Conservative Women? (Newsy) | BS News

2010-11-01T06:34:00.000-07:00

2010: Year of the Conservative Women? (Newsy) | BS News

Groovie Goolies Monster Mash Music Video

2010-10-31T15:14:00.000-07:00

Stock Market Information | Money Watch Finance

2010-10-30T02:32:00.000-07:00

Stock Market Information | Money Watch Finance

From CBS MARKETWATCH: Georgia Commerce Club Grows to 1,000 Members in 10 Months

2010-10-10T08:57:00.000-07:00

Georgia Commerce Club Grows to 1,000 Members in 10 Months
Thursday September 30, 2010 – 12:22 PM EDT
Latest Press Releases and News From I-Newswire.com
Grayson, GEORGIA – The Georgia Commerce Club has garnered over 1,000 registered online members since its inception about ten months ago. It offers complete community involvement and integration by combining social media and business networking.
The Georgia Commerce Club, an interactive/commerce club, has rapidly grown to over 1,000 online members in just ten short months. Its dynamic design and content has enabled Georgia residents to network and grow their business simultaneously.

Damon Ladd-Thomas, an Investment Advisor Representative with NEXT Financial Group, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC, and his wife Tatyana labored to create a free chamber/commerce club in Georgia that supports small businesses by letting registered users interact and form mutually beneficial partnerships. Their efforts have bore fruit as the Georgia Commerce Club has amassed over 1,000 online members, 1500 Facebook fans and 1,600 Twitter followers @GACommerceClub. The highly active website, for all things commerce, has almost 40 weekly events on the community calendar for users to attend and interact with one another.
The “new kid” on the block, at its current pace, is outperforming other more established chamber and business groups in Georgia. “It’s hard to believe this all began with nothing, zero support from any government establishment, zero dollars for advertising, marketing and even salaries. All we started with was our vision combined with the good-will businesses and volunteers wanting to build a better community,” said Damon. “We founded this website on the free “Peachseed” membership and it is our gift to the business community. I urge all business owners to take advantage of it.”
According to www.georgiacommerceclub.org, free membership boasts a multitude of benefits such as a profile, unlimited commercial listings, a group page, community calendar, live chat, business locator and a job/resume board among other things.
Damon Ladd-Thomas Wealth Management is a financial services firm focused on retirement for businesses and their owners. Damon, a 17-year veteran in the industry, specializes in business savings, tax strategy, succession, liquidation, and risk management. He is also a founder of the Florida Commerce Club, and Mike’s Ad Shop, a marketing advocacy group for small businesses.
For more information about the Georgia Commerce Club, call Damon (404) 477-401K, damon@damonladd-thomas.com ; or Taty (404) 585-TATY, taty@georgiacommerceclub.org or visit www.georgiacommerceclub.org. Securities offered through NEXT Financial Group, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Damon Ladd-Thomas Wealth Management is not an affiliate of NEXT Financial Group, Inc.
Company Contact Information
NEXT Financial Group
Kim Kham
2500 Wilcrest, Houston, TX
77042
877-876-6398
Press Release Distribution and Press Release Service by I-Newswire
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New Gateway

2010-08-12T11:16:00.000-07:00

New Banner

2010-08-09T18:51:00.000-07:00

Empire Avenue (Beta)

2010-08-08T17:25:00.001-07:00

Holy Cow! another awesome new Beta project we have to share.

(This may be “Part One” and watch for a second installment about Empire Avenues due to the awesome compexity of their product.)

This is Social Media Monopoly meets WALL-STREET!

I have to admit, because of my profession, I am slightly biased about a site that blends a virtual and fictitious,

stock-trading system with a fast action social media site.

Instructions:

First you sign in and self-assign a “stock-like” symbol (and vanity URL) to your profile for social dollar trading tha called “EAVES”. The traded commodity is you, your profile, and all of the members based on influence and popularity. Your “IPO” is the standard $10 of “EAVES” to start and I am not certain how many shares are issued. Your dashboard tells you what percentage of your shares are outstanding and there is no lack of information of what transpires throughout the entire community.

Next the sites guides you in a very clear and simple step-by-step process shown on the right of your home-page at all times. There is even a video on how to use the site.

Without details, you earn cash to trade when you do various connection activities and raise your level of coolness and connect-ability. Then you buy other members’ profiles that are listed by symbol based on your perception of their influence. As transactions occur and you build your portfolio, prices fluctuate and your entire portfolio moves across the top of the site as your “Ticker-Tape” keeps your eyes on the real time movement of the value of all of your holdings.

There are social groups that are Geo-Segregated and quite a few Topically cataloged so you can venture out to find friendly potential buyers of…. YOU.

This site is for the more advanced social media user and may be frustrating for those looking for a more simple or less complicated time-waster.

Good

1. Vanity URL, which we always love. ex http://empireavenue.com/DAMON

2. FaceBook and Twitter integration and friend finders.

3. The most organized beginner’s check list and sequential profile building of any social media site we have navigated. All instructions are simple, in plain English, and available in a video format.

Bad

1. Navigation is complex and the features are not for the novice.

2. The interaction can suck you in and you would want to open this up at your desk, on a work day .

3. Some of the features are limited for newer users and users without a higher EAVES value.

4. If you are not thick skinned or your emotional maturity is limited, when someone sells you or your values decrease, you may need therapy or medication.

P.S. On a side note I am available for non-licensed therapy sessions for $65 an hour as needed.

BTW, my value is up almost 1.5% in my first day, look:

http://empireavenue.com/damon

Website Coming Soon.

2010-08-08T12:29:00.000-07:00

Ed Slott’s Roth Conversion Marketing Craze, Flawed?

2010-07-31T17:57:00.000-07:00

OP-ED

You cannot deny the Ed Slott Marketing Company as a force, I am just not sure you should hire a marketing company to manage or protect your assets.

This “must-convert” theory breaks all of the scientific or mathematical rules for making a “theory”. There are more than three UNPREDICTABLE suppositions that make the Ed Slott theory undeniably flawed, but three flaws are three too many when managing your money. Nonetheless, here are three.

1. Taxes are going up.

True, we can agree that short term taxes may very well be higher. The real truth is they are “30 year cyclical” and sooner or later the higher entitlement political bozos will be voted out and our taxes will cycle back down in better times. If you retire when taxes come back down, Ed Slott is wrong.

2. The use of “dead assets” to pay the taxes today on the conversion.

A better use of dead assets, other than giving them to the government, is to manage them out of “dead asset” status into a vibrant asset. In my opinion there is no such thing as dead asset.

3. Ignoring the rule of compounding interest over time.

If someone pays a 38% tax on an asset, it can be likened to losing that much in poor market performance. If $100,000 in investable assets is now $62,000 in one day you would want a new financial advisor. (Remember the client’s money is being used to pay taxes even if it is from their checking account and not in this particular asset.) Also, as we all know, it would take a 62% growth of that new Roth asset to be made whole again. The Traditional Tax Deferred advisor is now 62% (market performance) ahead of the Ed Slott “Preferred Advisors”. Give me that lead when managing assets and I am confident with a little compounding over time I could keep that lead. My clients’ taxes in retirement would have to be more than 62% on their RMD’s for Ed’s theory to win. I am not sure that would be likely.

I have been managing money since the early 90’s and even then we were told to manage money based on an inevitable tax increases in the future.

Since then taxes have actually gone down and I have never had a client jump into a higher tax bracket in their retirement years. For the Ed Slott die-hard believers, I sure hope they get a client whose taxable income and bracket are higher in retirement.

Tatyana Ladd-Thomas

Here are some great articles that you can read before paying for Ed Slott’s Programs or the worse, the TAXMAN!

“Even Ed Slott is wrong about Roth IRA Conversions”

“Roth IRA Conversions: Do They Make Sense?”

By Roccy DeFrancesco
JD, President, The Wealth Preservation Institute

Independent Advisors work hard and there is no bad marketing solution to get them in front of potential clients. This post is not intended to offend any Ed Slott Advisors and should be read as an opinion and not as a judgement. Be careful of advisors that pay $5000 to be listed and brainwashed by a non-licensed expert like Ed Slott, Dave Ramsay, or Clark Howard. We like a lot of what they say, but would never take their advise over proper experts. We may ask them about their marketing expertise because they all make quite a bit of dough selling their books, tapes, CD’s, speaking engagements, and yes… endorsements.

Social URL

2010-07-26T20:37:00.001-07:00

Showcase all your web profiles with a single URL.

There is a new, well-funded site that offers some social media, profile organization. This site is www.socialurl.com .

This site allows a registered user to create a vanity URL, that can be shared with other social media contacts. The profile that can be created has the ability to add endless numbers of social media profiles, websites, and blogs to a consolidated user profile.

The site’s home page is promoting their concept this way and we could not state it any better:

There are two housekeeping details that we have navigated for the new user.

1. Whatever you would like to be shown as the first profile/site on your profile, needs to be added last. The most recent addition always shows first. The user friendly system allows frequent and simple editing.

2. This is not a social connection site. You cannot see who members are following, only who follows them.

If you re looking to make connections there are currently no email trolling or user search mechanisms. Mike’s Ad Shop professionals actually prefer this. It is up to the user to share their dedicated URL and ask that folks follow them. Finding friends on this system, if they are not publicly sharing their “Social URL”, will take an actual phone call or real conversation. Bummer for passive-aggressives.

What is your Social URL? If you would like help with this system or branding your vanity URL properly…

call us at 404.585.TATY

New Margin Ad

2010-07-04T03:42:00.001-07:00

This is the concept board for our new brand. Let us know what you think. We are also designing a new Wealth Management Website and we would like to hear from you. What would you like to see on your Wealth Management Firm's Web Site?

Direct Online access to your accounts?

Writable Account Forms Sections?

Interactive Request a Meeting or Phone Call Calendar?

Helpful Links to Affiliate Firms?

News and Trends?

Helpful Links and information about Saving for College and Scholarships

2010-07-04T03:24:00.000-07:00

Helpful Links and information about Saving for College and Scholarships:

Qualified Independent Local Advisor http://www.tdmontana.com/
FINRA http://apps.finra.org/Investor_Information/Smart/529/000100.asp
Bankrate http://www.savingforcollege.com/
Federal Student Aid http://www.college.gov/wps/portal
Mark Kantrowitz http://www.finaid.org/about/
UPromise http://www.upromise.com
Military Scholarship Finder http://aid.military.com/scholarship
Army ROTC http ://www.goarmy.com/rotc/scholarships.jsp
Air Force ROTC http://www.afrotc.com/
Navy ROTC http://www.navy.com/careers/nrotc/
Scholarships http://www.collegescholarships.org/
Georgia Colleges https://secure.gacollege411.org/default.aspx
Georgia Student Finance Commission http://www.gsfc.org/gsfcnew/index.cfm
Hope Scholarship http://www.hopescholarshiprequirements.com/

New Blog using my New Branding...

2010-06-29T13:15:00.001-07:00