If you’ve ever searched for ways to ensure that your clients and prospects find your firm in their online searches, you’ve likely come across the phrase search engine marketing (SEM). In a nutshell, SEM includes various methods for improving the chances that your firm will be included in search engine (read: Google) results. Think of it this way: if Google’s job is to find the best answer to searchers’ questions, SEM’s job is to help Google pick your firm as a high-ranking answer. It sounds like a no-brainer, but is SEM right for your firm? As with any decision that will affect your bottom line, there is a lot to consider before making the investment.

As the end of the year fast approaches, many of us are looking for new ways to save time and make our lives just a little bit easier. What better way to do that than with some simple—but fun—work and life hacks! From chilling your wine to getting control of your email, use these small hacks to see big results!

Being part of a high-performing, effective team feels incredible. When I’m a part of one, I’m engaged, I’m having fun, and I’m completely immersed in the team’s discussions and goals. Even when our work gets challenging, I remain calm and comfortable, knowing that I have everyone’s back, and they have mine. It’s a powerful feeling.

According to a new Putnam Investments survey, 83 percent of financial advisors use social media for business purposes. LinkedIn remains the network of choice, but an increasing number of advisors are turning to Twitter, and for good reason—a study by Pew Research found that 22 percent of U.S. adults use Twitter, and of those users, 42 percent access it daily. So, with your business goals in mind, let’s explore some strategies for building your brand through Twitter, including how to mix types of content, build authority, and use Twitter Analytics.

Brian Sullivan is Commonwealth’s newly minted senior vice president, chief marketing officer, and he brings with him experience from a variety of industries, including academia (Northeastern University), sports (the Boston Red Sox), and consumer brands (Oreos, Bagel Bites). If given a moment, he’ll tell you that great marketing is all about storytelling and experience, and he’s worked with all types of marketing talent to create memorable and effective messaging. In some cases, that talent has included third-party marketing support firms, a resource that many advisors need at one point or another. So, I decided to sit down with him to talk through what’s involved when assessing the need for third-party marketing support and how to evaluate the best fit for any firm.