#356 supplements

I have spent numerous hours in the past few weeks attempting to liquidate some of my mom's financial investments.  I took a morning off work to make a dent in it, knowing full well that I would need more time, but that I would not have the patience to do it any longer. I was right.  

The whole process has been an exercise in frustration.  Everyone needs different forms, supplemental material and documentation.  I mail in something, and hear back from them a week later that they need something else.  Just thinking about what I have done, and, unfortunately, what I have to do, makes me growly.

And then I thought of the parallels that I am sure people feel regarding the entire admission and financial aid process.  A family files the FAFSA and we call saying we need more information for verification.  They send us their transcript and we admit them, but then want an enrollment form and $200.  Every college requires different forms, supplemental material and documentation.  Do families feel about us the way I feel about financial services? (Don't answer that!)

I know that all organizations want it how we want it, but do we need to have it that way?  I recently read an article advocating for a centralized college application clearinghouse process -- one form and process for all colleges together like is done in professional school admissions.  I didn't really like the idea, until I dreamt about one form for investment liquidation.  

Yes, we all need to differentiate our product, but there is far more we can do to simplify and consolidate the process end of transactions.  Sing Kumbaya with your competitors and share the paperwork!

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
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