Julian Lowenthal 
J.K. Lasser Pro Survival Skills in Financial Services 
Strategies for Turbulent Times

The financial services industry is constantly changing and you need
to respond

Change is a constant in the financial services industry (FSI). The
question is, ‘What should you do to survive?’ Whether you work in
or sell to the industry, you’ll benefit from the in-depth insight,
professional knowledge, and practical tools found in J.K. Lasser
Pro Survival Skills in Financial Services.

Advanced Praise for J.K. Lasser Pro Survival Skills in Financial
Services

‘The challenges of surviving and succeeding in the financial
services industry have never been greater. . . . J.K. Lasser Pro
Survival Skills in Financial Services provides a practical guide to
dealing with the tough realities of change. The result is an
enjoyable, down-to-earth, and interactive resource that provides
the knowledge, skills, and human understanding to deal with the
forces of change.’

-Keith T. Darcy, Executive Vice President, IBJ Whitehall Bank &
Trust Company

‘This book will help my staff work through the most difficult
transition in the financial services industry. . . . Julian speaks
in a nontechnical, light-handed style to every member of my staff.
. . . He draws on his relationships with some of our industry’s
most important leaders to reinforce his logical and practical views
on how to get through the day, the year, and the decades ahead. His
book is crisp, easy reading from cover to cover. But his section
titled ‘Survival Skills Greatest Hits’ must be committed to memory.
It will be the core of my survival strategy for the rest of my
career. I can’t wait to put this book in the hands of my whole
staff.’

-John Adams Vaccaro, CFP, CLU, President, Westport Resources
Investment Services, Inc.

Don’t get left behind in the whirlwind of change impacting the
financial services industry. Pick up J.K. Lasser Pro Survival
Skills in Financial Services and take control of your professional
life within this dynamic and challenging business environment.

Table of Content

Introduction: Setting the Stage.

Cast of Characters.

Part One: The Situation Room.

CHAPTER 1. I Don t Think We re on Wall Street Anymore.

CHAPTER 2. Now You See It, Now You . . . .

CHAPTER 3. We the People.

Part Two: Survival Manual.

CHAPTER 4. Oh No, Not I The Five By Five.

CHAPTER 5. Top of the Charts.

CHAPTER 6. You Can t Handle the Truth!

CHAPTER 7. Officer Candidate School.

Part Three: Pressure Points.

CHAPTER 8. Goodbye Mr. Chips.

CHAPTER 9. Road Trip.

CHAPTER 10. The Biggest Thing Is That People Aren t Stupid Anymore
.

CHAPTER 11. Sometimes You Just Have to Say, What the . . . ?

CHAPTER 12. How Did I Get Here?

CHAPTER 13. There Is No Need to Change Survival Is Not
Mandatory.

Conclusions: Curtain Call.

Appendix 1: Terms You Should Know.

Appendix 2: FSI Skills Guide.

Index.

About the author

JULIAN LOWENTHAL is President of The Practec Group LLC (www.practec.com), a Weston, Connecticut–based consulting firm specializing in the financial services industry. Mr. Lowenthal has more than fifteen years experience helping financial services institutions and professionals maximize performance to meet their business goals. In addition to his consulting work, Mr. Lowenthal has served as an adjunct faculty member at Rutgers University Center for Management and Development, Hunter College’s Department of Economics, and Adelphi University’s Graduate School of Business. He holds both a master of philosophy and master of arts degree from the economics department at Columbia University, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.