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Forbes
09-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Beyond Compliance: Why Financial Firms Must Get Ahead Of The Algorithm
Chad Angle, Head of ReputationDefender at Gen Digital | Expert in Growth Strategy, Online Reputation Management, & Executive Privacy. U.S. corporations invest between 1.3% and 3.3% of their total wage bill on regulatory compliance. This equates to nearly $240 billion per year in labor expenses and potentially much more in other costs. But while no one is going to argue about the importance of compliance, it is a critical error to think that due diligence ends there. The unfortunate reality is that it doesn't matter how squeaky clean a financial advisor's past behavior is—all it takes is a single negative online post that pops up on page one of the Google search results, and their reputation is at risk of being irreparably damaged. What is particularly frightening about this situation is that it doesn't make a difference whether the information in the negative post is true or not. Once that information is out there, it is often the first thing that people will see when searching for or researching a financial advisor. Not only is it virtually impossible to remove damaging information from the internet, but many financial professionals may not even be aware that it's out there, prominently displayed on the search results. While this risk exists for virtually everyone, financial advisors are particularly vulnerable due to the fact that they work in a trust-based industry. Negative reviews from disgruntled former clients, evidence of regulatory infractions, results of lawsuits or other damaging developments and even negative content maliciously posted by competitors can all have a detrimental effect on an advisor's credibility and mean the difference between attracting and retaining valuable clients and losing them. Fortunately, there is a solution to stay ahead of negative Google search results: online reputation management. Through a variety of data-informed strategies, including reputation monitoring, suppression of negative search results and customized reputation strategies, financial advisors can stay ahead of the Google algorithm and ensure that those critical first few pages of their search results don't contain critically damaging content. Even the most upstanding, compliant advisor can suffer catastrophic damage if a malicious or uninformed post makes it to the top of the search results. Advisors are at risk of suffering reputational damage and losing clients. In this modern digital age, when virtually everyone has immediate access to the internet, even the perception of unethical or illegal behavior can be just as damaging as an instance of regulatory noncompliance. Many people make the mistake of thinking that potential clients simply aren't searching for them on Google and other search engines or looking at reviews. In reality, only 4% of consumers reportedly never check business reviews. The vast majority of people are actively using reviews to help them decide whom to hire and work with—and in the financial industry, where trustworthiness is paramount, the weight of that statistic cannot be overstated. There's another aspect of reviews and search engine results that most people miss, and that is the fact that search engines actually use reviews to help them rank search results. In other words, it's not enough to simply ensure that there aren't any negative reviews out there that can damage a financial advisor's reputation—it is also important to have positive reviews and a positive narrative that can help to elevate the advisor to the top of the search results, as this increases the odds that they will attract new clients. Online reputation management and search engine optimization are strategies that can help to improve an advisor's online presence in two ways—suppressing negative content (typically by moving it down off the first few pages of the results, the point where most people limit their searching) while at the same time elevating positive content so that it shows up on those ever-important first few pages. The internet has become ubiquitous in society, and to build a strong brand that attracts new clients and retains existing ones, financial services companies must manage their online reputation. While most of that work must be done organically through the development of a strong team, offering top-notch services and maintaining responsive customer service, achieving excellence is no longer enough to sustain a brand. It's equally important to protect their reputation for excellence—and that's where online reputation management comes in. Leaders of financial services companies can implement proactive measures to maintain a positive online reputation. Firstly, regularly publish high-quality, informative content on reputable platforms such as industry blogs, LinkedIn and respected financial news sites to boost your firm's positive visibility online. This approach ensures that valuable, credible content consistently appears at the top of search results, naturally suppressing any negative content that might arise. Engage positively with online communities and promptly address client feedback, publicly and professionally, to also demonstrate transparency and trustworthiness—critical attributes within the financial industry. Additionally, encourage satisfied clients to leave authentic reviews on credible platforms like Google Business, Yelp or industry-specific review sites. This can powerfully influence search rankings in the company's favor. Implementing a structured process to solicit and share client testimonials can also help ensure a steady flow of positive online content, further elevating a company's reputation. Lastly, continuous monitoring of the firm's digital footprint, including social media mentions, online reviews and search engine results, is essential. Early identification and rapid response to any emerging issues or inaccuracies can prevent negative content from gaining prominence, safeguarding the firm's reputation proactively. Another option is to invest in outside help from reputation management consultants. Leaders planning to do so should consider a team that will leverage search engine optimization (SEO), conduct regular online audits for compromising information, clean up and suppress any negative press or posts and attract organic traffic and positive reviews through a multifaceted, strategic plan specifically tailored to the needs of their clients. For financial firms with dozens of advisors who could potentially experience damaging online activity, or independent financial advisors who can't afford the loss of business that comes with even one negative review, online reputation management should not be overlooked. Otherwise, no amount of investment in compliance can guarantee a strong reputation or long-term customer loyalty. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
If You'd Invested In Gen Digital 5 Years Ago, Here's the Gain You'd Have
Gen Digital (NASDAQ:GEN), the leading provider of cybersecurity solutions, has been a publicly traded company since June 1989. Known for its brands like Norton, Avast, LifeLock, Avira, AVG, ReputationDefender and CCleaner, the company is a key provider of antivirus and identity protection to millions of users globally. Read Next: Try This: Here's a closer look at the Gen Digital performance over the past five years, major drivers behind the company's growth and how much you'd have now if you had invested in the stock five years ago. Next, check out the best-performing stocks in the S&P 500 over the past 20 years. Gen Digital, previously known as NortonLifeLock, has built a name for itself in the software industry. Over the years, the company has expanded its offerings beyond antivirus protection by also providing identity protection and digital threat solutions. These services cater to over 500 million users in more than 150 countries worldwide. One of the major revenue drivers of Gen Digital is from subscriptions to its various software offerings. Unlike businesses that rely on one-time software sales, Gen Digital's customers pay for ongoing protection, ensuring a steady income stream. Gen Digital's growth has been modest. To fuel its growth and diversify its offerings, the company announced in December 2024 its plan to acquire the fintech business MoneyLion Inc. (NYSE:ML). 'By bringing MoneyLion into the Gen family, we're not only helping people protect what they already have, we're extending our capabilities to enable people to better manage and grow their financial wealth,' said Vincent Pilette, CEO of Gen Digital. Find Out: Gen Digital has had moderate growth over the last five years. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020, the demand for online security solutions surged. At the time, Gen Digital's share price stood at around $18. As lockdowns happened in many countries, the broader stock market tanked. However, companies offering cybersecurity solutions — like GEN — soared. Over the past five years, shares of Gen Digital stock rose over 40%. While the GEN stock price has gone up, overall growth has slowed due to the fierce competition from its rivals like Check Point Software Technologies (NASDAQ:CHKP) and Cloudflare (NASDAQ:NET). Despite the stiff competition, however, Gen Digital has continued to generate consistent revenue. If you invested in Gen Digital in March 2020 and held it until today, how much would you have gained? GEN stock price in March 2020: $18 GEN stock price in March 2025: $28 Stock price growth: 56% Here's a breakdown of how much you'd have if you invested these amounts in Gen Digital five years ago: Initial Investment Final Value Total Gain $1,000 $1,560 $560 $3,000 $4,680 $1,680 $5,000 $7,800 $2,800 $10,000 $15,600 $5,600 While the growth isn't as explosive as some growth tech stocks, it's significantly higher than the average 10% return of the S&P 500. You'd have gained a solid return if you invested in Gen Digital in 2020. Plus, Gen Digital pays dividends, which — especially reinvested — would increase your earnings. After growing more than 50% over the past five years, the question remains: Is Gen Digital worth a buy now? The company has a considerable market share in the cybersecurity space. With digital threats becoming more sophisticated, the demand for cybersecurity and identity protection services will likely continue to rise. Gen Digital has positioned itself well with its suite of security offerings catering to both individuals and businesses. Yahoo Finance analyst recommendations are split between buy and hold — of 10 analysts, five recommend holding, but four give it a 'buy' rating, and one gives it a 'strong buy.' While the company has generally performed well over the years, its growth has slowed down compared to its rivals. So, whether Gen Digital stock is a buy or not depends on your financial goals and risk tolerance. If you're looking for a cybersecurity stock with long-term growth potential, Gen Digital could be worth considering. Editor's Note: GOBankingRates is a Gen Digital company. This content is not provided by Gen Digital. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by Gen Digital. More From GOBankingRates 5 Types of Vehicles Retirees Should Stay Away From Buying How Much Money Is Needed To Be Considered Middle Class in Every State? 4 Things You Should Do if You Want To Retire Early 4 Affordable Car Brands You Won't Regret Buying in 2025 This article originally appeared on If You'd Invested In Gen Digital 5 Years Ago, Here's the Gain You'd Have
Associated Press
03-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Gen Brands Norton, Avast, AVG and Avira Earn 16 Award Recognitions Across Third-Party Testing Institutions AV-Comparatives, AV-Test, and AVLab
TEMPE, Ariz. and PRAGUE, April 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Gen (NASDAQ: GEN), a global leader dedicated to powering Digital Freedom, today announced that independent testing institutions AV-Comparatives, AV-Test and AVLab have recognized multiple products across Gen trusted consumer brands: Norton, Avast, AVG and Avira. 'We recognize the rigor of these tests and are honored to receive awards from three of the leading cybersecurity benchmarking institutions,' said Siggi Stefnisson, Cyber Safety CTO at Gen. 'The threat landscape is changing at a rapid pace, and our team works tirelessly to adjust both our core technology and our products to ensure our customers are protected from the latest threats, year after year.' During the testing process, cybersecurity products go through structured evaluations that measure real-world protection, malware defense, and overall performance. The recognition from these independent testing labs across four Gen brands highlights the company's industry-leading technology, powered by advanced machine learning and AI capabilities. 'At Gen, we are committed to delivering the industry's most innovative Cyber Safety solutions, that address people's unique needs in an ever-changing threat landscape. This recognition reinforces the impact and peace of mind we always strive to provide our customers,' said Leena Elias, Chief Product Officer at Gen. 'These awards from independent labs further validate the trust in our technology.' Gen Brands Recognized for 'Top Rated Products' AV-Comparatives named Avast and AVG 'top rated products,' awarding Gold to Avast, AVG and Avira for Real World Protection, Bronze to Avast for Malware Protection and Bronze Avast and AVG for Advanced Threat Protection. The institute also awarded Norton, Avast and AVG for 'Outstanding Protection Against Fake Online Shops'. Norton, Avast and AVG were additionally recognized as the Best MacOS Security for home users by AV-Test, and AVLab recognized Avast Free Antivirus as winner of the Product of the Year award for its advanced in-the-wild malware protection test as well as recognizing the product for Top Remediation Time. Andreas Clementi, CEO of AV-Comparatives said, 'Our testing process is designed to objectively evaluate product performance under real-world conditions. Gen's products met the criteria for top recognition in multiple categories, indicating reliable security performance across their consumer portfolio.' About Gen Gen™ (NASDAQ: GEN) is a global company dedicated to powering Digital Freedom through its trusted Cyber Safety brands, Norton, Avast, LifeLock, Avira, AVG, ReputationDefender and CCleaner. The Gen family of consumer brands is rooted in providing safety for the first digital generations. Now, Gen empowers people to live their digital lives safely, privately, and confidently today and for generations to come. Gen brings award-winning products and services in cybersecurity, online privacy and identity protection to nearly 500 million users in more than 150 countries. Learn more at .
