Fintech

Can an adviser work remotely for a month?

Will Sheryl Rowling be truly able to work with all the wonderful distractions available?

I’m not as adventurous as Scott Leonard, author of “The Liberated CEO”, who sailed around the world with his family for two and a half years while running his RIA firm. However, I love traveling and want to be able to work while enjoying my life. So, the big experiment happens in May.
I have rented an apartment in Paris for one month with my longtime friend/employee. We are planning to work remotely while enjoying all that Paris has to offer. The carrots: Paris, wine, crepes, museums, cafes, architecture, and, did I mention Paris?
The pros:
• There is high-speed Internet (wired and wireless) in the apartment.
• We can remote into our computers.
• Our work phone is VoIP, so phone communication will be “as usual.”
• With the time zone difference, work will start at 4 pm – that’s great for a night owl like me!
• We have access to cool tools – cloud programs (TRX, MoneyGuidePro, etc.), GoToMeeting, and Skype.
The cons
• Will employees really feel connected to me and my colleague while we’re in France?
• Will clients adapt to Skype meetings?
• Will I be truly able to work with all the wonderful distractions available?
In keeping with Murphy’s Law, life has added to other significant obstacles: One of my key employees has decided to move back to Boston in mid-May. And, I broke my foot on Thursday. The good news is that I don’t need surgery. The bad news — I will have to maneuver through Paris on crutches or with my new knee scooter.
Sheryl Rowling is chief executive of Total Rebalance Expert and principal at Rowling & Associates. She considers herself a non-techie user of technology.