A4A’s New Comment Moderation System

On Sunday, Advisors4Advisors (A4A) introduced a new comment moderation system on its website. The launch was barely hours old when a troll emerged to criticize my blog post about the firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Commissioner and its potential effects on trust in U.S. economic data. It was a reminder of why, for years, I had resisted enabling comments on A4A’s blog. This story about the troll is almost allegorical in how it highlights our transparency and demonstrates why Advisors4Advisors is always mentioned among the best IAR CE providers.

The troll’s comment came under the handle “BKS” and was not just critical—it was hostile. The episode was complicated by a technical glitch with the software:  Martin Baccardax from Barron’s left a comment to find out who had authored the post, which is about trusting U.S. economic data. However, the forum was not set up quite right that first day and I was unfamiliar with the system when BKS came at me with a knife between his teeth. It was hardly the warm welcome I had hoped for.

Yet, this moment marks a turning point for me. I’ve long had mixed feelings about opening the A4A blog to public comments. In 1996, I founded Advisor Products to help independent advisors compete with larger firms, and created the Fee-Only Client Newsletter. It was an immediate hit!  I used custom digital printing technology to create custom branded newsletter for hundreds of advisory firms.  

In 1997, Steve Gordonson, a software engineer, and I began building advisor websites featuring my financial journalism. For 26 years, Steve and I built and hosted websites, content tools, and digital campaigns for advisors. But over time, my voice as a financial reporter faded.

Best IAR CE Providers Know Online Civility Matters

By 2007, my optimism about the internet faded. A main factor was the rise of Facebook. I detest the culture of competition—showing you are richer, happier, fitter than your friends—along with its documented harm to children, especially girls. Then came the interference in U.S. elections by foreign governments, and my faith in the web’s ability to spread truth was further shaken. 

What drove me away most of all, though, was the lack of civility in online discourse. I’m not interested in participating in conversations where the goal is to belittle, insult, or provoke. That’s why I was hesitant to open comments on my blog on A4A.

Things have changed since the launch of Advisors4Advisors in 2009. Advisors4Advisors now is  among the best CFP CE providers in the country, because of its financial economic, portfolio design, financial counseling, artificial intelligence, tax and financial planning webinars and our commitment to uncovering the truth. 

A reporter, is, as Lamar Kendrick famously says, not like you—a practitioner. While many worry about the future of journalism, educating people s a great way to practice journalism and earn an honest living.  An independent financial reporter can be among the best IAR CE providers because finding the best instructors requires the same skills as a trained journalist—research discipline, fairness, and a burning desire for finding credible sources in a search for truth. With Advisor Products' websites now hosted by a former competitor, I've been able to focus solely on providing CE through since January 2024. I love it!  It's a way for me to practice journalism: finding the right experts and letting them speak directly to advisors. It's extremely satisfying and I am thankful for your support.

This new commenting system, powered by Hyvor Talk, allows us to screen and approve comments before they go live. It’s not about silencing dissent; it’s about curating discussion so it remains productive, professional, and respectful. The best IAR CE providers—and all CE and CPE providers—are going to feel compelled to take the same approach, which is just one more reason we're among the best IAR CE providers. 

Best IAR CE Providers Can Moderate Without Silencing

Some see moderation as censorship, but it’s not. Moderation is about removing personal attacks, hate speech, and off-topic rants, while allowing differing viewpoints to stand—provided they’re expressed respectfully and supported by facts. This is especially critical in a professional education community, where the goal is to learn and exchange ideas.

The BKS incident illustrates why moderation matters. It’s absurd that anyone would click an “angry” icon or lash out at factual reporting. I don’t have the time or interest to get dragged into vitriol.

Best IAR CE Providers Benefit From Clear Commenting Rules

To help foster constructive discussion, we’re introducing a 10 rules for civility. These are adapted from best practices across reputable online communities:

These rules are not meant to stifle debate; they’re here to ensure it remains constructive and professional.

Finding My Faith in the Web Again

In 1997, when I began making websites for advisors, I was sure that the internet would spread truth and knowledge. As the years went on, however, the promise of the web gave way to performative culture, polarization, and an erosion of trust in institutions and each other. But a funny thing happened on the way to creating this new online forum for FAs, and I see a path—however narrow—back toward my original vision of the web. 

Please feel free to share your thoughts without fear of being attacked or embarrassed. As moderator, we won’t stop every troll, as the very first comment demonstrated earlier this week. But it gives us the tools to elevate the conversation. A4A members are smart, experienced professionals and should feel free to challenge us and ask tough questions and share thoughts in this forum.  The posts are optimized for search engines, so using your real name to comment and share meaningful content will elevate your professional profile online.      

For me, it’s worth trying. Since we have shamelessly targeted this post to advisors searching for the best IAR CE providers, this provides you evidence that we are earnest and honest. How many CE providers can you name who get quoted in Barron's on an issue as weighty as the risk of losing trust in US economic data releases?   

Advisors and other professionals deserve a forum where their contributions are evaluated for quality and respect, not volume or outrage. Over time, I hope this forum becomes a resource in its own right—a place where the comments are as valuable as the articles themselves.  If the internet is to remain a tool for learning, there is an opportunity to become known as the best IAR CE provider by ensuring knowledge is shared with respect.