Month: January 2018

At Frier Levitt Government Affairs, we value and understand our client’s priorities. For some time now, companies, trade associations and other interested stakeholders have seen an increase in legislative and regulatory activity. The days of thinking that another competitor or someone else for that matter will handle the “problem” are over as company profits have been hit leaving strategic goals unfinished. The reason for this lies in the fact that a company’s competitor may be able to live with a regulatory change that you may not be able to. Why? Simply put, your competitor may or may not have the staff or an alternative plan in place to deal with sudden changes. While it is good to know what your market competitors are doing, it is safe to say that you are not privy to everything they do.

As markets continue to change and government oversight remains active, it is essential that you ask yourself “Do I understand what my organization’s priorities are?” Our first question we always ask our prospective client is “What are your priorities?” Surprisingly many aren’t able to answer this question. This is not because they have not thought of this but we have found that when talking to a strategic consulting firm, most have one way conversations about what their services are, who they know or what they have done.

While this is great information, their past accomplishments should have no bearing on what your company is trying to achieve. The best firms should be able to get a clear understanding of what you the client are trying to achieve. If they are not able to ask the right follow up questions or seem more intent on highlighting themselves, you should know this is not the right firm for you. At Frier Levitt Government Affairs, our in-take process identifies possible solutions for you once we have identified where you would like to navigate and once we know that, we are then able to give you a plan on next steps to pursue. We thrive on helping our clients achieve their priorities and discourage anything to the contrary. Contact us today.

Keeping up with all the changes in government policy can be a daunting task even for a seasoned professional. There are federal and state priorities plus any proposed changes that need attention. Not to mention all of the policies that may go unnoticed as they are “recommendations” only. Sometimes with all of the industry chatter it is impossible to know which issues can affect your company and how.

Frier Levitt Government Affairs has created a system that helps our clients keep up with their legislative and regulatory priorities. It is a simple rating system that allows them to track each issue. We rate each issue with a 1-5 system. Rating each client’s priority by a set of proprietary factors allows Frier Levitt Government Affairs to offer each client a “burn factor” for each issue. For example, a client may be watching a specific bill in Congress or a state legislature. As the bill moves forward we tell the client whether the policy is helping or harming them through the rating system. This gives the client a chance to make their own decisions as the bill is moving through the process. Once the rating has reached a 5 it is “burning the client.”

The Burn Factor is based on the client’s specific goals and risk factors. When the client first starts out the rating system is focused on conversations with the client. As time moves on each issue will move up or down in rating based on outside factors such as a legislative vote, regulatory moves or even market indicators. Watching each issue this way gives the client an overview of each priority and the ability to see which issues are actually affecting them. Each rating is specific to the client’s goals giving our clients an edge over the competition. Frier Levitt Government Affairs also adds to the priority list as needed whether by request of the client or if a new policy trend has emerged.

With the Burn Factor our clients rest easy and can focus on actions instead of reacting to policy later when it is too late. Contact us today to learn more.

Frier Levitt Government Affairs has had many companies approach us to inquire about the government affairs solutions we offer our clients. After explaining to them about our regulatory, policy and lobbying services as well as our signature Burn Factor, we then asked what the company’s priorities are and whether the company already has existing staff. Many times we have been told that they do have in-house government affairs/compliance and that they are looking for consulting for the following:

Neutral opinion:

There are many times that a company or trade organization has an idea; a new goal to pursue or simply needs to find a new way to deal with an existing law. Oftentimes, the organization has a solution to the issue at hand but wants to reach out to someone with a neutral perspective. This is where our strategic consulting comes in. We can work with companies on isolated or multiple issues to help them think about the best individual solution for them based on industry trends, or other information from prior experience. We never give cookie-cutter advice and focus only on your company’s specific goals and needs are. Sometimes it’s better to get outside unbiased advice in order to realize your full potential.

Need an extra pair of hands:

We have also commonly been told that our services are needed because in-house staffers can’t possibly look at everything that is happening. We don’t blame them. Everywhere you look local, state and federal government are passing new laws, regulations seem like they never end and the markets are constantly changing. It’s understandable how everything can feel overwhelming. The good news is that it doesn’t have to. Hiring us to lobby for you or to provide you with a simple coherent understanding of everything happening to you and your industry will allow your in-house staffers the luxury of being able to calmly focus and make calculated decisions on how to move your company forward.

Need a special set of skills:

Sometimes companies tell me that their government affairs staffers don’t know specific states like Massachusetts or Rhode Island and that they need some lobbying assistance or some inside advice on how to approach a situation or who would be the best contact to speak with in certain states. Our lobbying services can help with this.

Other times, companies tell us that they need research assistance. For example, we helped one client track which company was introducing challenging legislation in various states. After speaking with various legislative and regulatory contacts and then verifying through company earnings reports we were finally able to identify the company that was introducing legislation that was adverse to our client’s interests. Additionally, companies approach us when they need to get into a new industry or need to learn about a specific company. Our insight is valuable as we help save time and precious resources.

In conclusion, government affairs and strategic consulting companies such as ours save companies time and money. Contracting with us allows for customization and gives you the client peace of mind knowing that you have expert advice in your corner. Contact us today to learn more.