Financial Recession Leads to Clinical Depression

Michael Roby and Dr. James (Jim) Rafferty begin their national speaking tour as "The Strategist and The Shrink" on June 18, 2009. Roby and Rafferty will be speaking at the "PrimeVest 2009 National Planning Conference"in Minneapolis, MN. PrimeVest Financial Services, Inc., based in St. Cloud, MN, operates as a self-clearing broker-dealer company.

The economic downturn is causing a downtown in the nation's mental health. As a result, the last year has seen numerous reports of increases in clinical depression and suicide. Business owners and other executives are not exempt.

A recent survey of financial advisors indicated 70% of those surveyed reported that the economic downturn and its effect on clients have negatively affected the advisors physical and/or emotional health. Another survey of financial advisors showed 23 percent were diagnosed with clinical depression and 38 percent had mild-to-moderate symptoms. Banks are feeling the wrath of the public, and bankers are on the receiving end of customer angst. Other business owners must deal with declining sales and the subsequent financial pressures. Reports indicate calls to suicide prevention hotlines are up significantly with no end in sight.

A Minneapolis business strategist and a psychologist from Ohio recently teamed up to serve professional service providers such as financial advisors, broker-dealers, insurance companies, banks, and professional and medical groups in dealing with these issues while growing their businesses and practices. Roby and Rafferty will be speaking at the PrimeVest National Planning in Minneapolis, MN on June 18, 2009. PrimeVest Financial Services, Inc. is a national full-service, self-clearing broker-dealer based in St. Cloud, MN. PrimeVest is a member of the ING Advisors Network, and operates as a subsidiary of ING Groep NV. With over 500 billion in assets, ING is one of the largest integrated financial services organizations in the world.

Roby is a sales and marketing strategist, writer, author, sales & marketing coach and noted professional speaker. Mike serves as lead columnist for "Bank Advisor Magazine," and his first book, The Ultimate Small Cap Business: Building a Financial Advisory Practice, was published in April 2008. Roby is member of the National Speakers Association (NSA), and is a two-time recipient of NSA-Minnesota's "Member of the Year" Award.

Rafferty is a licensed clinical psychologist and Professor Emeritus of Family Medicine and Psychiatry at Wright State University School of Medicine in Dayton, Ohio where he was a faculty member for twenty-five years. Dr. Rafferty has lectured widely across the United States and is the recipient of The Academy of Medicine Outstanding Faculty teaching award.

PrimeVest Financial Services, Inc. was formerly known as Bankers Systems Brokerage Services. The company was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. PrimeVest Financial Services, Inc. is a member of the ING Advisors Network, and operates as a subsidiary of ING Groep NV. With over 500 billion in assets, ING is one of the largest integrated financial services organizations in the world.