Bimodal computer-based system for selling financial products

Abstract

Disclosed are computer-implemented systems and software comprising a software module configured to provide financial product education, research, and recommendation tools, the tools operating in a self-service mode adapted for use by a consumer; a software module configured to provide the financial product education, research, and recommendation tools, the tools operating in a collaboration mode, the collaboration mode comprising a sales overlay adapted for use by a sales representative; and a software module configured to generate a unique code for the consumer, the code providing persistence of state and data information between the self-service mode and the collaboration mode across locations and interfaces without authentication. Also disclosed are methods of making and using the same.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application Ser. No. 61 / 699,769, filed Sep. 11, 2012 and is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13 / 615,352, filed Sep. 13, 2012, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Financial services are economic services provided by the finance industry, which encompasses a broad range of organizations that manage money. Financial services are offered by organizations such as credit unions, banks, credit card companies, insurance companies, consumer finance companies, stock brokerages, investment funds and some government sponsored enterprises. In many cases, financial services sales representatives help connect buyers and sellers in markets for financial products.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION[0003]Financial products and services, by nature, play key roles in major parts of consumers' lives such as savings, education, housing, transportation, en...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]Accordingly, there is a long-felt and unmet need for truly cross-channel financial product education, research, and recommendation tools that offer consumers both the ability to work independently to gain knowledge and comfort with their available options and the ability to collaborate with a financial services representative while preserving their accumulated information and choices. Importantly, there is a need to accomplish this task without demanding that a consumer create an account by sharing private personal information during this sensitive decision making process.

[0006]Advantages of the software, systems, media, and methods described herein include, but are not limited to, offering guided selling dialogs to consumers of financial products and services that include scripted questions based on best practices. Such dialogs facilitate consumer needs assessment and consumer education as well as provide the opportunity to present relevant and specific product information. Advantages also include, cross-channel portability, without authentication, of independent consumer research and collaborative research completed with financial services representatives. This cross-channel portability of state and data enhances transparency and allows consumers to move between independent and collaborative learning, breaking and reengaging at will, without losing any of their work.

Problems solved by technology

The decision to purchase a financial product or service is complex, requiring weeks or months of consideration.

Currently available technology fails to allow consumers of financial products and services to compile research that is persistent and portable across locations and channels.

Moreover, current technology fails to allow consumers to break from the decision making process and reengage at will.

Because of these failures, traditional tools fail to address the needs of financial product and service consumers and do not facilitate effective and efficient sales.

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