What you talkin' bout Willis?

Keep It Simple Stupid Me!

Keep it simple. Make it clear. Provide information in easy-to-understand language so it's easy to make an informed decision.

That's the message, according to a new survey from Siegel and Gale. "People are desperate for clarity and simplicity in order to make informed decisions,” said Alan Siegel, founder and chair of the New York City-based branding firm.

A survey of 1,214 American homeowners and investors between Dec. 29 and Jan. 5 found consumers are frustrated by the complexity of laws, regulations and documents—and blame the current financial crisis at least in part on confusion based on misunderstanding.

· 84% of all consumers are more likely to trust a company that uses jargon-free, plain English in communications
· 79% think it is “very important” that President Obama “mandate that clarity, transparency, and plain English be a requirement of every new law, regulation and policy.”
· 75% said complexity and lack of understanding played a significant role in the current financial crisis.
· 63% feel “banks, mortgage lenders and Wall Street intentionally make things complicated to hide risks or to keep people in the dark.”