I was reading an article recently about Warren Buffet's "rules" for how he chooses companies to invest in. One of these states that, if he doesn't trust the CEO of the company, he doesn't invest. No matter how good the numbers, the fundamentals, the market share, if Buffet doesn't trust the CEO, he is not investing.

This is great advice for all aspects of our lives, but especially true when it comes to investing in long-term technology such as an association management system. You must have absolute trust in your AMS vendor. After all, you're going to be (better be!) with them for a very long time.

I've written before about how your relationship with your AMS vendor is much like a marriage. Most would agree that the best, longest-lasting marriages are based on a foundation of trust.

So ask yourself? Do I trust my vendors?