- 5 Fresh Digital Marketing Ideas for Financial Advisors in 2026
Digital marketing has become an essential growth tool for financial advisors, but success depends on choosing the right strategies. What worked just a few years ago, including traditional SEO, email marketing and social media, represents the baseline for what an advisor should be doing to make their brand more noticeable in a competitive marketplace. The… read more…
- Custodian vs. Broker-Dealer: What’s the Difference for Your Firm?
Custodians and broker-dealers are often mentioned together, but they serve different roles in an advisory business. Custodians hold and safeguard client assets, while broker-dealers facilitate securities transactions and supervise brokerage activity. For advisors, the difference can shape how a firm operates, how clients are served, how compensation works and which regulatory obligations apply. Understanding the… read more…
- What Does a Mutual Fund Advisor Do?
Investing in mutual funds can be a lucrative venture, helping you grow your wealth, save for retirement or achieve other financial goals. However, navigating this complex landscape can be challenging for many, especially those new to investing. Enter the mutual fund advisor – a financial professional providing expert guidance and assistance in the world of… read more…
- How to Build a Client Service Model as a Financial Advisor
The importance of creating an exceptional client service model can’t be underestimated. Attracting clients and retaining their loyalty begins and ends with delivering an experience that not only meets but exceeds their expectations. The most effective client service model for financial advisors is one that emphasizes value while encouraging engagement. Here’s a closer look at… read more…
- How to Build a Marketing Plan for Financial Planners
Building a financial planning business can bring plenty of challenges, not the least of which is deciding how to market your new firm. However, a solid marketing campaign can catapult your business to success. Unfortunately, a weak one may leave you struggling to stand out from the competition. To create a successful financial planning marketing… read more…
- Types of Money Scripts and How to Deal With Each in a Client
Money is a highly personal subject, and as an advisor, it’s your job to offer advice that speaks to your clients’ individual needs and goals. The money scripts clients adopt can influence the way that you approach that task. A client’s money script represents the internalized beliefs they have about money, which are often formed… read more…
- Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance for RIAs and Advisors
Errors and omissions insurance helps financial advisors and registered investment advisors (RIAs) protect themselves against client claims stemming from professional mistakes, negligence or failure to deliver promised services. This type of professional liability insurance can help cover legal defense costs, settlements or court judgments. Given the regulatory environment and level of client scrutiny advisors face,… read more…
- Transitioning a Financial Advisor Firm: What to Know
Transitioning a financial advisor firm typically involves buying a book of business or hiring a new team member with an established client list. Individual advisors may transition into a new role with their current firm, move to a new one or go independent and start an RIA. Any scenario that includes the movement of clients… read more…
- A Guide to Hiring an Associate Advisor for Your Firm
Are you looking to take your firm to the next level? The right talent can make all the difference, and one such talent is an associate advisor. This crucial player in client relationship management, portfolio analysis and support for financial plans can supercharge your firm’s strategic growth. This guide unpacks each step of the process,… read more…
- How to Buy a Financial Advisor Book of Business
Buying a book of business from another advisor is an opportunity to expand your practice, generate immediate revenue and build long-term relationships with established clients. Research from Cerulli Associates shows that 28% of advisors are open to an acquisition, while 19% are actively looking to buy a book of business. Acquiring a book requires an… read more…
- How to Find a Financial Advisor Internship
Financial advisors often credit their successful careers to the insights and experience gained during internships, underscoring the significance of such opportunities. A financial advisor internship is a valuable stepping stone into the finance industry, a chance to apply classroom knowledge in real-world situations. Here’s a breakdown of what these internships entail, the types of companies… read more…
- What to Know About the SEC’s ESG Investing Rules
The rules around ESG investing might soon change. On September 20, the SEC updated its rules that govern environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) investment funds. The new rule updates how these funds are named, requiring a fund that advertises itself as ESG to hold at least 80% of its investments in related assets. From a… read more…
- Ultimate Guide to SEC Compliance for Financial Advisors
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) oversees the enforcement of financial securities laws. On its website, the SEC has organized some of its compliance guides for small businesses and brokerages. It lists nearly 80 individual topics, each of which takes you to a guide that, itself, is just a summary of much more in-depth issues. This… read more…
- Financial Advisor Industry Statistics to Know
Whether you’re considering a career as a financial advisor or looking to work with one, it’s helpful to understand the landscape of this profession. Financial advisors provide expertise to help individuals and organizations make smart money decisions. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there were approximately 300,000 financial advisors employed in 2025, working in… read more…
- One-Page Financial Plan Template for Your Clients
A one-page financial plan template offers a streamlined snapshot of a client’s financial goals, assets and strategies, making complex planning more accessible. By summarizing a client’s income, net worth, asset allocation and other elements of a financial plan, a one-page format provides a structured yet flexible approach to managing finances. It can also serve as… read more…
- 10 Blogs and Bloggers for Financial Advisors to Read
Consuming financial content online can help advisors stay current on the latest economic, market and regulatory trends. Your content menu may include videos, podcasts and a financial advisor blog or two. While the blogging landscape has shifted significantly in recent years, certain blogs remain highly relevant for advisors with a passion for learning and connecting… read more…
- How to Build an RIA Tech Stack
Having the right technology can be critical to a registered investment advisor’s success. Joint research from Broadridge and the Financial Services Institute indicates that 68% of advisors don’t feel confident that their firm’s current tech supports their growth goals.1 Building an RIA tech stack that facilitates client acquisition and retention may be key to building… read more…
- Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Compliance Checklist for Advisors
Anti-Money Laundering (AML) rules require financial institutions to detect and report suspicious activity that could indicate fraudulent and/or criminal behavior. Financial institutions subject to these rules include banks, credit unions and, beginning in 2028, SEC-registered investment advisors (RIAs) and exempt reporting advisors (ERAs). Affected firms should consider how they can prepare to meet anti-money laundering… read more…
- Creating a Financial Advisor Value Proposition to Help Your Firm Stand Out
A well-crafted value proposition sets your financial advisory firm apart from others and helps you identify your unique selling points. Moreover, it succinctly communicates the unique benefits clients can expect from your services, effectively becoming your firm’s secret weapon in a market flooded with options. With $124 trillion in assets set to change hands through… read more…
- How Hiring a Marketing Agency Can Help a Financial Advisory Firm
A marketing agency can help an advisory firm turn its expertise into messaging that resonates with the right prospects. Instead of relying on ad hoc outreach, agencies can support a more consistent approach across a firm’s website, content, search visibility and lead-generation campaigns. For firms that want to grow but have limited time to run… read more…
- Why Financial Advisors Must Avoid Reverse Churning
Reverse churning is the fraudulent practice of charging a flat fee for idle accounts. It can represent a breach in fiduciary duty to the client, who would be better served with a per-transaction fee structure. Engaging in reverse churning can cost your firm money, clients and potentially the ability to conduct business. It’s not enough to… read more…
- Ultimate Guide to SEC’s New Cybersecurity Rules
The SEC has decided that cybersecurity and related issues are now a material risk that public companies must disclose. As a result, in July of this year, the agency released a new rule on the issue. Registered companies must disclose material cybersecurity incidents as they happen. Registered companies must also make cybersecurity risk management part of… read more…
- Essential Tech Tools for Every Financial Advisor
Technology can make running your advisory business easier but it’s important to know which ones are worth the investment. The best financial advisor tech tools are ones that can help you save both time and money while making it easier to scale and sustain your business. Some key categories of tech tools can prove most… read more…
- How to Start a Hedge Fund in the U.S.
Hedge funds are seeing a surge in popularity, with 562 launched in 2025 alone, according to a March 2026 HFR Market Microstructure Report. Starting a hedge fund requires more than just an impressive track record of consistently beating the market. There are registration and regulatory requirements you’re expected to meet to ensure your fund is… read more…
- Roundup of the Best Financial Advisor Magazines
The financial services world moves fast, and staying informed can mean the difference between keeping up and falling behind. For financial advisors, access to reliable, insightful publications is not just helpful, it is essential. The right magazine can provide market analysis, regulatory updates, practice management tips and professional development opportunities all in one place. Whether… read more…