- What Are the Pros and Cons of Changing Firms as an Advisor?
If you’re looking for growth opportunities or would like to experience a different type of company culture, maybe you’re considering moving to a new firm. According to J.D. Power, a typical advisor has three or more employers throughout their career. But why do financial advisors change firms? The reasons vary depending on each advisor’s individual… read more…
- What to Know About Valuations of a Financial Advisor Firm
If you’re interested in buying an established advisory practice, or selling one that you currently own, you first need to have a good idea of what it’s worth. After all, value is central to the discussions when a business is set to change hands. Here’s what you need to know about financial advisor firm valuation… read more…
- Using Email Drip Marketing Campaigns as a Financial Advisor
Email drip campaigns enable you to nurture relationships with current and prospective clients, build trust and foster engagement. If you’re not devoting time to email marketing, you may be allowing opportunities for growth to pass you by. Read on to learn how to build financial advisor drip marketing campaigns that convert. Ready to grow your… read more…
- Actionable Ways to Grow Your Financial Advisor Business
Growing a thriving advisory business takes patience and planning. A slow and steady approach can help you win the race, if you have a plan to follow. We’ll show you how to grow a financial advisor business using measures that are both actionable and impactful. SmartAsset’s Advisor Marketing Platform (AMP) offers financial advisors services like… read more…
- How to Build an Ideal Client Profile as a Financial Advisor
Financial advisors need clients to maintain a thriving business, and attracting the right clients to your firm matters. One of the keys to growth is understanding who your ideal clients are and what they need from you to reach their goals. Let’s examine the value of creating an ideal client profile for financial advisors and… read more…
- Average Assets Under Management (AUM) for Financial Advisors
Average assets under management (AUM) offer a useful benchmark for understanding where a financial advisory firm stands relative to the broader industry. While some practices oversee hundreds of millions of dollars, others may be smaller and more specialized, reflecting differences in client niches, services, and growth strategies. Looking at the latest SEC data provides perspective… read more…
- Financial Advisor Job Description Template for Hiring Managers
If hiring top talent is part of your firm’s strategic growth plans, it’s to your advantage to know how to stand out among the competition. Drafting a compelling job description is critical for grabbing the attention of job seekers. Let’s look at how to create a financial advisor job profile to attract highly qualified candidates.… read more…
- Referral Marketing Ideas and Tips for Financial Advisors
Proactive advisors understand the importance of a strong referral marketing strategy. Referrals are a good indicator of trust and a mark of how well you’re doing your job in serving your clients. Getting your existing clients to refer friends, family members or colleagues to you is a cost-effective way to acquire new leads. Let’s look… read more…
- How to Find and Attract Affluent and UHNW Clients
Working with ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) clients requires a distinct approach built around trust, discretion and a deep understanding of complex financial needs. These individuals often seek personalized solutions, multi-generational planning and access to private investment opportunities. Financial advisors who want to attract UHNW clients typically focus on building credibility, expanding professional networks, and delivering highly tailored… read more…
- Analysis: How RIAs Are Underutilizing SEO for Passive Lead Generation
One of the biggest challenges for financial advisors is lead generation. While 88% of financial advisors report client referrals as a major source of new clients, RIAs looking to grow their business faster may look for more strategies to meet new clients¹. In terms of return on investment, setting up a passive way for proactive… read more…
- Financial Advisor Prospect Letter Example
Prospecting is an important part of growing your business, and as you make your initial contact with potential clients, first impressions matter. Creating a financial advisor prospect letter template can allow for smoother communication and set the stage for discussing the prospect’s planning needs, as well as help you save time on preparation. Let’s review… read more…
- How to Build a Comprehensive Prospecting Plan as an Advisor
Prospecting is essential for identifying and reaching out to potential clients who could benefit from your services. Having a comprehensive strategy for finding and attracting prospects can help you find the right clients to work with and target them with messaging that’s designed to help convert them. Let’s look at how to create a financial… read more…
- 10 Engaging Questions to Ask Prospects as a Financial Advisor
Speaking with a prospective client is an opportunity to gain a better understanding of what they need, and assess whether you’re a good fit as their advisor. Asking the right questions can reveal how a prospect thinks about money, what they want to achieve and how you might support them. The conversation becomes more productive… read more…
- How to Drum Up New Client Assets as a Financial Advisor
Increasing assets under management (AUM) is a goal many advisors share, and it’s one that can help fuel long-term growth. Top-performing RIAs added a median $49.2 million in assets from new clients and $16.9 million in assets from existing clients in 2024, according to Schwab’s 2025 RIA Benchmarking Study. However, there’s no magic bullet for… read more…
- What’s the Average Salary for a CFA?
Adding a chartered financial analyst (CFA) designation to your professional resume can enhance your credibility, increase your career prospects, and potentially boost your earning power. But just how much does a CFA make? Let’s take a look at the average CFA salary and break down the specifics. SmartAsset’s Advisor Marketing Platform (AMP) offers financial advisors… read more…
- How to Hire a Branding Agency as a Financial Advisor
If you’re struggling to develop your unique identity and voice in the marketplace, you might consider hiring a branding agency. Branding agencies work with business owners to help them flesh out and maintain the brand image they use to sell their products or services. If that sounds like something you could benefit from, it’s important… read more…
- 7 Examples of Financial Advisor Branding Statements
Cultivating a personal brand can help advisors stand out in a competitive landscape. The most successful businesses understand the value of a highly recognizable, trusted brand image for attracting new clients. An impactful financial advisor branding statement can help you clearly convey what your business stands for and the value you offer to prospective clients.… read more…
- 5 Business Growth Strategies for Financial Advisors
Growth is sometimes an elusive goal for financial advisors. You want to expand your client base and increase revenues, but the path forward isn’t always clear. If this sounds familiar, it’s important to understand that you don’t have to stay stuck in a rut. Studying financial advisor growth strategies can help you chart a course… read more…
- RIAs With the Highest Account Values – 2024 Study
Registered investment advisories (RIAs) cater to diverse client needs. Depending on their target market and specialties, some firms may focus on clients with different asset levels, which could affect the average number and size of accounts under management. Measuring these average account numbers and values, along with the total AUMs, could help industry stakeholders understand… read more…
- How Financial Advisors Can Develop a New Service Offering
Are you looking to ramp up revenues for your business? Expanding your services can be an effective way to attract new clients to your advisory firm and generate more sales from your existing client base. If you’re ready to make a move, it helps to know how to develop a new service offering that’s both… read more…
- Can You Be a Financial Advisor Without Doing Sales?
Selling is typically a big part of a financial advisor’s job – if you’re not closing deals, your business may stagnate. But what if you’re looking for a different kind of career in financial services? Can you be a financial advisor without sales? It might surprise you to learn that yes, it is possible to… read more…
- How to Buy Leads for Sale as a Financial Advisor
Successful lead generation is all about strategy. If your business is new or your tried-and-true lead generation methods are not producing the same results, you might consider a new approach: buying leads. Understanding where to find high-quality financial advisor leads for sale can make all the difference. SmartAsset’s Advisor Marketing Platform (AMP) offers financial advisors… read more…
- How to Leverage Retainer Fee Structure as a Financial Advisor
Choosing a fee structure is one of the most important decisions for your business. Clients want to pay fees that reflect the level and quality of services they receive, while you want to feel fairly compensated for your effort and expertise. A retainer fee model can satisfy both parties and potentially help you attract new… read more…
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the January 2025 New Rule of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)
What You Should Know About the New Rule The FCC is updating rules about how businesses get consent for telemarketing calls and texts. SmartAsset is proactively ensuring our clients understand and will comply with the updated rule. What Are the New FCC Consent Rules, and When Do They Take Effect? The new FCC consent rules,… read more…
- Wealthbox vs. Salesforce: Comparing CRMs for Advisors
Advisors rely on customer relationship management (CRM) systems to organize client data, identify growth opportunities and stay connected to their team. If you’re in the market for a new CRM, Wealthbox and Salesforce are two of the options vying for your business. If you’re torn over whether to use Wealthbox vs. Salesforce, it helps to… read more…