The 8 Best Books Every Financial Advisor Should Read

1. “A Matter of Time: Principles, Myths & Methods for the Hourly Financial Advisor”

Deciding how to assess fees is central to the way you operate your advisory business. While the hourly fee model is arguably a less popular option, “A Matter of Time” presents a strong argument in its favor.

Authors Mark Berg and Matthew Jackson establish a framework for building and scaling an hourly advisor business successfully. This book could be a must-read if you’re considering an hourly model, setting rates, marketing effectively or scaling your business.

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2. “Blend Out: From Ordinary to Irresistible”

“Blend Out” also tackles the topic of prospecting but from a different perspective. Instead of hunting down leads, this book is a blueprint for how to attract them.

Author Robert Sofia is a marketing expert, and in the book, he shares his best advice on how to present your business’s unique value proposition and get noticed. The goal is to connect to prospective clients in a way that’s meaningful but also unique.

This book is great if your marketing strategy feels stale and you’re ready to inject creativity. It can also act as a confidence booster for advisors who may be doubting what they bring to the table.

3. “Fanatical Prospecting: The Ultimate Guide to Opening Sales Conversations…”

A steady stream of clients is the lifeblood of any advisory business. If you struggle with lead generation, “Fanatical Prospecting” provides practical tips for keeping your pipeline full.

Written by Jeb Blount, the book targets entrepreneurs and salespeople but offers significant value for advisors. If you’re not exploring the possibilities associated with email or text marketing, for example, you can find tips on how to get started here.

4. “The Gen-Savvy Financial Advisor”

Boomers are set to transfer trillions of dollars in wealth to their children and grandchildren in the coming decades. Savvy financial advisors understand the value of being able to meet the needs of those who are giving away their wealth and those who are set to receive it.

Author Cam Marston explores the generational differences in how different age groups approach money management. If you’re interested in expanding your client base or simply getting ahead of the curve as the great wealth transfer approaches, this book can act as a helpful guide.

5. “Principles: Life and Work”

“Principles: Life and Work” isn’t a typical business book, but it offers meaningful insights for advisors seeking a methodical approach. Author Ray Dalio, who happens to be a successful investor and entrepreneur, shares the principles that helped him to get to where he is today.

It’s one of the best books for financial advisors who want to fine-tune their problem-solving and decision-making skills. Dalio’s advice guides entrepreneurs seeking meaningful work and deeper insights from their surroundings.

6. “Ask: How to Relate to Anyone”

As an advisor, your role hinges on two things primarily: Offering advice to clients and getting them to apply it. Relationship-building is an important skill in both respects, as once again, your goal is to gain clients’ trust.

“Ask”, by Dan Solin, dives into what it takes to build and maintain strong relationships by asking clients the right questions in the right way. This book serves as a great reminder for advisors to keep the focus on their client’s needs to make lasting connections.

7. “Communication Essentials for Financial Planners: Strategies and Techniques”

Good communication is key in professional relationships, particularly for advisors where so much of your business relies on talking with clients. Your job is helping clients make wise financial decisions, which is challenging without effective communication.

John Grable and Joseph Goetz share advice on building client relationships rooted in mutual trust and honesty. The book provides tips for reading body language, interpreting unspoken client cues and tailoring communication to fit each individual’s needs.

8. “The 10X Financial Advisor: Your Blueprint for Massive and Sustainable Growth”

Scaling an advisory business is challenging, but “The 10X Financial Advisor” provides a roadmap for reaching seven-figure revenue.

The book offers a clear process for growing and scaling to overcome the obstacles that may be holding you back. Author Scott Winters walks you through the steps to achieve lasting success on your terms and ultimately become a better financial advisor.

Other General Business Books for Financial Advisors

If you own or manage an advisory firm, these books offer guidance on running and growing your business. They also provide insights to help you manage client portfolios more effectively. These aren’t ranked or in any particular order:

• “Start With Why” by Simon Sinek: Discusses how successful people think, which the author believes is different than everyone else.
• “The Lean Startup” by Eric Ries: The book goes into great detail on a new way to think about running your business in order to speed up processes and get more stuff done.
• “Small Giants” by Bo Burlingham: Explore 14 businesses that prioritize excellence over endless growth and learn lessons you can apply to your firm.
• “The Long Tail” by Chris Anderson: Discusses the rise of making sure you know your niche and how to reach the right target audience.
• “Multipliers” by Liz Wiseman: Better understand how the best leaders in any business are the ones making everyone else smarter.
• “The 6 Types of Working Genius” by Patrick Lencioni: Can help you identify the type of work in your business that makes you happy and then help you tap into the natural gifts of your team.
• “Selling the Invisible” by Harry Beckwith: Learn how to market your firm in a very difficult industry.

Each of these books can help you with a part of your business that you can take and implement in order to grow your firm or make it more efficient.

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