- How Financial Advisors Can Create a Lead Magnet
Looking to expand your email list and attract more prospective clients into your sales funnel? A well-crafted lead magnet might be the solution you’re missing. Lead magnets are a proven strategy to boost engagement and gather valuable contact information from potential clients. The best part is that creating an effective lead magnet tailored for financial… read more…
- Financial Advisor First Meeting Script Example
Your first meeting with a prospective client can set the tone for your relationship moving forward. It’s important to make a good impression and ask the right questions so you understand the prospect’s needs, concerns and goals. Developing a financial advisor first meeting script can ensure that the conversation stays on track and flows smoothly.… read more…
- How Financial Advisors Can Convert Prospects to Clients
Lead generation is integral to growing a thriving practice, but converting prospects to clients isn’t always a given. Successful advisors understand that getting a potential client’s attention is only the first step, and closing the deal takes much more than that. It’s necessary to have an effective conversion strategy to expand your book of business… read more…
- How to Find the Right RIA Marketing Strategy
Building and growing a successful RIA firm takes more than just financial expertise—it requires a strong marketing foundation. Advisory firms with a written marketing plan acquired 67% more new clients and 68% more new client assets in 2024, according to Schwab’s 2025 RIA Benchmarking Study. For newer or smaller firms, limited time and tight budgets… read more…
- Form 56, Notice Concerning Fiduciary Relationship
Acting in a fiduciary capacity expands your ethical responsibilities to clients, but it can also add to your paperwork. One document you’ll need to familiarize yourself with is IRS Form 56, Notice Concerning Fiduciary Relationship. It’s important to know when this form is required and what information to include. Ready to grow your client base?… read more…
- How to Become a Financial Manager
Becoming a financial manager involves a combination of education, experience and strategic career moves. Aspiring financial managers typically start with a bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics or a related field. Gaining practical experience through internships or entry-level positions in financial institutions is also important. Advanced qualifications, such as a master’s degree or professional certifications… read more…
- Compliance Checklist for Your RIA Firm
One of the biggest challenges for registered investment advisors (RIAs) is keeping up with the wide range of compliance rules they must follow. RIA compliance requirements stem from the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 as well as state-level regulations, covering areas like recordkeeping, written policies and procedures, annual reviews and client communications. Advisors also need… read more…
- Financial Data Protection Laws Advisors Need to Know
Financial data protection laws exist to regulate the way that consumers’ information is managed and shared. Some of these laws are applied at the federal level, while others are state-specific. Advisors who offer services abroad may also be subject to financial privacy laws passed by other countries. It’s critical to know which laws you must… read more…
- Email Marketing Strategies for RIA Firms
Email marketing is frequently overlooked as a growth channel, yet it can be highly effective for expanding a client base. While many registered investment advisor (RIA) firms focus on social media or content creation, email offers a direct and personal way to engage both prospective and existing clients. If you’re considering incorporating email into your… read more…
- How RIA Firms Can Use Content Marketing to Scale
Content marketing offers RIA firms a scalable way to increase visibility, attract qualified prospects and build trust over time. By producing and sharing original content through blogs, newsletters, videos or social media, advisors can demonstrate expertise and remain top of mind with both clients and prospective leads. When executed consistently, content marketing can lessen the… read more…
- How to Leverage Business Development as an RIA Firm
Acquiring new clients and retaining the ones you have are critical to your firm’s long-term success. Dedicating time and resources to business development is one of the secrets to building a more sustainable practice. The most effective RIA business development strategies are designed to help you increase revenues and fuel growth while providing maximum value… read more…
- How Financial Advisors Can Use Facebook Ads to Grow a Firm
Facebook marketing for financial advisors offers a powerful way to connect with potential clients by leveraging the platform’s vast user base and targeted advertising tools. By using Facebook ads, advisors can reach specific demographics, interests and behaviors, tailoring campaigns to attract individuals who may benefit from their services. Advisors can drive brand awareness and client… read more…
- LinkedIn Marketing Strategies for Financial Advisors
LinkedIn is a popular social media and networking tool for professionals of all backgrounds, but it’s particularly attractive for financial advisors. As a marketing tool, LinkedIn can help you increase your brand’s visibility and establish connections with prospective clients who are looking for financial advice. If you’re not using LinkedIn to market your firm, it… read more…
- 7 Offline Marketing Strategies for Financial Advisors
Digital marketing is a powerful tool for financial advisors who want to connect with prospective clients while building brand awareness. While investors are increasingly turning to online search tools and social media to find financial advisors, there’s still a place for an analog approach. Analog or offline marketing strategies for financial advisors can support your… read more…
- Guide to Continuity and Succession Planning for RIAs
Building a registered investment advisor (RIA) firm is an investment of your time, energy and passion, and it’s important to ensure that your legacy continues when you’re ready to step away from the business. Deciding who will take over your role and when to time your exit are some of the central questions to consider… read more…
- Who Is Exempt From Registering as an Investment Advisor?
Understanding who is exempt from registering as an investment advisor can be important for those entering the financial advisory field. The Dodd-Frank Act and SEC regulations outline specific exemptions for private fund advisors, venture capital advisors and certain foreign advisors. Exemptions also apply to various professionals and entities, including lawyers, accountants, teachers, brokers and dealers,… read more…
- Business Continuity Planning for Financial Advisors
Helping your clients develop comprehensive financial plans often involves asking a lot of ‘what if’ questions. What if you get sick and need to retire earlier than expected? What if your spouse passes away unexpectedly? Applying that same approach to your firm can ensure that you’re prepared for situations that might threaten your business operations.… read more…
- Guide to Business Development for Financial Advisors
Business development focuses on strategies that are designed to help an organization grow and achieve its goals. For financial advisors, that often means connecting with new clients and increasing annual revenues. There are different growth strategies advisors might employ to realize success in the short and long term. Ready to grow your client base? SmartAsset… read more…
- One Page Financial Advisor Business Plan Template
Creating a business plan gives you a blueprint to follow as you grow your advisory practice. You may need to tweak your plan as time goes by and your business evolves. For simplicity’s sake, you might opt for a one-page business plan that you can easily adjust. An example template can make it easier to… read more…
- Pros and Cons of a Career in Wealth Management
Like most careers, wealth management has a number of pros and cons to consider for anyone interested in entering the field. Wealth managers often enjoy a high level of autonomy, high-earnings potential and have the chance to build lasting relationships with clients. But the career demands a deep understanding of financial markets, products and regulatory… read more…
- Social Security Software for Financial Advisors
Nearly half of Americans expect Social Security to be a major source of retirement income,1 making it a key focus for financial advisors. Incorporating Social Security software into your tech stack may prove valuable for helping clients optimize their retirement outlook. Social Security software can streamline benefit projections, model claiming scenarios and enhance client conversations… read more…
- LinkedIn Lead Generation Strategies for Financial Advisors
LinkedIn is primarily a business-focused social media platform, but it has the potential to be more than just a networking tool for financial advisors. In a 2024 Broadridge survey, 68% of advisors reported investing in LinkedIn as a marketing tool.1 Incorporating LinkedIn lead generation strategies into your marketing strategy can help you build authority and… read more…
- How to Build Your Personal Brand as a Financial Advisor
Cultivating a brand image is an integral part of your financial advisor marketing strategy. A recognizable brand can give you a competitive advantage, help you attract more clients to your business and boost your firm’s revenues. Familiarizing yourself with the ins and outs of personal branding for financial advisors is the first step in refining… read more…
- How to Start a Family Office
Family offices can help financial advisors differentiate themselves in a competitive market as a one-stop solution for diverse client needs. This type of firm sets itself apart from other firms by providing highly personalized and holistic wealth management services for wealthy families. In North America alone, there are an estimated 7,800 family offices with an… read more…
- Checklist for Starting a Private Equity Fund
Starting a private equity fund requires careful planning and attention to detail. To help guide you through the process, here’s a private equity fund formation checklist to ensure you cover all necessary steps. Key components include defining your fund’s investment strategy, securing initial capital commitments, forming a legal structure and hiring a team. Add new… read more…