- What Are Regulatory Assets Under Management (RAUM)?
Regulatory assets under management (RAUM) represent the total market value of investments that a financial institution manages for its clients, calculated according to guidelines set by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). RAUM can indicate a firm’s size, scope and regulatory standing. It’s also important to note that RAUM and AUM are calculated differently. Here’s… read more…
- What Is SEC Form PF?
One of the most important aspects of running an advisory business is ensuring that your firm complies with state and federal regulations. That includes knowing which documents you’re required to submit to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). SEC Form PF is a requirement for investment advisors who manage private funds. It’s important to understand… read more…
- How Solo Advisors Can Outsource Financial Planning
Outsourcing for a solo advisor can offer benefits such as cost-effectiveness, scalability, access to specialized expertise and time savings, which could allow them to focus more on client-facing activities and business growth. Solo advisors can take advantage of these benefits by strategically outsourcing non-core functions such as administrative tasks, compliance, technology support and investment research… read more…
- Requirements to Register as an Investment Advisor
If you’re a financial professional looking to help individuals manage their investments or provide financial advice, you’ll likely need to become an Investment Adviser Representative (IAR) at a Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) firm. This requires registering with the right regulatory authorities, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or state securities agencies, depending on… read more…
- How to Implement Goals-Based Financial Planning
Goals-based financial planning focuses on helping clients pursue specific life objectives such as buying a home, funding a child’s education or retiring at a certain age. Rather than anchoring advice to benchmarks or market performance, this approach aligns investment strategies with client-defined outcomes. Five of the 10 largest wealth managers in the world have adopted… read more…
- How to Create a Financial Advisor Newsletter
Nurturing a sense of trust with clients can increase retention rates and potentially generate new clients through referrals. Communication is central to that effort, and if you’re not leveraging the benefits of email marketing, you may be missing out on valuable opportunities to build deeper connections. Sending a weekly or monthly newsletter can help you… read more…
- Betterment for Advisors Review
Selecting a custodian is an important decision when launching a registered investment advisor (RIA) firm. Your custodian is responsible for safeguarding and managing client assets on your firm’s behalf. If you’re looking for a custodian to work with, Betterment for Advisors is one option to consider. This technology-focused platform is designed to help advisors provide… read more…
- Options to Outsource Your RIA Operations
Managing operations is one of the most time-consuming aspects of running an independent advisory firm. Developing workflows and automating systems can help you streamline important tasks, but as you continue to grow, you might decide that the time has come to seek outside help. Eighty-five percent of RIAs outsource some technology tasks, while 83% outsource… read more…
- How to Build RIA Operations: Compliance, Technology and Growth Systems (2026 Guide)
Behind every successful registered investment advisor firm is an operations framework that clients rarely see but always feel. From how plans are built to how portfolios are managed, strong operations turn good advice into consistent, reliable outcomes. Clear processes and well-defined support pillars can help your RIA operations withstand regulatory pressure, keep abreast of the… read more…
- What Is the CFP Board’s 7-Step Financial Planning Process?
The CFP Board oversees the Certified Financial Planner™ designation and provides CFP® professionals with a seven-step process for providing financial planning services. The process takes the advisor and client through the entire relationship, from the initial meetings through years or decades of monitoring and adjusting the plan as the client’s circumstances change. The CFP® financial… read more…
- What Cost of Equity Is and How to Calculate It
In corporate finance, cost of equity represents the return a company must generate to satisfy its shareholders. Financial advisors also rely on the cost of equity when evaluating investment opportunities and making recommendations to clients. It helps them assess a company’s financial health, growth prospects and potential returns, which can help advisors construct diversified portfolios… read more…
- 8 Financial Advisor Business Growth Strategies
Growing a financial advisory practice takes more than investment expertise. Advisors who build sustainable businesses tend to combine a handful of core strategies, from cultivating referrals and deepening client relationships to building a credible digital presence and embracing technology. Research consistently shows that firms with documented growth plans outperform those without one. Here are eight… read more…
- How Financial Advisors Can Use Sales Navigator
LinkedIn Sales Navigator is a prospecting tool that can help professionals find potential leads, organize outreach and build relationships over time. While it’s designed as a B2B platform, client-facing advisors and other financial professionals can leverage Sales Navigator for lead generation. In terms of its value, the typical B2B user realizes a 312% return on… read more…
- Comprehensive Guide to Financial Advisor Sales Funnels
Financial advisor sales funnels are structured systems designed to move prospects from initial awareness to becoming clients. These funnels often blend digital and in-person tactics to attract leads, assess fit and guide them toward a consultation or discovery call. By mapping each stage of the funnel, advisors can refine messaging, streamline follow-up and improve conversion… read more…
- Working for Wirehouse Firms vs. Independent RIAs
Choosing where to build a financial advisory career can shape everything from how you serve clients to how much control you have over your business. For many advisors, the decision comes down to working within the structure of a wirehouse firm or pursuing greater autonomy as part of an independent RIA. Understanding the differences between… read more…
- 5 Sales Strategies for Financial Advisors
Financial advisors rely on different sales strategies to drive growth. These strategies focus on client acquisition and retention, thereby helping advisors identify and engage with potential clients, communicate value propositions effectively and differentiate themselves in a competitive market landscape. Here’s are five things to keep in mind when developing your own sales strategy. SmartAsset’s Advisor… read more…
- Important Resources Every RIA Should Consider
Managing an independent RIA firm can be challenging on many levels. If you’re making the transition to your own practice or are looking for ways to streamline operations and increase efficiency for an existing firm, having the right tools can help. Tapping into RIA resources can make managing your advisory firm easier while enabling you… read more…
- CFP® Accelerated Path: Everything Advisors Should Know
A Certified Financial Planner™ must meet education, experience, ethics and examination requirements to obtain certification. Financial professionals with a degree, a qualifying credential and at least three years of experience may choose the CFP® Accelerated Path to expedite the process. Following the accelerated plan allows you to bypass much of the coursework required to earn… read more…
- $1 Billion AUM Added Through SmartAsset: How This Team Uses a 20-Point Plan to Convert Leads
When Joe Anderson founded Pure Financial Advisors, his goal wasn’t just to offer great financial advice to clients. He also wanted to build an in-house sales and marketing team capable of converting leads into new clients at scale. Today, Pure Financial Advisors uses a 20-point checklist for establishing and nurturing relationships with new leads. From… read more…
- Pure Financial Advisors, LLC Reports an Added $1 Billion in New Assets Under Management With SmartAsset Leads
Partnering with SmartAsset, Pure Financial Advisors reports recently crossing a major milestone in raising over $1 billion in new assets under management through the platform. The success Pure has had with lead generation through SmartAsset has helped the business expand organically beyond its California headquarters and into other states. “Our team is proud to celebrate… read more…
- Back Office Services for Financial Advisor Firms
How you divide your days can influence your firm’s growth and success. Approximately 15% of an advisor’s time is spent handling administrative and business tasks, according to a 2025 survey from FUSE Research Network. Outsourcing tasks to advisor back office support services can leave you with more time to nurture client relationships and plan your… read more…
- Financial Advisor Sales Pitch Examples
Being able to clearly articulate what you do and who you help is a foundational part of growing an advisory business. A strong sales pitch distills your expertise, approach and client focus into a brief, engaging message that’s easy for others to understand and remember. In time-sensitive settings such as networking events or informal conversations,… read more…
- How to Improve Your Financial Advisor Sales Process
Being a financial advisor today requires more than understanding your clients’ financial picture. It now demands a mastery of client relationships and sales processes to attract clients and support growth. As the financial landscape evolves, so too must the strategies employed by advisors to remain competitive and meet the ever-changing needs of their clients. Empathy and… read more…
- How to Start an RIA Without Any Assets Under Management (AUM)
Becoming an independent registered investment advisor (RIA) is an opportunity to strike out on your own and take control of your career. Ideally, you would do so with an established client base, but if you’re unable to transfer your book of business from your previous firm, you might be starting from scratch. Starting an RIA… read more…
- Corporate Transparency Act Reporting Requirements for Financial Advisors
The Corporate Transparency Act requires companies to report beneficial ownership information to the U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). FinCEN opened an online portal to begin accepting reports in January 2024. Financial advisors who fail to meet Corporate Transparency Act reporting requirements may face penalties. Ready to grow your client base? SmartAsset’s Advisor… read more…