Practice Management Trendsetters

July 07, 2025


Financial Advisors Need More Clarity Around Their Future 


The number one thing advisors are looking for is clarity about their business for their future. They have a good sense of where they are going, but then face the challenge of achieving their goals because they seem to change, as the industry changes. With all of the regulatory, technology and product pricing changes, it is no wonder that advisors need a deeper sense of clarity around their future.

 
How Do You Get More Clarity?
 
Let’s start by examining a simple list of your business goals. Just for fun, take this simple checklist below, and check off the goals you want to accomplish in your financial advisory practice this year.
 
Goals-Based Business Planning
 
____ Lifestyle - work-life balance more time off in the next 12 months 
____ Growth -Ideal client acquisition acquire more HNW clients
____ Value- Ideal service processes – Deliver more value
 
 
What is your main driver for the next quarter? is it growth, value or lifestyle? It would be great to have all three in balance, but prioritize which one is first? 
 
Next, look at the list below and check off what you would like to accomplish in the next quarter, and prioritize it to the top 3 -4 items on the list. 
 
Financial Advisor Practice Management Program (c) 
 
Clarity

___ Business plan on paper – your vision and values

___ Business model – ideal focus – Big goal

___ Data- KPI’s and or benchmarking – key practice data

___ 4 DX 4 disciplines of execution

___ Long-term goals 

___ Transition plan

____ Segment – More time with ideal clients
____ Time management – work on business more
____ Valuation know the value and how to increase
 
Growth 
____ Marketing and branding – Creating a clear value promise
____ Delegate – Team to do more / outsourcing
____ Ideal client path now and future
____ Marketing plan and marketing calendar
____ Value promise
____ Strategic partners COI network 
____Target marketing fusion marketing 
____ Conversations – Practice critical conversations with ideal clients and master
 
____ Career – education / courses
____ Leadership – Firm or industry leadership roles
___ Less transactional clients
___ More revenue per client
___ Build a deeper Client acquisition process
 
Value added processes
___ Build a stronger Ideal client experience process
___ Implement Better technology
___ Delegate more and hire more staff support
___ Get better support from strategic partners  
___ finally complete a Succession plan in writing and file it away
___ Build better processes 
___ Segment clients and prospects 
___ Travel for business – attend conferences
 
Team processes
____ Hiring – Expanding team / associates partners
____ Communications Become a thought leader
____ Team processes 
____ Team path -
____ Organizational  chart today and future
____ Staff value promise - mission vision values and goals 
____ Career path for each team member 
____ Team training path 
____ Leadership and culture
 
How many goals do you have for you and your advisory practice? Most advisors I speak to, their goals have changed in the last 3 years. Have your goals changed? Maybe it’s time to update your business goals.
 
Practice Management Can Help Your Financial Advisory Practice
 
The average advisor has 6 or more business goals. That is where practice management comes in. Speak to a practice management expert, branch manager, mentor, or coach to help you benchmark your practice so you know where you stand. Then prioritize your business goals, and help you implement strategies to accomplish your business goals. Take this simple checklist, print it out, and the next time you have time to work on your business, use this list as a guide. Share it with your team, your spouse, and other advisors, to help you. Go for it and remember what Albert Einstein said “ The only source of knowledge is experience”. Find someone to help you who has the experience to help you achieve your goals in this great industry.
 

 

 

Would you like a copy of our Comprehensive Practice Management Checklist for financial advisors?

How About Your Goals for Your Practice in 2025?

 While each financial advisor's practice may have a different approach, advisors need to understand where their practice needs help, and will they get the right help for the right part of their practice. What areas does your practice need help with?

Free Resources:

21 Page Technology Checklist to Become a Future-Ready Advisor

Fee Audit Checklist for Ideal Prospects

 

We are here to serve your practice, let’s talk

Contact us to help get clarity around your goals on paper, and have the goals conversation by contacting Jeff at jeff@jeffthorsteinson.com  

Regardless if we work together, let’s have a chat and listen to your biggest practice management concerns to help you get clarity around your future business.

To book a NO obligation conversation with me to discuss practice management or coaching click the following link https://calendly.com/jeffthorsteinson/30-minute-q-a-explore-apm  and let’s talk.

Jeff Thorsteinson, Grant Hicks and  Advisor Practice Management's combined financial advisor clients manage over 8 billion AUM, and earn over $80 million dollars combined!

Schedule Appointment 

 

Visit www.advisorpracticemanagement.com for speaking, workshops, or coaching, contact us below.

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Grant Hicks
Advisor Practice Management