Nerd's Eye View

MAY 9, 2025

These results largely match results from the recent Kitces Research Study on Advisor Productivity, which found that the typical fee schedule for firms charging on a graduated basis remains at 100 basis points (bps) for client assets up to $1 million, then declines to 90 bps at $2 million, 75 bps at $5 million, and 60 bps at $10 million in assets.

Financial Planner 245

Financial Planner Financial Advice Clients Retirement Planning 245

Nerd's Eye View

NOVEMBER 15, 2024

Also in industry news this week: NASAA has proposed an amendment to its broker-dealer conduct model rule that would restrict the use of the terms “advisor” and “adviser” for broker-dealers and their registered representatives who are not also investment advisers or investment adviser representatives A recent study suggests that (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Asset Allocation Taxes Tax Planning 246

Nerd's Eye View

DECEMBER 27, 2024

The report suggests this might be due in part to increased RIA valuations and the assumption of some firm founders that next-generation employees won't be financially able to buy out the firm from them, though additional data indicates that many firms don't have career paths in place that could help next-generation advisors envision their path to firm (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Insurance Coverage Insurance Valuation 246

Nerd's Eye View

JANUARY 31, 2025

Also in industry news this week: While RIA M&A deal flow hit record levels in 2024 (both in terms of volume and the speed of completing them), firm valuations saw relatively modest gains In its latest annual regulatory oversight report, FINRA joined the SEC in flagging the potential risks to firm and client data from the use of third-party vendors (..)

Financial Planner 245

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Compliance Valuation 245

Nerd's Eye View

JANUARY 3, 2025

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" - this week's edition kicks off with a recent survey indicating that a majority of advisors are viewing new client acquisition as their primary challenge in the current competitive environment for financial advice (followed by compliance and technology management) and suggests (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Financial Advice Financial Advisor 246

Nerd's Eye View

MAY 30, 2025

Notably, the survey identified differences in workplace flexibility by role (with client-facing advisors working more days per week in the office) and by experience (with newer firm employees more likely to have more in-office days each week).

Financial Planner 225

Financial Planner Risk Tolerance Retirement Retirement Planning 225

Nerd's Eye View

JANUARY 17, 2025

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" – this week's edition kicks off with the news that at a time when brokerage firms' cash sweep programs come under increased scrutiny (and as the Federal Reserve has cut interest rates), Charles Schwab (the largest RIA custodian) continues to slash sweep rates for client (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Retirement Financial Advisor 246

Nerd's Eye View

MARCH 21, 2025

Which reflects similar results from recently released Kitces Research on Advisor Productivity, which found that asset-based fees are used by 92% of surveyed advisory teams (and are the primary revenue source for 86% of respondents), with 42% using hourly or project fees, 37% offering retainer or subscription fees, and 34% receiving commissions (with (..)

Financial Planner 228

Financial Planner Commission Communication Clients 228

Nerd's Eye View

JANUARY 10, 2025

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" - this week's edition kicks off with the news that the "Social Security Fairness Act" was signed into law this week, eliminating the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) provisions, which previously reduced the Social Security benefits (..)

Financial Planner 189

Financial Planner Clients Financial Advice Numbers 189

Nerd's Eye View

NOVEMBER 6, 2024

In the early days of financial planning, serving clients often meant developing transactional relationships focused on facilitating trades and selling insurance. Today, the industry has evolved further, with a growing emphasis on aligning financial decisions with clients' personal priorities and life goals.

Clients 130

Clients Planning Financial Planner Financial Planning 130

Nerd's Eye View

MARCH 28, 2025

Which suggests that, amidst ongoing debate over fiduciary-related regulations, an advisor's status as a fiduciary could both lead to greater client trust (both in their individual advisor relationship and perhaps in the financial advice industry as a whole) and, ultimately, higher client retention rates.

Financial Planner 228

Financial Planner Retirement Retirement Planning Clients 228

Nerd's Eye View

DECEMBER 25, 2023

Each week in Weekend Reading For Financial Planners, we seek to bring you synopses and commentaries on 12 articles covering news for financial advisors including topics covering technical planning, practice management, advisor marketing, career development, and more.

Financial Advisor 246

Financial Advisor Financial Planner Insurance Clients 246

Nerd's Eye View

APRIL 28, 2025

An advisory firm's website often serves as the hub for attracting new clients, with various forms of content acting as 'spokes' that attract prospective clients to the firm. By aligning website content to the AIDA journey, firms can engage visitors in a way that encourages them along a sequential path toward becoming clients.

Clients 147

Clients Marketing Marketing Education 147

Nerd's Eye View

NOVEMBER 1, 2024

Read More.

Financial Planner 188

Financial Planner CFP Certification Retirement Planning 188

Nerd's Eye View

MAY 16, 2025

Notably, though, this legislation is subject to change as it appears headed for a vote in the full House and as the Senate considers its own version of the tax legislation.

Financial Planner 239

Financial Planner Financial Advice Education Taxes 239

Nerd's Eye View

APRIL 14, 2025

When cultivated with care, these relationships can become valuable sources of client referrals and collaborative insight – especially because COIs and advisors often work with similar client profiles. Centers Of Influence (COIs) play a vital role in the growth and service capabilities of a financial advisory firm. Read More.

Communication 214

Communication Clients Financial Planning Planning 214

Nerd's Eye View

APRIL 11, 2025

Also in industry news this week: NASAA this week approved model rule amendments that would restrict the use of the titles "advisor" and "adviser" by broker-dealers (and their registered representatives) who are not also dually registered as investment advisers, which, if adopted by state regulators, would largely bring state rules on this issue in (..)

Financial Planner 162

Financial Planner Communication Commission Clients 162

Nerd's Eye View

APRIL 18, 2025

Which could create opportunities for firms to seek opportunities to move 'upmarket' by trying to add new HNW clients who might not have an advice relationship (or whose current advisor doesn't provide sufficiently comprehensive service).

Financial Planner 195

Financial Planner Risk Tolerance Estate Planning Clients 195

Nerd's Eye View

JULY 29, 2024

Most financial advisors strive to provide excellent client care and prioritize a systematic process to maintain regular communication with their clients both on a scheduled (e.g., Suddenly, the question of, "What does it mean to provide the best care for clients at this firm as a team?" annual meeting) and an "on demand" basis.

Clients 246

Clients Communication Healthcare Planning 246

Nerd's Eye View

MAY 2, 2025

a ski chalet), assessing whether it will lead to greater overall wellbeing, or, alternatively, more stress, is more challenging Enjoy the 'light' reading! a ski chalet), assessing whether it will lead to greater overall wellbeing, or, alternatively, more stress, is more challenging Enjoy the 'light' reading!

Financial Planner 182

Financial Planner CFP Financial Advisor Retirement 182

Nerd's Eye View

JANUARY 15, 2024

For financial advisors, an ongoing client service model often means finding ways to keep clients engaged and progressing toward their goals outside of the 1 or 2 typical client review meetings each year.

Clients 246

Clients Communication Financial Advisor Wealth Management 246

Wealth Management

JUNE 11, 2025

Ratner June 11, 2025 2 Min Read A client whose estate will remain non-taxable after 2025 has a policy in an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) that was presumably purchased for estate tax liquidity. It’s also an opportunity with not one but two, built-in time-sensitive calls to action by the client.

Wealth Management 165

Wealth Management Insurance Estate Planning Clients 165

Nerd's Eye View

JULY 22, 2024

The obvious answer to growing beyond the capacity of a single owner/advisor is to build a team of employees (either in advisory and/or other roles like client service or operations) that can accommodate additional room for growth. Read More.

Clients 246

Clients Communication Compliance Management 246

Nerd's Eye View

MARCH 14, 2025

Which, if implemented under the new administration, could provide relief for investment advisers, particularly smaller firms that already have to balance compliance with client service, marketing, and the other duties that go into running a firm.

Financial Planner 162

Financial Planner Compliance Commission Retirement 162

Nerd's Eye View

MARCH 15, 2023

For instance, ensuring clients maintain the proper insurance coverage based on their needs is an important part of the financial planning process. At the same time, clients face another class of risks that advisors often do not consider: cyber. stealing a client’s financial assets that are accessible online), identity theft (i.e.,

Clients 246

Clients Management Wealth Management Insurance Coverage 246

Nerd's Eye View

MARCH 24, 2025

In this article, Senior Financial Planning Nerd Sydney Squires discusses how to construct an associate advisor onboarding plan that guides an associate advisor through their first year, establishes clear checkpoints for progress, yet still allows enough flexibility to grow with the new advisor! building an initial financial plan).

Planning 130

Planning Clients Financial Planning Communication 130

Nerd's Eye View

JUNE 28, 2023

One of the key steps in the financial planning process is presenting the plan to the client, which has traditionally been done as part of a single 'plan presentation' meeting that takes place once the advisor has gathered and analyzed all of the client's data.

Planning 246

Planning Clients Financial Planning Education 246

Nerd's Eye View

MARCH 26, 2025

Recent swings have been driven by economic policy shifts, persistent inflation concerns, and geopolitical uncertainty – all of which may unnerve even the steadiest of clients. During turbulent periods like these, advisors play a critical role in helping clients maintain perspective and stay grounded.

Clients 219

Clients Marketing Marketing Economics 219

Wealth Management

OCTOBER 9, 2023

This article examines three key use cases where AI can benefit financial advisors: practice management, client engagement and prospecting.

Financial Advisor 338

Financial Advisor Clients Management 338

Nerd's Eye View

JULY 13, 2023

Establishing successful client relationships as a financial advisor relies on good communication skills not just to present information persuasively and with confidence, but also to establish client rapport that allows meaningful and engaging relationships to be built.

Clients 246

Clients Financial Planning Financial Planner Communication 246

Nerd's Eye View

JUNE 9, 2025

2025 has had a tumultuous start for most advisory firms, as tariffs-driven market volatility has increased client anxiety and the amount of required hand-holding, forcing advisory firms to manage their own expenses a bit more closely in the face of greater revenue uncertainty. Read More.

Financial Advisor 130

Financial Advisor Financial Planner Financial Advice Clients 130

Nerd's Eye View

MARCH 17, 2025

This is largely because, for financial advisors, it's not 'just' about capturing notes from the client meeting itself, but also about managing everything that follows: recording meeting notes in the CRM for compliance purposes, assigning post-meeting tasks to the team, and sending the client a post-meeting recap email.

Financial Advisor 147

Financial Advisor Clients Financial Planning Professional Services 147

Nerd's Eye View

JULY 26, 2024

The study also identified attributes of "top performing" firms across a range of metrics, finding that they are more likely than other firms to have a clear ideal client persona, client value proposition, and marketing plan.

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Communication Financial Advisor 246

Nerd's Eye View

DECEMBER 13, 2024

Read More.

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner CFP Retirement Certification 246

Nerd's Eye View

OCTOBER 18, 2024

Also in industry news this week: 43% of wealth management firms are frustrated with the effectiveness of their CRM software, spurred on by challenges with integrations and workflows, according to a recent survey The Social Security Administration this week announced a 2.5%

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Risk Tolerance Financial Planning Clients 246

Nerd's Eye View

SEPTEMBER 20, 2024

Also in industry news this week: A coalition of organizations representing financial advisors is pressing Congress to include tax breaks for financial advisory fees amidst expected negotiations to address the pending expiration of several provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act A recent survey indicates that client referrals remain the chief source (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Financial Advisor Investment Advisor Clients 246

Nerd's Eye View

OCTOBER 4, 2024

Further, Artificial Intelligence (AI) was the most cited factor driving industry growth during the next 3 years, with client data integration as a primary area for improvement, suggesting an opportunity for AI tools to help advisors make the most of the significant amount of client data they possess (possibly saving time in the process) and potentially (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Clients Retirement 246