Nerd's Eye View

MARCH 6, 2025

New financial advisors often start with below-market fees – sometimes to build confidence that prospects will actually pay, other times to attract clients quickly and establish a base. And while new clients often come in at higher fees, early clients may still be paying well below the firm's current rates.

Clients 182

Clients Ethics Financial Advice Budgeting 182

Nerd's Eye View

MAY 9, 2025

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" - this week's edition kicks off with the news that a recent survey found that long-feared fee compression in the financial advice industry has yet to come to pass, though some advisors continue to see potential for small reductions in asset-based fees in the future.

Financial Planner 245

Financial Planner Financial Advice Clients Retirement Planning 245

Nerd's Eye View

DECEMBER 17, 2024

Fran is the CEO of Toler Financial Group, an RIA based in Silver Spring, Maryland, that oversees nearly $200 million in assets under management for 280 client households. My guest on today's podcast is Fran Toler.

Compliance 245

Compliance Financial Advisor Financial Advice Clients 245

Nerd's Eye View

NOVEMBER 29, 2024

Which could prove to be a boon for the financial advice industry as more consumers are willing to entrust their assets to an advisor (while at the same time possibly making it tougher for some advisors to differentiate themselves primarily by how they put their clients' interests first?). Read More.

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Financial Advice Retirement Financial Advisor 246

Nerd's Eye View

JANUARY 8, 2024

For instance, the financial advice industry has seen many changes to regulations (for both advisors and their clients), advisor business models, and the advisor technology landscape. The changing patterns in how financial advice is delivered can be compared to the similar trends seen in the evolution of medicine.

Financial Advice 245

Financial Advice Medicine Financial Planning Estate Planning 245

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

DECEMBER 11, 2024

is perhaps the most fundamental question a client brings to their advisor. Advisors want to help clients set a secure, reliable retirement plan, yet even the most comprehensive assumptions will inevitably deviate from reality at least to some degree. Beyond market variables, clients bring their own behaviors and preferences into play.

Retirement Planning 245

Retirement Planning Retirement Planning Marketing 245

Wealth Management

JUNE 16, 2023

Proactive engagement reflects a commitment to comprehensive financial wellness, creating a meaningful and long-lasting impact on clients’ lives.

Financial Advice 306

Financial Advice Clients 306

Nerd's Eye View

DECEMBER 27, 2023

Financial advisors have a fiduciary obligation to act in their clients' best interests, and at the same time are prohibited by state and SEC rules from making misleading statements or omissions about their advisory business.

Financial Advice 246

Financial Advice Communication Compliance Clients 246

Nerd's Eye View

NOVEMBER 27, 2023

One of the main goals of financial advisors who market themselves is to build a foundation of trust with their prospective clients so that they feel comfortable in discussing often-sensitive financial topics and ultimately acting on the advisor's recommendations.

Distribution 246

Distribution Financial Advice Clients Financial Advisor 246

Nerd's Eye View

JUNE 24, 2024

The requirements to run a successful, growing advisory firm are often less about doing the technical work with clients and more about marketing value to get prospects in the door in the first place. Which means that advisors should not be expected to champion the planning industry alone when prospecting for clients. Read More.

Financial Advice 190

Financial Advice Clients Financial Planning Planning 190

Nerd's Eye View

APRIL 8, 2025

Seth is the founder of Heartwood Financial Planning, an advisory firm affiliated with PlanMember Securities Corporation that is based in Fresno, California, and oversees approximately $100 million in assets under management for 850 client households.

Financial Planning 130

Financial Planning Clients Planning Financial Advisor 130

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

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

AUGUST 12, 2024

In the modern era of financial advice, the advicer/client relationship is tightly centered on trust. Then, because the client isn't "bought in" to the recommendations, they simply don't act on what the advisor recommends.

Clients 246

Clients Financial Advice Accounting Business Planning 246

Abnormal Returns

FEBRUARY 19, 2024

downtownjoshbrown.com) How indexing has made for a better financial advice industry. wealthmanagement.com) Do your clients have a digital estate plan? (washingtonpost.com) Daniel Crosby offers another sneak preview of an essay from his upcoming book, "The Soul of Wealth."

Clients 274

Clients Estate Planning Wealth Management Financial Advice 274

Nerd's Eye View

OCTOBER 23, 2024

While the financial advice industry has transformed in many ways over the past several decades, one aspect that has remained relatively constant is the use of the Assets Under Management (AUM) fee model as a common way for many advisors to get paid. So too does the impact of the infamous daily latte.

Clients 246

Clients Financial Advice Financial Planning Financial Advisor 246

Nerd's Eye View

AUGUST 15, 2022

Working as a financial advisor can be both financially rewarding and emotionally satisfying. By helping clients develop financial goals, creating a financial plan, and supporting the implementation and monitoring of the plan, advisors help clients live their best lives.

Clients 240

Clients Financial Advice Financial Planning Planning 240

Nerd's Eye View

NOVEMBER 14, 2024

As the financial advice industry began shifting from a sales-based model to a more sustainable asset management approach, advisors found their roles shifting along with it. Yet, even for advisors who understand the value of delegation, actually letting go is often easier said than done.

Financial Advice 246

Financial Advice Communication Sales Assets 246

Nerd's Eye View

OCTOBER 6, 2022

When it comes to politically charged discussions, financial advisors generally try to stay neutral and focus on providing clients with objective financial advice. This can make it increasingly difficult for the advisor to work with these clients.

Clients 246

Clients Financial Advisor Financial Advice Financial Planning 246

Abnormal Returns

APRIL 7, 2025

Podcasts Michael Kitces talks with Nick Rodkin, managing partner of Stoic Financial, about working with client couples. kitces.com) Matt Zeigler talks with Danika Waddell, founder of Xena Financial Planning. epsilontheory.com) Aging How financial literacy declines with age. alphaarchitect.com)

Fiduciary Duty 144

Fiduciary Duty Financial Advice Financial Planning Clients 144

Nerd's Eye View

AUGUST 15, 2022

Working as a financial advisor can be both financially rewarding and emotionally satisfying. By helping clients develop financial goals, creating a financial plan, and supporting the implementation and monitoring of the plan, advisors help clients live their best lives.

Clients 227

Clients Financial Advice Financial Planning Planning 227

Nerd's Eye View

MARCH 27, 2023

According to the 2022 Kitces Research study, “How Financial Planners Actually Market Their Services”, advisors without the CFP marks typically spend more of their time on marketing activities relative to CFP practitioners (allowing them to spend more time on higher-value tasks).

CFP 246

CFP Clients Certification Financial Advice 246

Wealth Management

JULY 22, 2024

While many in the financial advice business have for years focused on retail clients, some firms are finding that pensions and foundations can pay off in a major way.

Financial Advice 286

Financial Advice Retail Clients 286

Nerd's Eye View

APRIL 15, 2025

dollars) in assets under management for 2,400 client households. Cameron is the CEO of PWL Capital, a wealth management firm based in Ottawa, Canada, that oversees just over $5 billion Canadian dollars (or approximately $3.5B million U.S.

Financial Advisor 130

Financial Advisor Financial Advice Planning Clients 130

Nerd's Eye View

MAY 19, 2025

While some of these programs still exist, the role of an associate advisor has evolved alongside the broader financial planning profession. Even for advisors with a CFP certification or other credentials, honing these skills and the confidence to use them in real-time client interactions requires additional practice. Read More.

Financial Planning 130

Financial Planning Communication Certification Planning 130

Nerd's Eye View

MARCH 21, 2024

For many financial advicers, helping long-time clients identify and progress toward their goals eventually transitions into conversations around the best ways to enjoy the fruits of their labor once they reach them. And by ensuring that their clients are equipped with (and know how to follow!) Read More.

Clients 246

Clients Financial Planning Financial Advice Retirement 246

Abnormal Returns

FEBRUARY 24, 2025

Podcasts Christine Benz and Amy Arnott talk with Preston Cherry, author of a new book "Wealth in the Key of Life: Finding Your Financial Harmony." morningstar.com) Carl Richards and Michael Kitces on whether a client should take time before coming on as a client. How to do better for clients.

Wealth Management 144

Wealth Management Retirement Planning Financial Advice Clients 144

Nerd's Eye View

JULY 19, 2022

Andrew is the founder of Tenpath Financial Group and Planning Across the Spectrum, a hybrid firm based in Farmington, Connecticut that oversees $100 million in assets under management for 100 client households.

Financial Advisor 246

Financial Advisor Clients Financial Planning Insurance 246

Nerd's Eye View

JANUARY 13, 2025

With another strong year in the markets, most advisory firms are near or at record highs for their revenue, their numbers of clients, and the headcounts of their teams. Which is surprising to some, given that a decade ago, the emergence of so-called "robo-advisors" was supposed to displace human financial advisors and compress advisory fees.

Financial Advice 147

Financial Advice Ethics Financial Planning Education 147

Nerd's Eye View

OCTOBER 19, 2023

Niching offers several advantages, allowing advisors to be more specific in their marketing, more targeted in their prospecting calls, and more efficient in their processes (since clients within a similar niche are likely to have similar problems, especially in niches of profession).

Clients 246

Clients Financial Advisor Financial Advice Financial Services 246

Wealth Management

MAY 25, 2023

Signature FD's Tim Maurer describes how he sees the lessons of life planning and qualitative financial advice being tactically implemented in advisor-client relationships.

Financial Advice 261

Financial Advice Clients Planning 261

Nerd's Eye View

AUGUST 15, 2023

and how hiring not just an assistant, but someone with a strategy mindset who was determined to grow in and with the company, proved pivotal to the growth of MainStreet Financial and led to a successful, naturally integrated succession plan when Jim's assistant-turned-partner eventually bought him out nearly 8 years later.

Fee Only 246

Fee Only Clients Financial Planning Financial Advisor 246

Abnormal Returns

SEPTEMBER 18, 2023

Podcasts Daniel Crosby talks with Michael Kitces about automation and the future of financial advice. kitces.com) Brendan Frazier talks with Samantha Lamas and Danielle Labotka about why clients hire and fire their financial advisers. wsj.com) Advisers How to speak to clients in a way that they understand.

Planning 261

Planning Financial Advice Wealth Management Math 261

Nerd's Eye View

JULY 11, 2024

Being able to initiate and lead those conversations has become an important aspect of any financial advicer's skill set , but for many, it's one that isn't always as straightforward or easy to learn … particularly for advicers who might be happiest when nerding out with spreadsheets and flowcharts!

Clients 189

Clients Communication Financial Planning Financial Advice 189

Nerd's Eye View

OCTOBER 27, 2023

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" - this week's edition kicks off with the news that the shift in financial advice from pure investment management to comprehensive financial planning continues, with more individuals becoming CFP professionals than CFAs in the past few years as consumers increasing the diversity (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Financial Advice Financial Advisor Tax Planning 246

Wealth Management

SEPTEMBER 13, 2022

It's not news that financial advice will increasingly be grounded in psychology and therapy—but how an advisor builds a business around those client demands is still evolving, according to speakers at the Future Proof wealth festival.

Financial Advice 246

Financial Advice Planning Clients 246