Financial advisors spend the year guiding clients through market swings, long-term planning, and family goals. According to Financial Advisor News, the holiday season is a perfect time to complement a purely professional connection with a personal connection with clients. While advisors should maintain appropriate boundaries, the holidays create natural opportunities to reinforce client relationships in thoughtful and compliant ways.
Here are several holiday strategies, prepared by Financial Advisor News, to deepen client bonds:
Send Holiday Cards
Some view holiday cards as outdated, but clients still notice when other professionals send them. Advisors who skip the tradition risk falling off a client's radar at a time when visibility matters.
Host a Client Event
Holiday gatherings do not need to be large or elaborate. An office open house with hot cider or a group outing to a local performance can go a long way. Even clients who cannot attend appreciate the invitation.
Accept Invitations
Advisors should remain proactive, but they should also remain responsive. If a client invites them to a holiday gathering, showing up strengthens rapport and removes the sense that the advisor sits on a pedestal.
Consider Hosting a Party
Bringing clients into your home builds closeness and trust. Smaller gatherings can make the advisor more relatable and create natural opportunities for clients to meet one another.
Give Modest Gifts
Small annual gifts create memorable traditions. Many advisors choose items like chocolates, which clients mention to friends and family.
Highlight Clients, Not Yourself
Ask clients about their holiday plans and celebrate their milestones. If you have similar plans, keep them low-profile; clients sometimes assume their fees fund your vacations.
Send a Gift to Their Vacation Destination
When clients cruise or travel, a tasteful gift like wine or flowers delivered to their cabin or room stays within FINRA's gifting rules. Ship it through the provider and, if possible, time it for a formal evening.
Give Gifts for Young Children
A small toy or thoughtful item for a client's young child makes a lasting impression. Parents remember thoughtfulness directed toward their children.
Provide a Holiday Ornament
Financial Advisor News suggests themed ornaments online, including finance-related designs. These gifts become part of a family's annual traditions and serve as subtle reminders of the advisor's role.
Offer a Subscription
An online subscription to a financial publication or business journal provides value throughout the year and offers a reliable source to reference during meetings.
These gestures work because they communicate appreciation and differentiate the advisor from competitors. Thoughtful holiday engagement keeps the advisor top of mind while respecting personal boundaries and industry rules.
Financial Advisor Transitions consults advisors nationwide to explore employment transition options and to preserve and protect their practice in any transition that they make.
