This article is produced in partnership with LPL Financial
Relationship-building takes time, but time is finite. Business tasks are essential, but so are the client interactions where you truly add value.
To free up time for clients, efficiency is key. Streamlining workflows, creating repeatable processes, and offloading certain tasks can help you focus on deeper engagement.
The key is creating efficiency in the right areas. Start with these four strategies:
Though each strategy targets a different part of your work, they all share the same goal: saving time so you can invest it where it matters most.
Your CRM can be more than a contact list—it can be a tool for deeper, more efficient relationships. When you tailor it to your workflow, it saves time and surfaces insights, helping you uncover new opportunities, identify referrals, and deepen client connections.
Go beyond birthdays. Add custom fields for milestones like promotions or college reunions. That way, you’re ready to send thoughtful touches—like a hat from their alma mater. As one LPL Financial advisor puts it, “Advisors who have really built out that framework are able to have those thoughtful touches.”
AI tools can also help. Use them to scan for patterns—birth month, last contact date, client activity—and suggest timely outreach. “It’s personal to them,” an LPL Financial advisor explains, “but how it gets to them is broad-based scale.”
LPL’s AI Advisor Solutions include a meeting management platform that simplifies note-taking and calendar planning. The result: high-touch service with greater scale.
Even strong systems need refreshing. Fine-tune your routines to build more consistent, efficient touchpoints.
Audit your calendar – Map out social events and key holidays in advance to avoid last-minute scrambles.
Set a communication cadence – Proactively inform clients of your schedule to reduce ad hoc calls and allow for more strategic prep. “The more you can inform them,” says one advisor, “the less they’re calling—and that creates efficiency.”
Start with an agenda – Set expectations for every meeting. This ensures focus and prevents unnecessary follow-up.
Use AI tools – Platforms like LPL’s AI Advisor Solutions help streamline agenda planning, meeting notes, and calendar management, so your time goes further.
Efficiency isn’t just about time, it’s also about focus and prioritization—the majority of your time should go to the highest-value work. Efficiency also means knowing where to invest your energy. Focus on high-value tasks, like being in front of clients, and delegate the rest. As one LPL Financial advisor says, “Your highest billable hour is being in front of clients… [LPL Business Solutions] takes work off your plate.”
One of the ways LPL is helping advisors to outsource lower-value work or work requiring specialized expertise is by leveraging LPL Business Solutions, which includes services such as:
By delegating, you gain time, reduce frustration, and benefit from specialized expertise.
Segmenting your book creates clarity and a repeatable strategy. Trends like client assets or life stage help you prioritize time and build loyalty.
Bringing similar clients together—professional women, small business owners—at events can create connections and drive retention. One advisor recommends creating “little affinity groups” that spark referrals: “It’s a lightbulb moment when they think of someone who could benefit from what you do.”
As your business grows, consider narrowing your focus. Define criteria for your ideal client and use those boundaries to guide your time.
“If everybody gets the same experience regardless of assets or objectives,” an advisor notes, “you’re not using your time effectively.” If a client no longer fits, consider LPL’s Partial Book Sales program, which lets you transfer clients while ensuring they’re still supported.
You can’t add more hours to your day, but you can be more thoughtful about how you spend your time. With a bit of effort, you can support yourself with systems and solutions that create efficiency and free up more bandwidth for your clients. Consider:
LPL offers a number of business models and solutions that can help you boost your efficiency and deepen your client relationships. Schedule a confidential conversation with an LPL representative to find out how we can help or visit lpl.com to learn more.
LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC
For Financial Professional Use Only.
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