Psychological factors keep advisors from growing assets: Study

Psychological factors keep advisors from growing assets: Study
A notable 43% of financial advisors worry about being perceived as 'pushy' when they're trying to grow their businesses.
MAY 09, 2023

Wealth managers face sizable challenges in growing their businesses, but in many cases, those barriers are more psychological than financial or economic.  

According to a survey released Tuesday by the Financial Planning Association and Janus Henderson, a notable 43% of financial advisors worry about being perceived as “pushy” when they try to grow their businesses. As a result of this fear, they often fail to expand their client base and grow their assets under management.

In terms of their desire to grow their practices, the survey, which was conducted in October, found that while 46% of financial advisors say they're “comfortable with their current growth rate,” only 12% strongly agree with that sentiment.

“As the research suggests, if advisers can shift their mindset and intentionally approach their goals for business growth strategically, they can overcome barriers that may be holding them back,” FPA president James Lee said in a statement.

The study showed that firms with teams tend to grow faster than those without teams. A substantial 84% of so-called “top advisors” — those with more than $500 million in assets under management — strongly agreed that having a team contributes to the growth of their business.  

The white paper based on the research, "Six Keys to Growth for Today’s Adviser," also looks at the importance of a well-constructed business plan, the keys to a team approach, how the right systems and processes form a strong foundation for growth, and the value of a positive mindset.

Latest News

SEC charges Chicago-based investment adviser with overbilling clients more than $2.5M in fees
SEC charges Chicago-based investment adviser with overbilling clients more than $2.5M in fees

Eliseo Prisno, a former Merrill advisor, allegedly collected unapproved fees from Filipino clients by secretly accessing their accounts at two separate brokerages.

Apella Wealth comes to Washington with Independence Wealth Advisors
Apella Wealth comes to Washington with Independence Wealth Advisors

The Harford, Connecticut-based RIA is expanding into a new market in the mid-Atlantic region while crossing another billion-dollar milestone.

Citi's Sieg sees rich clients pivoting from US to UK
Citi's Sieg sees rich clients pivoting from US to UK

The Wall Street giant's global wealth head says affluent clients are shifting away from America amid growing fallout from President Donald Trump's hardline politics.

US employment report reactions: Overall better than expected, but concerns with underlying data
US employment report reactions: Overall better than expected, but concerns with underlying data

Chief economists, advisors, and chief investment officers share their reactions to the June US employment report.

Creative Planning's Peter Mallouk slams 'offensive' congressional stock trading
Creative Planning's Peter Mallouk slams 'offensive' congressional stock trading

"This shouldn’t be hard to ban, but neither party will do it. So offensive to the people they serve," RIA titan Peter Mallouk said in a post that referenced Nancy Pelosi's reported stock gains.

SPONSORED How advisors can build for high-net-worth complexity

Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.

SPONSORED RILAs bring stability, growth during volatile markets

Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.