The Top 10 Most-Read Practice Management Articles of 2017

by Robert Huebscher, 12/22/17


As is our custom, we conclude the year by reflecting on the 10 most-read articles over the past 12 months. The list below reflects articles focused on practice management.

In decreasing order, based on the number of unique readers, those are:

  1. Six Phrases Advisors Should Never Use
    by Sara Grillo, 11/12/17

    Most financial advisor websites, brochures and social media campaigns are generic. Their jargon is meaningless. If you’re using any of these six phrases then kick them to the curb.
  2. The Two Traits That Will Increase AUM
    by Dan Solin 10/4/17

    A coaching client recently asked me to name the most critical traits an advisor needs to convert more prospects into clients. Here was my answer.
  3. The Ten Worst Mistakes Advisors Make
    by Allan Roth 10/23/17

    I’ve seen many positive changes in the advisory business over the past three decades. Fees have gone down and diversification has gone up. Advisors are a large part of the reason flows are moving from expensive active to low-cost passive funds. This has been good for our clients. Still, we have further to go, and having advisors address these 10 failures in their practices will help us get there.
  4. Why Advisors Benefit if the DOL Rule is Repealed
    by Bob Veres 1/2/17

    After multiple debates with my Inside Information audience, I’m picking up surprising opinions about the DOL fiduciary rule and its imminent demise.
  5. My $50 Million Mistake
    by Dan Solin 4/3/17

    We learn from our successes and failures, except in the latter case it can be very painful. But that’s why I will never forget what I could have done to land a $50 million account.
  6. Why Successful Advisors are Exiting the Business
    by Dan Richards 10/12/17

    When I talk to advisors whose businesses are growing, I am struck by the extent to which they’ve changed and adapted the way they work. It’s not just that the things that made you successful in the past won’t lead to success in future. More alarming for many advisors, continuing to do the things that you’ve done to this point is a guaranteed prescription for failure.
  7. Six Words that Drive Compliance Crazy
    by Sara Grillo 11/22/17

    Here are six phrases to avoid using in your marketing copy if you want your chief compliance officer to like you.
  8. Why the Future is Bright for AUM-Based Advisors
    by J.R. Robinson 5/22/17

    Over the past several months, I have been reading Dan Solin’s thought pieces in Advisor Perspectives and believe his gloomy outlook for the planning profession, and, more specifically, for advisors who are compensated via AUM-based fees, is misguided.
  9. How to Meet Really Rich People
    by Sara Grillo 10/16/17

    Here’s my shocking idea on the best way to grow your practice.
  10. Three Steps to Dramatically Happier Clients: Lessons from the Airline Industry
    by Dan Richards, 10/31/17

    Every advisor wants clients to be 100% satisfied, especially those top clients who drive profitability. It takes three things to ensure that your very best clients feel well served. Regrettably, most advisors do a mediocre job on the first two and an abysmal job on the third.

Read more articles by Robert Huebscher