Practice and Client Management News

Financial Planning's Practice and Client Management coverage includes essential advisor-level strategy and operational insight for firms and solo practitioners. Read how elite advisors build retention-driven practices, manage high net worth relationships and operationalize growth frameworks that go beyond rudimentary 101 topics. Learn the latest financial planning news from expert reporting and analysis that matters to industry leaders.

FACO

Referrals still rule as advisors pour time into their brands

In this month's FACO, we asked how much time advisors spent on their firm's brands, what their marketing objectives were and their main sources of new clients.

By Rob Burgess
Former reporter

March 6
Know Your Niche

After tragedy, a planner finds a niche advising women in grief

Amy Drinkard of Steadmont Advisors advises clients through divorce and deaths, guiding them through some of the hardest parts of their lives — the latest in our Know Your Niche series.

By Brian Wallheimer
Editor-in-chief

March 6
Regulation and compliance

Ex-Morgan Stanley advisor guilty of defrauding NBA players

Darryl Cohen faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for fraudulently persuading professional atheletes to buy insurance policies at massive markups.

March 4
Practice management

How advisors can better serve neurodivergent clients

From reducing cognitive load to rethinking meeting formats, small changes can lead to big improvements for some clients.

By Rob Burgess
Former reporter

March 3
Retirement

5 forces remaking retirement planning: J.P. Morgan

New data from J.P. Morgan reveals how retirement expectations diverge from reality, and what that means for advisors helping clients navigate life after work.

By Elijah Nicholson-Messmer
Former Data Reporter

March 2
Technology

Older, wealthier clients remain wary of AI. Here's how to build trust

A new report from Cerulli Associates shows older, affluent investors are far more skeptical of AI use than their younger counterparts. Financial advisors who use AI tools in their practices say transparency is key to setting wary clients at ease.

By Rob Burgess
Former reporter

February 27
Growth strategies

To jumpstart centers of influence referrals, think outside the CPA

No one is challenging clients as the best source of recommendations for financial advisors. But growth experts say many are missing out on the potential for highly profitable collaborations with outside professionals.

By Tobias Salinger
Chief Correspondent

February 26

Resources

The latest Financial Planning research and discussion:

Practice & Client Management: Key Questions & Analysis

How should financial advisors rethink client management as they grow their practices?

As advisory firms grow, client management often shifts from ad-hoc relationship handling to processes focused on segmentation, service models and long-term retention. Coverage in this area reflects how advisors are operationalizing client experience as a core business discipline.

What operational challenges are most important in advisor-client relationships?

Advisors face increasing pressure from capacity constraints, rising client expectations and the need to balance personalization with scale. Practice and client management reporting highlights where firms are finding success to maintain service quality while expanding.

How are advisors adapting communication strategies to changing client expectations?

Client communication strategies are evolving as advisors respond to demographic shifts, digital expectations and heightened demand for transparency. Read how firms are adjusting cadence, channels and messaging.

How does client management impact long-term practice value?

Effective client management is often viewed as a driver of enterprise value. Client management is a key area of focus for retention, referrals and succession outcomes. Learn how client experience strategy directly to firm durability and valuation.