If you’re a financial advisor, you probably want to know how many clients you should take on and how many assets you should manage. After all, these are two essential factors that will affect your bottom line.
It’s a common dilemma, and there’s no easy answer. It depends on several factors, including your firm’s size, business model, and goals. That said, we’ll discuss some general guidelines that may help you decide.
How Many Clients Should a Financial Advisory Firm Take On?
There’s no magic number of clients that all financial advisory firms should aim for. However, most experts agree that a good target is between 100 and 150 clients.
Of course, this will vary depending on the size of your firm. If you have a large team of advisors, you may be able to take on more clients. On the other hand, if you’re a solo advisor, you’ll probably want to stick to the lower end of that range.
If you have too many clients, you won’t be able to give each of them the attention they deserve. This can lead to unhappy clients and, eventually, lost business. On the other hand, if you have too few clients, you may not be bringing in enough revenue to sustain your business.
How Many Assets Should a Financial Advisory Firm Manage?
So how many assets should your firm manage? Again, there’s no easy answer. A good rule of thumb is to aim for between $100 million and $250 million in assets under management (AUM).
However, you must remember that AUM is not the only factor you should consider. You also need to look at how much revenue your firm generates and how profitable your clients are.
Tips for if You Have Too Few Clients
If you find yourself with too few clients, don’t panic. There are a few things you can do to attract new business.
- Take a close look at your marketing efforts. Are you doing enough to reach potential clients? If not, it may be time to invest in some new marketing initiatives.
- Review your pricing. If you’re charging too much, potential clients may be discouraged from doing business with you. However, if you’re charging too little, you may not be making enough profit to sustain your business.
- Consider partnering with another financial advisor. This can help you reach more clients and generate more revenue.
Signs You Are Taking on Too Many Clients
If you’re not careful, it’s easy to take on too many clients. Though you may not think you could ever have too much business, it can be detrimental to your firm. That’s because when you have too many clients, you won’t be able to give each of them the attention they deserve.
Below are some signs that you may be taking on too many clients you’re:
Always rushed and don’t have time for anything else.
Starting to miss deadlines.
Feeling overwhelmed and stressed out.
Losing sleep worrying about your clients.
If you’re experiencing any of the above, it may be time to reevaluate your business. For example, you may need to take on fewer clients or hire additional staff to help you manage your workload.
Conclusion
There’s no easy answer to how many clients and assets a financial advisory firm should have. Most experts agree that a good target is between 100-150 clients and $100 million to $250 million in assets under management. Consider your marketing efforts, pricing, and staffing depending on your size and business goals.