The financial advisory space is becoming increasingly competitive as companies fight for a piece of the pie among college graduates just entering the workforce and retirees looking to maximize their twilight years.
With the constantly evolving competitive landscape, advisors should look toward online blogs, journals, and news outlets to stay on top of the latest industry developments and maintain their competitive edge. Here aresome of the most influential blogs that financial advisors should follow for keen insights.
Key Takeaways
- Financial professionals should always be on the lookout for new information about the markets, best practices, and marketing techniques to build a successful business.
- While books and seminars are helpful, the production and publication process means that they can lag behind the latest innovations.
- Blogs written by reputable authors and industry insiders, on the other hand, can offer glimpses into the cutting edge and exciting new developments.
The Reformed Broker
The Reformed Broker is quite possibly the most widely followed financial advisor blog in the country. As CEO of Ritholtz Wealth Management, Joshua M. Brown is a New York City-based financial advisor, author of books including "Backstage Wall Street," and was previously an advisor on the board of Riskalyze. In 2019 and 2020, he was part of the Investopedia 100 list of the country’s top financial advisors.
Abnormal Returns
Abnormal Returns is a popular investment blog maintained by Tadas Viskanta,a private investor with more than 25 years of experience in the financial markets. In addition to the blog, he is the co-author of over a dozen investment-related papers that have appeared in places like the Financial Analysts Journal and others, as well as a book titled, "Abnormal Returns: Winning Strategies from the Frontlines of the Investment Blogosphere."
In particular, financial advisors should watch for Viskanta'sLinks of the Day posts, which provide daily charts,market news, strategy news, companies to watch, and other information that’s highly relevant to all financial advisors. In addition, advisors can sign up for free to receive his latest posts by email.
FP Pad
FP Pad is a leading source of news, insights, and thought leadership on financial planning technology, which has since expanded into a YouTube channel and podcast. On the blog, Bill Winterberg and other contributors discuss financial planning technology—including topics like lead generation—which makes it a must-read for tech-savvy advisors who operate their own websites and rely on the internet to generate traffic.
While many financial planning blogs are text-heavy, FP Pad provides lots of video content, which mixes things up and brings a more digestible level of insight to the table. A 2023 video post, for example, highlighted good marketing strategies for financial advisors, including sending effective emails and targeting communication to clients based on their specific needs.
Advisor Perspectives
Advisor Perspectives is an online publisher dedicated to registered investment advisors (RIAs), providing both market commentary and industry-related analysis on asset allocation and other topics. The publisher was acquired by VettaFi in 2022. In addition to articles, Advisor Perspectives provides email newsletters that contain actionable insights related to investment strategies and the overall economy, as well as interviews with key opinion leaders within the industry.
Unlike many other blogs targeting financial advisors, Advisor Perspectives iscuratedwith many contributors, which results in a wealth of different opinions. In 2023, guest articles ranged from creating a website that attracts clients to applying artificial intelligence (AI) in wealth management.
Nerd’s Eye View
Michael Kitces started Nerd’s Eye View back in 2008 to help financial advisors identify and capitalize on industry trends, as well as educate them on the more technical aspects of the industry in order to improve their quality of service. As a Head of Planning Strategy for Buckingham Wealth Partners, Kitces' insights can help advisors better attract and retain their clients through both technological and behavioral changes and ultimately grow their business.
In particular, readers may want to pay attention to Kitces' weekend posts that outline some of the most important developments for the week and explain their potential impact on financial advisors.
What Do You Need to Do to Become a Financial Advisor?
Qualifications for financial advisors can vary widely depending on what kinds of services they offer. Advisors who sell securities are required to pass licensing exams by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority(FINRA) or theNorth American Securities Administrators Association(NASAA). Some advisors also pursue professional certifications—becoming a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) or a chartered financial analyst, for example—to establish their level of expertise.
How Do Financial Advisors Find Clients?
Financial advisors can meet clients in a variety of ways. They can get referrals from existing clients, establish a reputation as an authority on financial matters, participate in networking events, and maintain an active presence on social media. These steps can all help as a financial advisor builds their brand and grows their client base.
What Is the Role of a Financial Advisor?
A financial advisor is a professional who assists clients with reaching financial goals, from purchasing a house to paying for college to saving for retirement. An advisor can help clients set financial goals, create budgets, and make plans to pay off debt, in addition to offering investment advice, answering tax questions, and providing general financial guidance.
The Bottom Line
A smart way for financial advisors to stay tuned in to important industry trends is to follow what known, respected experts are talking about. Blogs, like the ones suggested above, should be designated reading for all advisors looking to capture more market share.
