The year ahead will present advisors with plenty of changes, challenges, and, as always, a chance to prove why financial advisors offer a service unlike any other.
A new year is a new opportunity — for updating growth goals, making changes to technology, or just doing some of those workflow adjustments that need to take place periodically. In the spirit of 2025 and the unspoiled energy that accompanies the turning of the calendar, we turned to our leadership team to see what their opinions are of what is to come in the new year.
Just like the professionals we serve, the insights collected span topics and areas of expertise. From artificial intelligence (AI) to talent retention to cybersecurity, here are some of the themes that, in our opinion, are at the top of our minds as we step foot in 2025.
“Advisors need to be focused on growth and looking for new ways to bring assets into their businesses. As the generational transfer of wealth matures, advisors will increasingly find themselves serving a cohort of clients that looks different from past generations.
It’s a generational opportunity to build a business. The best advisors are already getting into position.”
Robb Baldwin
Founder and CEO
“Advisors should consider harnessing the power of AI, a toolkit they can leverage to automate non-business generating activities, so that they can scale and grow their business.
Advisors should evaluate and look into to integrating AI tools to help reduce their manual workload, especially when it comes to streamlining client meetings, note taking, content generation, and summarizing content. The right tools could help free up valuable time for clients.”
Jon Patullo
Chief Product Officer
“Short and sweet: leverage technology, particularly AI.”
Charles “Chaz” Reiling
Chief Legal Officer
“Embracing the need for a highly unique, personalized human and digital experience for clients and their families, advisors should consider adopting behavioral science-based, AI-supported platforms to build more durable and meaningful relationships with clients; enter and expand relationships across the client’s G2 and G3 family members; and more succinctly identify and align clients’ financial resources with achieving what matters most to them and reflects their values and desired legacy.”
Bill Coppel
Chief Client Growth Officer
“RIAs will be facing new rules and regulations in 2025. This includes but is not limited to, developing new processes for addressing anti-money laundering and vendor management.”
James Halvosa
Chief Compliance Officer
“I expect industry leaders to accelerate their adoption of AI to perform certain tasks and help increase efficiency. The best will concurrently provide service that’s more personable, and therefore more impactful. It’s likely to be a differentiator.
The impact of the next generation, especially when it comes to expectations for digital engagement, could be significant. Digital-focused firms will likely be better positioned to attract and retain a tech savvy client base.”
Scott VictoriaChief Operating Officer
“Advisors who adopt platforms that evolve with their practice, especially those that embrace the impact of AI and behavioral science-based insights, are likely to find a path to success.”
Rob Dilbone
Chief Revenue Officer
“Advisors should consider making use of machine learning to detect anomalous behavior. More often we hear of advisors challenged by cybersecurity threats.”
Andrew Gardiner
Cybersecurity Risk Manager
“I expect talent attraction and retention to be a major theme in the coming year. Not only could this help with building a strong culture, but it may directly lead to client retention, as well as overall firm growth. Advisors should consider getting creative with how they develop and retain talent within their firm.
Some ideas that come to mind based on meeting with hundreds of firms across the country:
Tap into local communities or universities. Taking these initiatives can create a strong brand for attracting talent and potentially fosters the development of young talent into the RIA industry. Successful firms, from my experience, attract new talent by providing internship opportunities, networking sessions, informational sessions, and licensing or certification programs.
To retain existing talent, firms are creating transparent career progression plans for their employees. Employees are sharing the results and overall success of the firm, through equity programs or variable compensation packages. Firms of distinction are incentivizing their client service staff, too.
Having a unique and creative employee attraction and retention strategy also aids in future succession planning of the firm and helps to ensure clients remain a part of your practice for years and across generations.”
Bret Feldman
Director, Service and Operations
“The evolution of search is accelerating.
Social search and AI tools, like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Apple Intelligence, are changing how prospects are finding their advisors. With all the new technology that’s being introduced, having fresh, original content could be critical.”
Jessica Shores
Marketing Director
From all of us here at TradePMR, we’re looking forward to making 2025 a year of growth and new opportunities!
Disclosures
Opinions herein are as of the publication date; they are not statements of facts and may include “forward-looking statements” which may or may not be accurate over the long term. Report includes candid statements and observations regarding investment strategies, asset allocation, individual securities, and economic and market conditions. Statements, opinions or forecasts not guaranteed. Do not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The material has been prepared for or is distributed solely for information purposes and is not a solicitation or an offer to buy any security or instrument or to participate in any trading strategy. The promise of artificial intelligence (AI) is predictive in nature. TradePMR makes no representation or endorsement of any particular application of AI and what, if any, impact the technology may have.
Securities provided by TradePMR, member FINRA/SIPC.
