The number of clients a financial advisor has depends largely on the advisor. Again, a typical client count is anywhere from 50 to 150 but there are several variables that can influence the actual number. They include the advisor's niche and the type of clients they serve, as well as how they work.
According to research firm CoreData's Future of Advice report, the average number of clients is now 136 per adviser, with those practices with strong growth plans managing on average of 142 clients per adviser.
It is not uncommon for advisors with 20+ years of experience to make well over $500k per year. I personally know of several who make $1+ million. That kind of personal income is across the board: wirehouse or independent. Many times this can be more when managing a team of advisors.
What Percentage of Financial Advisors are Successful? 80-90% of financial advisors fail and close their firm within the first three years of business. This means only 10-20% of financial advisors are ultimately successful.
In addition, millionaires are much more likely to work with a financial advisor (69%), more than double the amount of the general population (33%).
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for personal financial advisors was $94,170 in May 2021. It means half of the financial advisors earned more than that, and half earned less. One in ten earned less than $47,570, while one in ten made more than $208,000.
Financial service providers regard a HNW client as someone with at least $1 million in liquid – or investable – financial assets. Clients with assets between $5 and $30 million are considered VHNW, while UHNW clients have assets greater than $30 million.
The average return is going to vary from year to year, based on the activity in the market. Studies have shown that financial advisors have the potential to add, on average, between 1.5% and 4% to your portfolio above what the average person is able to get as a return on their own.
How long do clients stay with a financial advisor? The client churn for financial advisors is notoriously high. The average client lifespan for a financial advisor is between three and five years, with 45% of clients leaving in the first two years.
The average fee for a financial advisor generally comes in at about 1% of the assets they are managing.
Over 90% of financial advisors in the industry do not last three years. Putting it simply: 9 advisors out of 10 would fail!
On average, financial advisors charge between 0.59% and 1.18% of assets under management for their asset management. At 1%, an advisor's fee is well within the industry average. Whether that fee is too much or just right depends entirely on what you think of the advisor's services and performance.
How Many Clients Should a CFP Have? Successful CFPs have 15 – 20 clients monthly, but you can have more or less, depending on what you can handle and the type of clients you serve. The right number of clients for you may differ from that of other financial advisors.
Some financial planners and advisors are paid on a retainer or hourly basis. Most fee-only advisors will charge clients based on a percentage of the assets they manage for you. Fees can vary, but they generally average somewhere around 1% of the total value of the investments being managed.
Around 60%, or the majority, of financial advisors with more than five years of experience will earn over $100,000 annually and up to $300,000. At the higher end, $300,000, puts the advisor in the top 10% of household income in the United States, which is not bad at all.
The top 10% of earners have an average net worth of $2.65 million. Even if you're squeaking into the upper class (the 80-90% range), you're looking at about $793,000. Moving down to the middle class, things get a bit more varied. The upper-middle class folks have an average net worth of around $300,800.
Vast majority of wealthy individuals have a financial advisor, with two thirds saying they need more than one to manage their affairs. A recent study from Bank of America Private Bank reveals a strong majority of the country's richest individuals have a financial advisor – and most even have a team in their corner.
Oftentimes, financial advisors require minimum investment thresholds so that 1% fee can cover their costs to manage your money. After all, 1% of a $100,000 minimum means they only earn $1,000 in a year from your account.
7. Seek professional advice. Of high-net-worth individuals, 69 percent work with a financial advisor. Compare that to just 33 percent in the general population.
The "Big 4" refers to the four largest accounting firms and includes Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, and EY. All four companies provide audit, assurance, consulting, financial advisory, risk management, and tax compliance services. Deloitte. "Deloitte Ranked 6th on World's Best Workplaces 2023."
How many clients do you need? A good average number of clients per financial advisor to have is usually in the range of 50 to 150. But you may need fewer than that if you're primarily targeting high-net-worth individuals. Finding your ideal number of clients can depend largely on your goals as an advisor.
Many people seek the guidance of a financial advisor before hitting the $1M mark. For example, if you have $250,000 or more in investable assets and feel behind on your financial planning and tax planning, it may be wise to seek professional guidance.