The financial services industry is changing, as evidenced by numerous data points released in the 2018 FINRA Industry Snapshot. Among the report’s statistical highlights, industry-wide topline growth rose a remarkable 14% over the past two years to $309 billion.
Change is on the horizon for the financial services industry and it is arriving in the form of technological advancement. Seemingly futuristic financial technology upgrades are either currently available or on the horizon including face recognition CRM software, distributed ledger technology, and robo-advice platforms.
Wirehouse firms are scrambling for attrition solutions as more and more of their advisors show their discontent by heading for the door. Most recently, large firms have attempted to pacify their advisors in the form of early release of 2019 compensation plans.
Many executives in the financial services industry, primarily in the wirehouse universe, are misguided when it comes to recruiting in that they view recruiting efforts as strictly an expense against income. This simply isn’t the case if done the right way.
Financial services is facing a renaissance, and it isn’t just within the firms or the regulatory bodies that govern them where we can find change. One of the most vital shifts occurring is in the customer base itself and understanding who the clients of the future will be, how they choose their financial advisors, and what drives their major financial decisions will prove to be a necessary strategic component of any successful firm.
