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As our businesses and work environments changed overnight due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so did the value of a financial plan, the role of the advisor, and the utilization of technology to meet the demands of the current market.
It's no surprise this year's market volatility has resulted in an increased interest in financial planning. Investors are seeing the value of a plan built for the long term.
Bearing this out, in early May we conducted a survey of 227 advisor clients to see how COVID-19 has affected advisor use, need and perception of financial planning software. We discovered that 37% of respondents have received inquiries from new clients about creating a financial plan.
This creates an opportunity for advisors to refocus business models and expand revenue opportunities with a ready-to-buy audience.
While there is great growth potential through these new relationships, you also have a captive audience of current clients, which makes this a critical time to deepen those relationships. Clients who underestimated the value of planning in the past are now looking at things differently.
If you have clients who have been reluctant to put a comprehensive plan in place, this is a chance to educate them on the importance of having one, and to remind them of the confidence that comes with viewing market returns through the lens of a financial plan and not through turbulent daily updates.
