Retention
How do financial advisers improve client retention?
Last reviewed 22 April 2026 · Reviewed by Jake McQuillan
Quick answer
How do financial advisers improve client retention?
The four-lever framework: (1) at-least-annual review cadence, (2) proactive triggered advice on life events, (3) family-wrap (bring spouses and adult children in), (4) portal transparency with real-time valuations. Retention above 95% is achievable with all four.
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The four levers
- Cadence: minimum annual review, quarterly for HNW.
- Triggered advice: birthday 55, birthday 60, house move, divorce, bereavement.
- Family wrap: bring spouse, adult children, parents into the firm.
- Portal transparency: real-time valuations, bank-grade security.
Data points
- Industry average retention: 92 to 95%.
- Firms with family-wrap: 96 to 98%.
- Firms with no review cadence: 80 to 88%.
Consumer Duty angle
Ongoing fees without demonstrable ongoing value is now a regulatory risk. Build a review service proposition that clearly justifies the 0.5 to 1% ongoing fee.
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