What does your year-in-review look like?

The S&P 500 is down almost 16% YTD after a year of remarkable market volatility and a never-ending stream of dire headlines about inflation and recession. As 2022 comes to a close, it will be difficult for any investor to look back on these 12 months with a sense of accomplishment. So is it possible for advisors to end on a high note? 

If you haven’t seen our post on reaffirming your value around the holidays, read it here. This year is unusual in different ways, so there are a few additional things to keep in mind.

The first is that virtually no one had a landmark year in 2022. Relative success was about a matter of managing risk and downside, providing consistent and disciplined processes, and maintaining clear and personalized communication. It was also about delivering a life-centered advisory experience that could help keep clients on course with guidance unrelated to their portfolios.

For some practices, the end of 2022 might illuminate areas of improvement on these fronts. You might be looking to the new year with more focused goals for your client process or service offering. For others, the priority might be reminding existing clients how well they weathered the storm—particularly as they head into the Christmas season, look back on the year and share their feelings with friends and family.