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AcquireUp, a technology-first seminar marketing company for financial professionals, has released its 2026 Industry Index, drawing insights from over 500 financial professionals and revealing how financial advisors are evolving client acquisition strategies by blending referral marketing, educational and meal-based events, and automation to build more scalable and predictable net new asset growth.
66% of financial professionals plan to grow their client base over the next three years, with many firms operating with lean teams and limited internal marketing resources.
48% of advisors say networking and referrals deliver the highest ROI, yet 52% do not have a formal referral program.
61% of financial professionals rank acquiring new clients as their biggest source of potential net new assets over the next 12 months.
41% of advisors plan to use technology to streamline marketing, communication, and client engagement rather than simply expanding internal teams.
Educational and meal-based seminars account for 25% of benchmark production, with results multiplying when seminar marketing is systematized and consistent.
40% of advisors use an AI tool, primarily for marketing support, client communications, and operational tasks.
While 66% of financial professionals say they plan to grow their client base over the next three years, many firms are doing so with lean teams and limited internal marketing resources. The index demonstrates that the answer lies not in flashy tactics but in structured and repeatable systems around referrals and seminars, which remain the biggest sources of attracting and retaining qualified financial leads.
“Advisors don’t have a lead problem, they have a consistency problem,” said Greg Bogich, CEO of AcquireUp. “Referrals, seminar marketing and networking already work. The fastest-growing advisors are turning these trusted channels into repeatable growth engines powered by data, AI, automation and consistent follow-up.”
Nearly half of financial professionals (48%) say networking and referrals deliver the highest return on investment, making them the industry’s most effective growth channel. Despite this, the index found that 52% of advisors do not have a formal referral program, leaving one of the industry’s strongest sources of client acquisition largely informal and inconsistent.
Acquiring new clients is the top opportunity for growth, with 61% of financial professionals ranking it as their biggest source of potential net new assets over the next 12 months. To reach new clients and scale efficiently, advisors are increasingly focusing on process automation; 41% of advisors plan to use technology to streamline marketing, communication, and client engagement rather than simply expanding internal teams.
The index found that 40% of advisors use an AI tool, primarily for marketing support, client communications, and operational tasks. However, technology is not replacing the human side of advice; 47% of advisors say managing client expectations and emotions during market volatility remains their biggest relationship challenge, underscoring the importance of human judgment and trust. As a result, many advisors view AI primarily as a tool to increase efficiency and free up time for high-value client conversations.
Virtual engagement is now standard, with 34% of advisors conducting over half their business online, but top performers embrace hybrid strategies. Educational and meal-based seminars continue to play a meaningful role in advisor marketing strategies, accounting for 25% of benchmark production. This production multiplies when seminar marketing is systematized and consistent. These events help advisors connect with prospective clients in a trust-based environment, setting the foundation to build long-term relationships.
The next phase of advisor growth will be driven by building repeatable systems around strategies that already work. AcquireUp is committed to helping financial advisors grow their client base by identifying what works and turning it into scalable, repeatable systems for organic growth. Advisors who leverage AcquireUp’s technology platform and seminar services can benefit from streamlined marketing and consistent lead generation, providing the opportunity to scale net new asset growth and build long-term, trust-based client relationships.
About AcquireUp
AcquireUp is a data-driven seminar marketing services company dedicated to helping growth-minded financial professionals attract, connect with and engage high-quality leads. Based in both Troy, Mich. and Tampa, Fla., AcquireUp’s core services include lead-generating seminars and client engagement solutions, all supported by a comprehensive technology platform that provides audience transparency and streamlines campaign management. Backed by deep experience, AcquireUp offers proven seminars on topics such as Estate Planning, Social Security, Taxes in Retirement, College Planning and Medicare. By removing the stress of marketing, AcquireUp enables over 2,800 advisors annually to focus on what they do best – building meaningful client relationships.
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