How Little Can WM Advisors Really Work?

From experience talking to advisors and reading some of the insight here on this forum, I understand that the general career arc of an advisor is to spend a handful of years grinding to build out your book, and can more or less go on cruise control once you are content with your AUM. What I'm wondering is how low can you realistically get your hours down to once you're established and not spending much time on business development? I've heard anecdotally of older advisors who put in as low as 10-20 hours a week and spend time at vacation homes at will, but also have heard that it really never gets below 40. 

Curious to hear any insights.

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This is a foolish question. You don't go in to a career thinking about how little you have to work. You go in thinking about going balls to the walls, running 100mph, building a great book and managing it. Yes, if you're fortunate, skilled, and a very good business person, you'll be able to staff accordingly so you only have to work on revenue generating and relationships. Maybe that will equal fewer hours than most. Maybe it won't. I have several high 6 / 7 figure colleagues and they're all different. Some are total workaholics. Some have staffed out so they only touch one thing and are pretty chill. It all depends on you AFTER you have run 100 mph for quite some time (or those choices never materialize). Focus on that, not the vision of not having to work. It may appear that way for some, but trust me, it's way more complex than that. Been at it over 30 yrs. 

 

rickle

 Yes, if you're fortunate, skilled, and a very good business person, you'll be able to staff accordingly so you only have to work on revenue generating and relationships. Maybe that will equal fewer hours than most. Maybe it won't. ... Some have staffed out so they only touch one thing and are pretty chill. ...

This is gospel. It's about staffing correctly, having been that staff.  Building those portfolio analyses, insurance illustrations, calling attornies to consult on possible wills and trusts? Staff spend hours for the advisor to hold a 20 minute meeting.

The poster formerly known as theAudiophile. Just turned up to 11, like the stereo.
 

100%. And it's also an avenue for good paying, industry learning jobs for staff. Great way to learnt he business. Come in as a staffer, support a solid FA, learn portfolio building/mgmt, learn about wealth planning / asset protection, etc. A good support person is invaluable to a good FA and is generally compensated accordingly. Could turn in to a succession plan opportunity through buy in or revenue share.

 

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