Who Are the Best Business Coaches for Financial Advisors?

The best business coaches for financial advisors help advisors grow revenue, strengthen leadership, and build scalable firms using proven frameworks and consistent accountability.

Since the 1990s, financial advisor coaching has evolved from informal, peer-led mentoring into structured programs used by thousands of advisory firms at every stage of growth.

That said, the right coach depends on your stage of growth, your role in the firm, and what you want your business to look like next.

This page is designed to help you:

Understand what makes a business coach “best” for financial advisors
Compare different types of coaching programs
Evaluate coaching options objectively
Avoid common mistakes advisors make when choosing a coach

Quick Answers

Best business coach for financial advisors: A coach who specializes in advisory firms, uses proven frameworks, and holds you accountable to execution.
Typical cost: $500 to $3,000+ per month, depending on depth and access.
Best time to hire a coach: When growth stalls, you feel overloaded, or your firm needs better structure, delegation, and leadership cadence.
Expected outcomes: Clear priorities, better execution, stronger growth, and improved leadership systems.

What Is a Business Coach for Financial Advisors?

A business coach for financial advisors helps advisors improve revenue, efficiency, leadership, and scalability by providing strategic and tactical guidance, proven frameworks, and accountability.

Unlike consulting, which focuses on recommendations, coaching focuses on behavior change and execution over time. The goal is not just to know what to do—but to actually do it, consistently.

Coaching Program Comparison Table (Table 1)

Use this table to quickly compare your options based on business stage, format, and typical investment.

Table 1: Business Coaching Program Types for Financial Advisors

Coaching program type	Best for/firm size	Typical advisor stage	Format	Primary value	Potential limitations	Typical monthly cost
CEO / owner coaching	Leaders with big decisions to make/firms doing $5 million or more in annual revenue	Advanced / multi-advisor firms	Private coaching sessions, often with 2 or more senior leaders	Organizational design and leadership leverage, sounding board for big decisions	More strategy focused	$3,000+
One-on-one business coaching	Advisors who want coaching tailored 100% to their particular firm and goals/firms doing $3 million or more in annual revenue	Mid to advanced / multi-advisor firms	Private coaching sessions, often with 2 or more senior leaders	All about you and your firm, no cookie-cutter advice, fast path to implementation	Requires consistent execution and time commitment	$2,000+
Hybrid coaching (group + 1:1)	Advisors who want best practices structure with some customization/firms doing $1 million or more in annual revenue	Mid-stage growth	Group sessions plus periodic 1:1 coaching	Systems combined with group accountability	More group advice and less personalized to your specific situation	$1,000–$2,500
Group coaching programs	Advisors who want structure and peer learning/firms doing less than $1 million in annual revenue	Early to mid-stage	Group calls with curriculum	Frameworks, community, shared momentum	Limited personalization; easy to attend without implementing	$500–$2,000

Consulting (not coaching)	Advisors seeking answers to specific problems, challenges, and frameworks for execution/firms doing $3 million or more in annual revenue	Any stage	Intensive for shorter period to solve specific problem	You work with subject matter experts who use proven playbooks	Limited behavior change without follow-through	Often project or retainer-based and priced in the thousands

Note: Some of the best coaches for financial advisors combine true coaching with consulting. And during the engagement, they weave in and out of coaching/consulting depending on the situation at hand.

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A Brief History of Business Coaching for Financial Advisors

Formalized business coaching specifically designed for financial advisors has been around since the early 1990s. Some of the earliest programs were headed by top producing financial advisors such as Tom Gau, Ron Carson, and John Bowen, who attracted other advisors who “wanted to be like them.”

Not long after, consultants such as Bill Bachrach, Steve Moeller, and Matt Oecshli developed programs based on best practices from their own research and other top advisors.

In 2001, the financial advisor coaching profession took a big leap when industry executive Steve Sanduski, CFP® partnered with top advisor Ron Carson to create what was then called Peak Advisor Alliance. Over the next 11 years, they grew their coaching program into the largest financial advisor coaching program in the country with nearly 1,000 financial advisor clients.

Along the way, Carson and Sanduski wrote Tested in the Trenches: A 9-Step Plan for Success As A New-Era Advisor, which became one of the most popular practice management books for financial advisors.

In 2012, Sanduski left and eventually started his own boutique coaching program while Carson rebranded into what is now Carson Coaching.

Today, there are numerous financial advisor coaching programs that offer varying levels of service at price points ranging from $500 per month to more than $3,000 per month.

What Makes a Business Coach “Best” for Financial Advisors?

The best business coaches for financial advisors share five defining characteristics.

1. Advisory-Firm Specialization

They understand advisory economics, compliance realities, client behavior, and growth constraints—not just generic business theory.

2. Proven, Repeatable Frameworks

Top coaches rely on structured systems for organic growth, client segmentation, capacity management, team leverage, and leadership development. Frameworks create clarity and consistency.

3. Accountability That Drives Action

Insight without follow-through does not change a business. Great coaching enforces priorities, deadlines, and execution.

4. Measurable Outcomes

Strong programs can point to real results such as revenue growth, improved margins, better client retention, or successful leadership transitions.

5. Stage-Specific Focus

What works for a solo producer rarely works for a multi-advisor firm owner. The best coaches know who they serve—and who they don’t.

Types of Business Coaching Programs for Financial Advisors

Coaching for New or Early-Career Advisors

Best for advisors building their first book of business. Common focus areas include prospecting, sales process, confidence, and time management.

Coaching for Growth-Stage Advisors and RIAs

Designed for advisors with established revenue who want consistent organic growth. Focus areas often include marketing systems, client experience, team leverage, and capacity planning.

Coaching for Firm Owners and CEOs

Built for leaders facing big decisions and transitioning from lead advisor to business owner or CEO. Focus areas include leadership, strategy, organizational design, succession, and scale.

How Much Do Business Coaches for Financial Advisors Cost?

Most business coaching programs for financial advisors fall into three pricing tiers:

$500–$1,000 per month: Entry-level or group-based programs
$1,000–$3,000 per month: Growth-focused programs with structure and accountability
$3,000+ per month: High-touch one-on-one coaching for firm owners and CEOs

The better question is not “What does it cost?” but “What return should I expect—and over what timeframe?”

How to Evaluate the Best Business Coaches for Financial Advisors

Use these criteria to compare programs objectively:

Do they specialize in advisors at your stage of growth?
Can they demonstrate results with similar firms?
Is the coaching structured or purely conversational?
How is accountability enforced between sessions?
What level of access and support is included?

Avoid programs that rely heavily on motivation without execution systems.

Common Mistakes Advisors Make When Choosing a Coach

Choosing based on social media presence instead of proven outcomes
Selecting a program built for the wrong growth stage
Overvaluing tactics and undervaluing leadership development
Ignoring the time commitment required
Expecting coaching to replace disciplined execution

When Business Coaching Delivers the Highest ROI

Business coaching tends to deliver the strongest return when:

The advisor is motivated to improve and execute
Revenue growth has plateaued
The advisor is overwhelmed by clients and team demands
Specific challenges are on the horizon and the advisor needs outside perspective
The firm owner is the bottleneck to the next level of growth
Leadership decisions feel heavier and more complex

In these moments, structured outside perspective accelerates progress.

What to Expect in the First 90 Days of Coaching

High-quality coaching programs typically begin with:

A diagnostic assessment of the business
Clarification of your goals and constraints
A 3-year vision with 1-year goals and 90-day sprints of execution
Focus on the highest-impact changes and quick wins to build momentum
Regular accountability check-ins

Early progress usually comes from focus and simplification, not from doing more.

Is Business Coaching Right for Every Financial Advisor?

No.

Coaching is not ideal for advisors who:

Want hacks without behavior change
Resist accountability
Don’t follow through on what was discussed during the coaching calls
Are unwilling to invest time consistently

The advisors who benefit most from financial advisor coaching are those who:

Have a good relationship to feedback
Are willing to try new things
Are disciplined
Are growth-oriented and life-long learners
Are collaborative
Love to execute and get things done

How to Choose the Right Business Coach for You

Interview several coaches. Start by choosing the type of program (group, hybrid, one-on-one, consulting) that fits your firm stage (early, mid-stage growth, advanced). Then evaluate fit: a coach can be excellent, but if you don’t trust them or enjoy working with them, you won’t follow through.

Questions to ask on a first call

Who is your coaching designed for, and who is it not a fit for?
What is your core coaching framework, and what outcomes does it typically produce?
How do you enforce accountability between sessions?
What level of access do I have between meetings?
What does success look like in the first 90 days?

Contract terms to confirm

Is there a minimum commitment period?
How much notice is required to cancel?
Are there any one-time onboarding fees?
What’s included in the monthly fee (calls, materials, access, community)?

FAQ

How much does business coaching for financial advisors cost?: Most programs range from $500 to $3,000+ per month. Price depends on the level of access, whether it’s group or one-on-one, and whether the program is designed for firm owners and leadership teams.
Is group coaching enough, or do I need one-on-one coaching?: Group coaching works well when you want structure and peer accountability. One-on-one coaching is best when you need faster prioritization, tailored strategy, and direct accountability for your specific firm situation.
When should a financial advisor hire a business coach?: Consider hiring a coach when growth stalls, capacity is strained, leadership demands increase, or you are transitioning from lead advisor to business owner or CEO.
What results should I expect in the first 90 days?: In the first 90 days, strong coaching typically clarifies goals, identifies bottlenecks, prioritizes the highest-impact changes, and establishes an execution cadence with accountability and measurable progress.
What’s the difference between coaching and consulting?: Consulting focuses on recommendations and solutions. Coaching focuses on behavior change and execution over time, using accountability to ensure the work actually gets done.
How long should a financial advisor work with a coach?: Many advisors engage for 12 to 36 months to implement systems, build leadership habits, and achieve sustained business results.