The start of a new year invites ambition. For independent advisors, growth in 2026 cannot be defined by vague AUM goals or generic resolutions. The advisory landscape has changed. Profitability, efficiency, and control now matter as much as top line growth.
The advisors who succeed in 2026 will be those who set intentional and operationally grounded targets. They will also align themselves with platforms designed to support that reality.
Step One
Define Growth Beyond AUM
AUM still matters. It is no longer sufficient on its own. Advisors should begin 2026 by setting three distinct growth targets.
First, net new assets segmented by client type.
Second, revenue per client driven by planning depth rather than product volume.
Third, capacity efficiency measured by how many households can be served without strain.
When a platform focuses only on portfolio management, these targets conflict with one another. Growth without efficiency erodes profitability. Efficiency without flexibility limits differentiation. This tension exposes the limits of many traditional TAMP relationships.
Step Two
Set Profitability Targets You Can Control
Profitability in 2026 is not about squeezing margins. It is about eliminating friction.
Independent advisors should define a target operating margin. They should measure time spent per client each year. They should understand the cost per household served.
When technology is fragmented and reporting is inconsistent, profitability becomes reactive. Advisors spend time managing systems rather than guiding clients. An integrated advisory platform addresses this problem by design. Operations, technology, and support function as one system. Overhead is reduced without sacrificing independence.
Step Three
Align Growth with Planning Sophistication
Advisors are no longer asset managers alone. They are planners, educators, and fiduciaries.
Growth targets for 2026 should reflect the type of clients an advisor wants to serve. They should also reflect the level of planning sophistication the advisor intends to deliver. Brand experience must align with that intention.
For many advisors, that sophistication is expressed through the Bucket Strategy. This approach connects investment allocation, income planning, behavioral discipline, and client communication into a coherent structure.
Planning frameworks like the Bucket Strategy support higher revenue per client. They create clearer conversations during market stress. They improve retention through understanding rather than performance chasing.
Growth that dilutes planning philosophy is not progress. Platforms that force uniform models or obscure process work against long term enterprise value. DWS was built on the belief that advisors grow best when they retain control of their planning framework, pricing, client experience, and investment philosophy.
Step Four
Use Infrastructure as a Growth Multiplier
The difference between reaching 2026 targets and missing them will not be effort. It will be infrastructure.
DWS helps advisors translate goals into execution through scalable operational support. Planning, reporting, and trading workflows are integrated. Investment architecture remains flexible and aligned with advisor philosophy. Practice management and growth resources are designed for independent firms.
This is not outsourcing. It is co sourcing. The advisor retains control while operational bottlenecks are removed.
The Question That Matters in 2026
As advisors set targets for the year ahead, one question matters:
Does your current platform make growth easier or harder?
If the answer is not easier, the foundation beneath those goals deserves a second look.
2026 will reward advisors who are intentional, integrated, and independent. DWS exists to support that path on your terms.
