Beyond the Balance Sheet: Two Books Your Clients Might Actually Need Right Now

This time of year, I see a lot of “recommended reading” lists shared among financial advisors. And that’s a good thing. Books matter, and ideas compound. Knowing what influenced a peer often tells you more than a résumé ever could.

But here’s something I don’t see very often, and maybe we should.

Where’s the recommended reading list for your clients? What is a unique client gift?
Not the market outlooks or year-end summaries. Not the “10 ways to optimize Social Security” guides or the “best places to retire”.

The human books.

Because when you give a client a book, especially one that isn’t about money, you’re sending a signal: I see you. I know you. I care about more than your performance versus the S&P 500.

You’re also setting a tone. That learning matters. Reflection matters. Growth doesn’t stop just because the portfolio is “allocated.”

This year, I want to share two books that had a real impact on me, and where they may fit for some of the people we serve. They’re not new. They’re not flashy. And that’s kind of the point.

A Quick Personal Detour

For those who haven’t been following me for long: I’m “retired”… sort of.

After almost three decades, I left a firm that was great to me. Incredible people, tremendous learning, and a career I’m deeply grateful for. But when I first stepped away, I didn’t know what my next chapter was.

I knew I was financially fine.
I knew I was old enough to retire.
And I also knew, deep down, that I probably had 25 or 30 good years left.

When I asked friends for advice, they offered thoughtful suggestions on retirement income, insurance, long-term care, estate planning, and even pickleball strategies. All important. None of them answered the real question I was asking:

What’s next?

The best advice I now give?  You don’t want to retire from something. You want to retire to something.  I didn’t have that figured out. And that uncertainty lingered longer than I expected. That’s where the first book comes in.

The Second Mountain — David Brooks

Who it’s for: Clients at or near retirement (or quietly wondering what comes after)

David Brooks frames life as two mountains.

The first is familiar:

• Career
• Achievement
• Status
• Income
• Building net worth

Most of your clients climbed that mountain well.  The second mountain is different. It’s about:

• Purpose
• Relationships
• Contribution
• Community
• Impact beyond yourself

What struck me most wasn’t the concept; for me, it was the timing. I wish I had read this book before I walked out the door. It would have helped me approach that transition with more intention instead of figuring it out on the fly.

I’ve recommended The Second Mountain to several clients and friends, especially those who look “done” on paper but may feel unsettled underneath. Many come back saying, “This put words to something I couldn’t quite explain.”

That’s a gift.

Stillness Is the Key — Ryan Holiday

Who it’s for: Clients still working, still building, still running hard (5–10 years out)

If The Second Mountain is about direction, Stillness Is the Key is about clarity.

Ryan Holiday draws from Stoic philosophy, but this isn’t a dusty textbook. It’s practical, grounded, and timely. In a world obsessed with speed and noise, his message is simple:

You don’t discover what matters most by doing more. You discover it by slowing down enough to hear yourself think.

For me, this book helped:

• Clarify values
• Create space between stimulus and response
• Stay focused when everything competes for attention

I think of it this way: Stillness helps you discover your values. The Second Mountain helps you act on them.

Together, they’re a powerful pairing.

Why This Matters

Neither of these books is about money. And that’s exactly why they matter.

Giving a client a book like this, especially as a holiday or retirement gift, signals that you’re thinking about the emotional side of their life, not just the financial mechanics.

If you inscribe it? Even better. If they pass it along with your note inside? That’s an impact no marketing campaign can replicate. It says: My advisor helped me think about my life, not just my accounts. That’s trust. That’s depth. That’s real relationship capital.

I would love to hear of other books that advisors are sending to clients, but until then, wishing you, and all the people you care about, a reflective, meaningful holiday season.