Resolutions vs. Goals: A Financial Advisor’s Guide to Success in 2025

John Anderson

Resolutions vs. Goals: A Financial Advisor’s Guide to Success in 2025

It’s no mistake I waited to write this post in mid-January.  You might’ve heard the second Friday of January called “Quitters’ Day.”  Because by now, many New Year’s resolutions have already faltered. Why? Because resolutions are often broad, vague, and lack accountability.

Think about it: “I want to lose weight,” “I want to get fit,” or “I want to save money” are common resolutions. However, they rarely come with specific systems or metrics to ensure progress. Even though I participated for years in press releases and media, I’ve never put much stock in asking financial advisors about their “resolutions” I would always have a good idea that they were going to say growth through referrals, increasing workflows, or other non-specific resolutions. So, this year, let’s ditch the resolutions and focus on something far more impactful: real, obtainable goals.

Goals Aren’t Just What You Want—They’re How You Get There

When I think about setting goals, it makes more sense to me to prioritize leading indicators over lagging indicators. In simpler terms, focusing on the actions I need to take rather than the outcome I hope to achieve.

Here’s an example from my personal life: I want to read more books in 2025. Instead of saying, “I’ll read 12 or 30 books this year,” my goal is to read at least 150 pages per week. The book’s length doesn’t matter anymore. If I stick to my weekly target, the number of books will take care of themselves.

The same goes for fitness. I don’t aim for a specific weight or physique; I aim for four days a week at the gym.  Fitness is the key, not the weight.   I’ve even committed to decluttering the house.  But one room—or part of one—for one hour a week.  The time is blocked on my calendar.

This mindset is just as relevant for your business. If your goal is to grow your business, identify the consistent activities that will lead to that growth. Want more referrals? Make client outreach part of your routine. Here’s how to break it down.

The Guide to Leading Indicators

  1. Growing Your Business:
    • Commit to a certain number of marketing activities per week.
    • Example: Schedule two lunches a month with centers of influence (COIs).
    • Example: Develop a social media habit—perhaps one thoughtful LinkedIn post a week and two or more contributions to other posts to keep your network engaged.
  2. Generating Referrals:
    • Dedicate one hour a week to proactively reaching out to clients. Ask how they’re doing, answer their questions, and remind them of the services you provide.
    • This isn’t about directly asking for referrals; it’s about staying top-of-mind by showing your clients you care. Referrals often come naturally when clients feel valued and remembered.
  3. Tracking Progress Without Obsession:
    • Lagging indicators like “I want $10 million in new assets” are useful for annual reviews but aren’t helpful in daily or weekly planning.
    • Instead, track what you can control: the calls you make, the meetings you schedule, and the relationships you nurture.

Why This Works

Focusing on activities—the things you can control—reduces stress and increases accountability. It’s like building a bridge one plank at a time. Each activity is a plank that gets you closer to your desired outcome.

When you embrace this mindset, something powerful happens: the numbers start to take care of themselves. You’ll land the new assets, grow your business, and generate referrals. But the magic lies in the small, consistent actions, not the wishful resolutions.  The leading indicators of success.

Your Turn

What are your leading indicators for success in 2025? What small, consistent steps will you take to achieve your goals? Drop a comment or send me a note—I’d love to hear your strategies.

Remember, resolutions fade, but goals with actionable steps endure. Let’s make this the year we stop hoping and start building.

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