Why Every Financial Advisor Should Have a Newsletter (And Why Substack is a Great Place to Start)
Social media platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook are great for visibility—but they don’t give you direct access to your audience. Algorithms change, reach fluctuates, and you don’t “own” your followers.
That’s why every financial advisor should build an email newsletter—an owned audience that provides long-term value, generates leads, and strengthens client relationships.
A newsletter isn’t just another piece of marketing. It’s a core part of a growth flywheel that brings in new leads, nurtures relationships, and reinforces your expertise over time.
Here’s why newsletters are essential for financial advisors, why Substack is a great platform to start with, and how to use a newsletter to grow your business.
1. Why Newsletters Are a Must for Financial Advisors
Unlike social media, an email list is an asset you own. You’re not renting space from LinkedIn or Instagram—you control the communication and the relationship.
🔹 Key benefits of a newsletter for advisors:
✅ Direct access to your audience – No algorithm deciding who sees your content.
✅ Stronger client relationships – Stay top-of-mind without constant sales pitches.
✅ High conversion rates – Email marketing generates a 4,200% ROI (42x return) on average.
✅ Builds trust & authority – Regular insights position you as an expert, not just another advisor.
🔹 Example: An advisor sends a weekly Substack newsletter with quick market insights and simple financial tips. Over time, it builds trust with readers—many of whom eventually book consultations.
2. Substack: A Powerful Newsletter Platform for Financial Advisors
While traditional email platforms like Mailchimp or ConvertKit work well, Substack is a great choice for advisors because it:
✅ Makes newsletter setup easy – No complicated tech setup.
✅ Allows free & paid subscriptions – Monetize content if desired.
✅ Has built-in discovery features – Your newsletter can be found by new readers.
✅ Encourages organic sharing – Readers can recommend your newsletter to their own network.
🔹 Best Newsletter Platforms for Financial Advisors:
✔ Substack – Best for building a community and growing organically.
✔ ConvertKit – Ideal if you want more automation & lead magnets.
✔ Beehiiv – Great for advanced newsletter growth strategies.
✔ Mailchimp – Solid for simple email marketing without social features.
🔹 Example: An advisor uses Substack to share weekly market updates. Clients appreciate the insights, and as they share the newsletter with friends, it attracts new leads effortlessly.
3. How a Newsletter Fits Into the Growth Flywheel for Advisors
A newsletter isn’t just a standalone marketing tool—it’s part of a larger growth flywheel that generates leads and builds long-term relationships.
🔹 The Financial Advisor Growth Flywheel:
1️⃣ Create valuable content (blog posts, LinkedIn insights, case studies).
2️⃣ Capture emails through a free newsletter subscription.
3️⃣ Send regular insights that build trust and credibility.
4️⃣ Readers share your newsletter, bringing in new subscribers & referrals.
5️⃣ Some subscribers become clients over time.
🚀 Why This Works: A strong newsletter compounds in value—the more you write, the more it grows, and the more inbound leads you get.
🔹 Example: An advisor starts a weekly newsletter on estate planning. Within a year, it has 1,500 subscribers, many of whom refer their friends or book consultations.
4. How to Grow Your Newsletter as an Advisor
📌 Step 1: Start Simple & Be Consistent
Choose one core topic (e.g., retirement planning, market insights, or wealth-building tips).
Send a newsletter once a week or twice a month—consistency matters more than frequency.
📌 Step 2: Add a Strong Call-to-Action (CTA) Everywhere
Website: Add a newsletter signup form on your homepage.
LinkedIn: Post about your newsletter regularly.
Social Media Bio: Include a link to subscribe.
Email Signature: Add “📩 Subscribe to my free financial insights.”
📌 Step 3: Encourage Referrals
Ask readers to share your newsletter with friends & colleagues.
Offer a referral bonus (e.g., “Refer 3 friends and get a free financial checklist”).
📌 Step 4: Use AI & Automation to Save Time
ChatGPT & Jasper – Generate content ideas & drafts.
ConvertKit & Mailchimp – Automate welcome emails.
Zapier – Connect your newsletter signup form with LinkedIn or CRM tools.
5. Example: How an Advisor Built a Newsletter That Drives Business
🔹 Case Study:
An RIA specializing in retirement planning launched a weekly Substack newsletter with:
📌 A personal note at the start.
📌 One key financial insight (e.g., “3 Ways to Maximize Your 401(k) This Year”).
📌 A soft CTA (“Want a personalized strategy? Let’s talk.”).
Results after 12 months:
3,000+ subscribers
Multiple direct client inquiries per month
Referrals from existing readers, creating a compounding effect
🚀 Why it worked: The newsletter built trust before prospects ever scheduled a call.
Final Thoughts: Your Newsletter is Your Best Long-Term Asset
Social media audiences come and go, but an email newsletter is an owned asset that grows over time.
✅ It builds trust and credibility.
✅ It nurtures long-term client relationships.
✅ It compounds in value—the more you write, the more referrals and leads you generate.
Want to Start a Newsletter But Need Help?
We help financial advisors launch, grow, and optimize newsletters that attract and convert clients. Let’s talk!
