TL;DR:
- August isn’t slow, and it’s the last time you’ll be able to think clearly before fall hits.
- This is your window to fix what slipped, reconnect with clients, and clean up your strategy.
- What you do this month sets the tone for the rest of the year.
If You’ve Let Things Slide, You’re Not Alone
Summer throws everyone off.
You’ve been bouncing between client cancellations, spotty routines, family stuff, maybe a conference or two.
Now it’s August, and you know Q4 is coming fast.
This month isn’t about turning everything around.
It’s about catching up to yourself before things speed up again.
If you’re thinking:
“I haven’t touched my pipeline since June.”
“Our messaging is scattered.”
“I don’t even know if we’re close to hitting our goals.”
You’re in the right place.
What Deserves Your Focus Right Now
This isn’t about motivation. It’s about traction.
Here’s where to look if you want to feel in control again before Q4 gets loud.
1. Take 30 Minutes to Audit the Last 90 Days
You don’t need a report. You need a reality check. Ask:
- What actually brought in leads?
- What touchpoints got ignored?
- Where did real momentum come from, and where did we waste time?
Cut what didn’t move the needle.
Repeat what worked.
Drop anything you’re still doing “just to be consistent.”
2. Get Year-End Reviews on the Calendar
Your clients are coming back from summer mode. They’re buried in back-to-school chaos. Their inbox is about to get messy again.
This is your window to reach out, before you’re fighting for their attention.
Use plain language:
“Let’s get your year-end check-in on the books before things pick up. Here’s my calendar.”
Short. Direct. Helpful.
3. Reevaluate Your Q4 Content and Messaging
Let’s be honest – If your Q4 content calendar still says “market volatility” or “401(k) reminders,” it’s probably not cutting it.
Ask:
- Does this reflect what clients actually care about right now?
- Are we posting just to post, or are we saying something useful?
- Are we planning around their needs, or just filling space on our marketing calendar?
4. Zoom Out Beyond Q4
Yes, Q4 matters. But what about January? What about next spring?
If you’re just thinking in 90-day cycles, you’re going to keep chasing.
Take an hour this month to ask:
- What kind of clients do we want to be working with in 6 months?
- Are we building the brand that attracts them?
- Is our growth plan aligned with how we want to work, not just what we want to earn?
You Probably Don’t Need a New Plan. You Just Need to Use the One You Made.
Most advisors aren’t missing a playbook.
They’re missing space to stop, assess, and adjust before the wheels come off.
This is that space.
What needs to be fixed?
What can you double down on?
What’s getting in the way?
Fix those. Don’t touch anything else yet.
Final Word: Fall Will Be Loud. You Still Have Time to Think.
Most advisors will wait until October and then sprint to December 31.
They’ll burn out their team, scramble to meet goals, and throw together messaging that sounds rushed and irrelevant.
You don’t have to do that.
Use August to think clearly.
Reach out early.
Clean up your pipeline.
Say something that matters.
Want specific answers to the real questions advisors are asking this month? Read our August Q&A and get clarity before fall hits.
Don’t wait for fall chaos—let’s map your Q4 plan now.
