Encountering a great idea can change the way financial advisors work, think and grow. Often, these ideas come from books, so we asked advisors to share the titles that motivated or inspired them in their practices this year, whether a longtime classic or a recent release.
The resulting list spans a wide range of topics, but a clear theme runs throughout: becoming better advisors by better understanding clients. Across the recommendations, advisors gravitated toward books that helped them deepen trust, clarify client values and move past the basics toward more purpose-driven planning.
Several titles pushed advisors to think more deliberately about growth. That includes business growth, from improving client acquisition to finding new ways to put clients first, as well as personal growth. Advisors pointed to books that challenged them to build greater resilience, sharpen focus and improve their own personal habits. After all, incremental changes can compound to great effect, a core idea behind James Clear’s “Atomic Habits” —
Below are the 10 books advisors say shaped how they serve clients, run their firms and think about their work in 2025.
