Transparency has become a deciding factor in choosing a financial advisor.
Clients expect open and honest communication about their financial plans and they want to see what’s behind the numbers. Advisors who embrace transparency will build deeper trust and a business that grows through referrals.
Technology has made financial planning more accessible, but it’s also raised the bar.
Clients want clear insights, not black-box results, with updates they can understand and explanations that make sense. The more advisors can pull back the curtain and show how everything adds up, the more confident clients will feel in the plan.
What Transparency Means for Advisors
Being transparent goes beyond simply disclosing fees. It means showing your work and inviting clients into the planning process.
Research shows that clients with more than half a million invested or over the age of 45 want more communication with their advisor. Advisors who don’t openly and frequently share their knowledge in a way their clients can understand risk losing business in the near future.
In practice, this might look like sharing the reasoning behind your recommendation—using logic and math your clients can follow. It could also mean having honest conversations about risks and trade-offs, even when the news isn’t rosy.
According to the 2023 survey, eight in 10 clients said they would feel more confident (77%), be more likely to stay with their advisor (78%), and be more willing to refer others (81%) if their advisor communicated more frequently and personally.
Moneytree’s software gives advisors the upper hand by helping them demonstrate a deep understanding of the planning process to clients.
Why Advisors Are Moving Away from “Black Box” Planning
Many platforms hide the calculations, leaving advisors to say, “Trust me.” But trust today is built on evidence, not blind faith.
Moneytree was designed to equip advisors with transparent financial planning tools. Its powerful calculation engine gives you the ability to deliver dependable plans and show exactly how you got there.
- Client Portal: Provide on-demand account access for your clients to view their financial status.
- Audit Trail: This feature walks you through the calculations step-by-step, giving both you and your clients full visibility into the numbers.
- Monte Carlo: Run 10,000 simulations—10x more than other platforms—so clients can see the range of possible outcomes and feel more confident in the plan.
- Interactive What-If Scenario Tools: Let clients see how different decisions affect their outcomes in real time. With the math right there to back it up, you’re showing clients what to do and why it works.
- Reports: Clear, detailed reports that are easy to create and break down complex financial calculations into client-friendly insights.
By using these features, advisors can provide a level of transparency that meets modern client expectations.
“Moneytree helps me create plans my clients can actually understand,” said Rick Kelley, President of RD Kelley Financial Group (CFP®, CSA®-Certified Senior Advisor, CMFC). “That’s what opens the door to better conversations — and better decisions.
The Bottom Line
Clients today expect their advisors to be open and accessible. You bring the expertise. Moneytree’s transparent financial planning tools help you present it clearly, confidently, and without confusion.
Want to see how Moneytree can help you put transparency into action? Contact us today to learn more about how our powerful tools can help you better serve your clients.
