Reflecting on 2024: A Year of Building Together
As we close out another year, it’s time to pause, reflect, and celebrate the journey we’ve taken with our incredible users and enterprise customers. At FindBob, 2024 has been a year of innovation, collaboration, and delivering on promises—all while keeping the people who matter most at the center of everything we do.
This blog post is more than just a roundup of features we’ve introduced this year; it’s a celebration of the partnerships, insights, and inspirations that made these innovations possible. From flagship tools that have transformed workflows to small-but-mighty updates, every development reflects the voices of our community.
So, grab a cup of cocoa, cozy up by the fire, and join us as we look back at the exciting year we’ve built together.
Flagship Features That Made Waves
1. Advisor Volatility Index (VIX): Keeping a Pulse on Advisor Sentiment
Our Advisor Volatility Index emerged as a game-changer for enterprise customers this year. We heard from home offices about the challenges of detecting early advisor flight risks, and VIX was our answer—a real-time tool that tracks behavioral trends like valuation tool usage, succession conversations, and deal room activity.
With the VIX score, enterprises can now intervene proactively, strengthening advisor retention strategies and fostering more meaningful relationships. It’s not just about mitigating risk; it’s about enabling support at the right time.
2. Partial Sale Listings: Precision Meets Opportunity
Succession planning isn’t always an all-or-nothing decision, and many advisors told us they needed a way to sell portions of their books of business. Our Partial Sale Listings feature enables advisors to showcase these opportunities with detailed segment-specific data, like production details and client metrics, while maintaining flexibility.
This addition has helped bridge gaps in the marketplace, making it easier for advisors to find their perfect matches while keeping enterprise users engaged with richer data.
3. Succession Readiness Tool: A Blueprint for the Future
Planning for the future isn’t just a checkbox—it’s a process. That’s why we introduced the Succession Readiness Tool, an interactive assessment that guides advisors through the steps needed to transition their business smoothly.
From catastrophic planning to valuation, deal structure, and emotional readiness, this tool walks advisors through what it takes to be prepared. And for enterprises, it provides critical insights into advisor readiness, enabling targeted support.
4. Deal Structure Tool: Clarity for Buyers and Sellers
Negotiating a deal can be one of the most complex aspects of succession planning, with countless possibilities for structuring terms. That’s why we built the Deal Structure Tool.
This tool allows both buyers and sellers to evaluate deals with objectivity and confidence. Whether you’re entering a purchase price to explore pre-configured deal options or fine-tuning advanced variables, the tool provides clear cash flow projections from both perspectives.
For sellers, it ensures your terms are competitive and sustainable. For buyers, it highlights the feasibility of the deal. Once you’ve landed on a structure that works, you can use it as a starting point or reference when consulting with professional advisors.
The Deal Structure Tool is more than just a calculator—it’s a conversation starter, empowering advisors to approach deal-making with clarity and confidence.
Supporting Growth and Innovation with "Little Big" Updates
5. Student Profiles: Cultivating the Next Generation
At FindBob, we believe in nurturing the next generation of advisors. With the introduction of Student Profiles, we’ve created a dedicated space for aspiring financial professionals to showcase their skills, connect with experienced advisors, and prepare for a future in the industry.
This wasn’t just a feature—it was a statement about our commitment to fostering growth and ensuring the longevity of the industry.
6. Teams Upgrade: Celebrating Collaboration
Many advisors don’t work alone, yet their profiles didn’t always reflect their team dynamics. Our Teams Upgrade allows advisors to represent themselves as part of a team, showcasing combined production, AUM, and client bases.
This simple but powerful enhancement has made a big impact, allowing advisors to stand out and giving enterprises a more accurate view of team performance.
7. Categorized Tasks: Streamlining Pipelines
Sometimes, it’s the little things that make a big difference. Our Categorized Tasks feature brought order and efficiency to enterprise workflows by enabling pre-defined, ordered tasks linked to pipelines. From pre-deal to post-deal workflows, this feature has streamlined processes and ensured nothing falls through the cracks.
Reinventing Communication and Connection
8. Admin & Manager Chat: Seamless Conversations, Right Where You Need Them
2024 marked the year we reimagined how admins, managers, and advisors communicate. With Admin & Manager Chat, we’ve brought structured, in-platform conversations to life, replacing scattered email threads and expensive third-party tools.
Whether it’s triaging support requests or facilitating real-time discussions, this feature reflects our belief that meaningful connections should happen without friction.
9. AI-Assisted Profile Generator: Telling Stories That Matter
First impressions count. Advisors shared how tough it can be to craft compelling headlines and bios, so we built an AI-Assisted Headline and Biography Generator. Using demographic and firmographic data, this tool creates professional, tailored content that tells each advisor’s unique story.
The result? Stronger profiles, better connections, and a feature that saves time while delivering incredible value.
Listening to What Matters
At the heart of everything we’ve built this year are the voices of our users. Whether it’s a student looking to break into the industry, a seasoned advisor navigating succession, or a home office executive trying to support their network, each feature reflects a need we’ve heard loud and clear.
Here’s how you’ve shaped what we’ve built:
- Your Feedback: Every insight and suggestion helped us refine our tools.
- Your Challenges: Understanding your pain points inspired our solutions.
- Your Stories: Seeing how our platform empowers you motivates us to keep innovating.
Looking Ahead to 2025
While we’re thrilled about what we’ve accomplished in 2024, we know there’s so much more to do. Next year, we’ll continue to focus on building tools that enhance advisor success, foster enterprise growth, and drive retention across the board.
Some areas we’re excited to explore include deeper AI integrations, more robust marketplace dynamics, and enhanced collaboration tools for teams and enterprises alike.
A Heartfelt Thank You
As the holidays approach, we want to extend our sincerest gratitude to every advisor, manager, and enterprise customer who partnered with us this year. Your trust, insights, and collaboration are the greatest gifts we could ask for.
Here’s to a bright 2025, full of growth, innovation, and continued success. From all of us at FindBob, happy holidays!
This year-end reflection isn’t just a summary of features; it’s a love letter to the community that made it all possible. Let’s keep building together. See you in 2025!
