7 Smart Business Moves Every Advisor Should Make this August
For many advisors, August is one of the few natural pauses in the year. Clients are on vacation, meetings slow down, and the inbox isn’t quite as demanding. It can feel like a chance to finally catch your breath.
That slower pace makes it tempting to shift into neutral and wait for the post-Labor Day rush. But the truth is, August is one of the best windows to focus on your business instead of just in it.
With fewer distractions, you have the space to step back, look at portfolios with fresh perspective, and reconnect client strategies with their long-term goals. It’s also the ideal time to set your own plan for how you’ll finish the year strong.
Here are seven practical moves you can make during this month to strengthen relationships, sharpen portfolios, and position your practice for the months ahead.
1. Pull forward tax-loss harvesting
Many advisors wait until December to review for losses, but that can mean missed opportunities. Research from Russell Investments shows that November and December are historically among the strongest months for the S&P 500. So waiting until year-end may limit your ability to capture losses.
By identifying opportunities in August, you give yourself more flexibility. You can realize gains where it makes sense, offset them with losses, and reduce concentration risk without the pressure of the December rush.
2. Audit client portfolios for summer risk drift
Markets rarely move in a straight line, and portfolios can drift away from a client’s original target risk faster than you think.
A portfolio that matched your client’s comfort zone in January may now be carrying more (or less) risk than they intended. And after strong equity performance in the first half of this year, many equity-heavy portfolios are carrying more risk than they were in January.
August is the time to check for drift and correct it before fall volatility historically picks up. A summer portfolio review helps ensure current portfolio risk still matches the client’s stated tolerance.
Even small adjustments can reassure clients that risk is being monitored consistently.
3. Run a mid-year life change pulse check
A short conversation in August can reveal developments such as a job change, a major purchase, or a shift in retirement timing.
These changes often represent great opportunities for advisor portfolio planning or plan adjustments. By catching them now, you can update strategies while there is still time for those changes to influence the year’s results.
A quick pulse check shows clients that you are attuned to their broader life circumstances, not just their account balances.
4. Stress-test against both volatility and inflation shocks
September and October, historically, are often more volatile months.
Since 1950, September has often represented the weakest month for the stock market, with the S&P 500 averaging a –0.7% return during this period. So August is a smart time to check if client portfolios are prepared for that possibility.
It also helps to model other risks like inflation or interest rate spikes. These can impact purchasing power and retirement timing as much as a market dip.
By stress-testing now, you show clients that risks are being anticipated, not just reacted to. That builds trust and keeps them focused on long-term goals.
5. Pre-book Q4 with a theme
Securing Q4 review meetings in August helps avoid the post-Labor Day rush. However, scheduling is only part of the value.
Give these meetings a central focus so they stand out as strategic events. Themes such as “year-end tax efficiency” or “preparing for the 2026 tax law changes” set expectations for a high-value conversation.
This approach can also make it easier to prepare materials in advance, since each meeting will share a common purpose and talking points.
6. Refresh your client volatility kit
Market headlines tend to pick up in the fall. Having your response materials ready means you can reassure clients quickly and effectively.
Update resources such as market explainers, volatility FAQs, and one-page portfolio strategy summaries. If your technology platform provides visual portfolio tools, ensure those are updated with the latest models and data, like the 95% historical range for Nitrogen users.
A ready-to-use volatility kit can save hours during unstable weeks and help clients stay focused on long-term goals.
7. Do a compliance sweep that doubles as a value audit
August is an ideal time to catch up on compliance requirements such as updating client files, notes, and portfolio change documentation.
While doing this, also review your notes to capture the value delivered to each client this year. Documenting these wins can support retention conversations and highlight the outcomes of your work.
Turning compliance into a trust-building exercise shows that fiduciary care is an active part of your process
The bottom line
August may not have the urgency of tax season or the high volume of year-end planning, but that is exactly what makes it valuable. It is a rare opportunity to reinforce client relationships and prepare your business for the months ahead.
If you want to bring research and planning tools, risk alignment, and client communication together in one workflow, Nitrogen makes it simple. From quantifying risk tolerance to aligning portfolios and documenting updates, the platform brings essential advisor tools into a single, easy-to-use system.
Book a demo to see how Nitrogen can help you make every season a season of growth.