Why Good Advisory Relationships Don’t Stand Still
Written with assistance from ChatGPT
How client–adviser relationships naturally grow, change, or end — and why that’s healthy
Over time, every advisory relationship changes.
Not because something has gone wrong — but because people, businesses, and circumstances don’t remain static.
In practice, there are only three directions an advisory relationship can take:
I will outgrow the client
the client will outgrow me
or we will grow together
What doesn’t work is pretending we can both stand still.
Advisory Work Is a Relationship, Not a Transaction
The most effective advisory relationships aren’t built on services alone.
They’re built on:
trust
shared pace
openness to challenge
willingness to act
As businesses evolve, those elements either deepen — or they don’t.
And that’s not a failure.
It’s a signal.
Sometimes the Adviser Outgrows the Client
This happens when:
the adviser’s thinking evolves
the client stops wanting challenge
conversations become repetitive
recommendations are acknowledged but not acted on
At that point, the value shifts from progress to maintenance.
There’s nothing wrong with maintenance — but advisory work is about movement.
When a client no longer wants to move, the relationship naturally reaches its limit.
Sometimes the Client Outgrows the Adviser
This is a positive outcome.
As businesses grow, they may need:
different expertise
deeper specialisation
more complex structures
Good advisers don’t cling to relevance.
They recognise when the next phase requires something different.
Helping a client transition well is a sign of professionalism, not weakness.
The Best Relationships Grow Together
The most rewarding advisory relationships are those where:
the business evolves
the questions change
expectations rise
thinking deepens on both sides
These relationships don’t feel static.
They feel alive.
They require:
honesty
mutual respect
a willingness to be uncomfortable at times
But they also deliver the greatest value — for both client and adviser.
Standing Still Is the Only Outcome That Doesn’t Work
The one thing that never leads to a good outcome is inertia.
When:
the business doesn’t change
decisions are deferred
conversations repeat
progress stalls
The relationship slowly loses its purpose.
Not because of conflict — but because of drift.
Growth Requires Choice on Both Sides
Advisory work only works when:
the adviser continues to develop
the client remains open to challenge
Neither can carry the relationship alone.
That’s why clarity matters.
It’s better to be honest about direction than to quietly persist without progress.
What Clients Can Expect From Me
In practical terms, this means:
I won’t keep relationships going out of habit
I won’t pretend progress is happening when it isn’t
I won’t hold on if the fit no longer makes sense
My role is to help clients move forward — not to help them stand still comfortably.
Closing
Good advisory relationships don’t last forever by default.
They last because they continue to serve a purpose.
Whether we grow together, part ways, or transition to something different, the aim is always the same: progress with integrity.