1. Become an expert at clearly articulating your value, and define your clientele

If the client knows exactly what skill set you have to offer, you are automatically differentiated from online platforms. Personal service, then, becomes sort of a white-glove premium. "Articulating value comes down to effectively communicating how you are going to solve your prospects' problems, significantly improve the status quo or handle the parts of their financial lives they choose not to," the authors write. 

By having a clearly defined client profile, you're able to tailor the services you provide. The authors say that by not defining your audience, you open up the door for lower-cost robo-advisors to sweep in and steal your clients.  

2. Specialize, and make your specialty known

According to a Cerulli study, only 15% of advisors are specialists, and you can use that low percentage to your advantage. Robo-advisors can't compete (yet) with advisors who specialize in categories like alternatives, complex fixed income and exchange-traded funds.  Becoming an expert in a certain field, you incerease the chance that clients seeking specific expertise will proactively seek you out.  

3. Add other areas of financial advice by enhancing the investment management services you provide

Providing additional areas of advice to your target audience means adding more value. These areas should make the lives of your clients easier by assisting them with their problems or with making certain decisions, the Fox paper explains. The bottom line? The more your expertise is valued, the more your service is worth. 

4. Embrace social media

Many advisors have not caught up with the social media trend. This might seem odd since almost every person and business has gone digital, but this is a marketplace that many advisors forget about. Even if you're not social media inclined, the Fox report suggests makine small changes such as tying in your LinkedIn profile with your website or blog. "Speak in your own voice and let your business and planning philosophies shine through in your writing. If you don't have time to write your own content, outsource that job," the report said.  "It is one of the highest return on investments you can make because the majority of all worthy prospects will go online to research an advisor they are considering doing business with." 

5. Deliver 70+ touches per year, and use technology to facilitate them

In order to remain relevant and be remembered, these touches are very important. Set up reminders to use email alerts, cards, newsletters or calls. This is one way that the use of one technology can be an asset to utilizing another.  

6. Lower your AUM fees and add an annual retainer

It's inevitable that most advisors will have to lower their AUM fees in order to compete with other firms. "You may know your value is there, but it is not transparent to your client in a bundled AUM fee," the authors write. They suggest setting lower AUM fees and then charging the investor an annual retainer fee. This fee will help to compensate the advisors for other wealth management services they provide. Another benefit of adding this retainer is that it will help even out the cash flow during time periods when securities markets are declining. 

7. Hold one social and one educational event each year

Hosting social events will help you further develop your relationship with clients, and they are a good way to network with other potential clients. Host an interactive event, such as a cooking class or a wine tasting; just make sure that the event caters to the interests of your clients. Educational events are always important, too, as they can provide your clients with knowledge and advice and they'll start to see you as a source of expert information.

8. Work with a robo that offers services for advisors

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right? Robos provide cutting-edge technology that can automate many aspects of investment management. It would only make sense that advisors leverage that technology. These tools might be useful for client assets invested in passive portfolios.

But remember that due diligence needs to be done in order to find the best fit for your firm. It's also important that you communicate with your clients your importance in monitoring changes and positioning weighting and leverage — the robos can't replace the human touch.  

9. Don't forget Gen X and Y

The Fox report estimates that $30 trillion will be transferred from baby boomers to the next generations starting in the next 30 to 40 years. Advisors should start paying attention to Generation X investors. Many shy away from this group because of their smaller portfolios, but Fox believes this is a huge mistake. Gen Xers are also more likely to be tech-savvy and be comfortable working in an online environment.

Firms should hire advisors from Gen X and Y, too. These younger advisors could help the firm lure and understand younger clients, and could help get the firm up to speed with the newest technology (for example, a robo-advisor's online advisor platform). 

10. Create incentives to put clients first

The Fox plan suggests that you should put clients first and then build your business model, strategy and employee strategies around them. "Instead of raising everyone's base salaries over time, consider paying a fair salary with an incentive plan with measurable benchmarks layered on top," the authors wrote. "This provides each person with the potential to earn well above their previous salary level by helping your firm grow and increase profit margins." Incentives should be based on how well an employee can satisfy clients in their assigned roles.