As we prepare to welcome the new year, it is an ideal opportunity to reflect on your estate planning practice. Take a moment to evaluate the successes and challenges of the past year and identify any goals you did not meet. Now is the time to set new goals for your practice and yourself.

The close of the year often sparks anticipation for the possibilities ahead, including the chance to engage with new clients. Many individuals set a New Year’s resolution to initiate or revise their estate plans, and they are looking forward to connecting with an estate planning attorney. 

Keep reading to learn some helpful tips to connect with new clients and elevate your practice to new heights in 2026.

1. Set Goals for the New Year

Evaluate the goals you had set for this year and assess how many you achieved.

Examine your priorities to see if the goals you did not achieve are worth pursuing again in the new year. Ask yourself what adjustments you need to make to accomplish those goals on your next attempt. Then, set new goals for next year. If you are unsure how to create goals that are both meaningful and trackable, use the “SMART” framework: goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. Regularly review your progress at the end of each quarter to ensure you are on track to achieve your goals. 

2. Stay Connected with Referral Sources

Referrals from trusted professionals are one of the most effective ways to grow your practice and maintain a steady connection with new clients. Because these referral sources already hold their clients’ confidence, their personal recommendation naturally extends that trust to you. Strengthen your relationships with key partners such as financial advisors, accountants, insurance agents, and fellow attorneys. 

As the year comes to a close, take a moment to send a thoughtful thank-you note or small gift to express your appreciation for their referrals and ongoing support. If you want to deepen the personal connection, consider reaching out to schedule a time to meet for coffee or lunch as a gesture of gratitude and continued collaboration.

3. Plan Next Year’s Budget

Before setting your budget for the coming year, review your financial performance from the preceding year. Did you stay within your budget, or did you exceed it? Are there any unnecessary items that you could eliminate? Can you reduce your costs in categories that did not produce a good return on investment (ROI) and allocate the money toward other resources, such as hiring part-time support or investing in technology to improve your workflow or marketing efforts? 

When trying to optimize and increase profitability, think of the ROI for each budget item rather than simply reducing expenses. For example, did your investment in a new marketing venture result in more high-quality referrals from a targeted audience, or did your investment in a virtual assistant for client intake free up your time, allowing you to conduct more consultations and design meetings or attend more marketing events?

If you were over budget in certain categories, analyze why and whether those factors are likely to continue. This assessment will help you determine whether to adjust your budget by increasing investment in high-value areas and reducing others, or whether to keep your existing structure and work toward staying within its limits.

4. Determine If You Need More Help

Take time to evaluate how work is currently distributed across your team. Assess whether the current pace is sustainable or if there is a risk of burnout. Is each member optimally positioned? Is each staff member doing work that is in line with the highest and best use of their time and skill set? For example, are higher-level tasks such as marketing or legal work being sidelined for administrative duties like answering the phone? 

After reviewing roles and responsibilities, you may determine that additional support would improve efficiency and reduce stress. Hiring a part-time employee or engaging a virtual assistant can help rebalance workloads without a significant increase in overhead. Part-time staff can manage tasks that require less specialized training, while virtual assistants or contractors can take on discrete projects or ongoing administrative functions, allowing your core team to stay focused on higher-value work.

5. Create a Content Marketing Plan

In today’s digital world, effective content marketing is essential for generating leads for your practice by building trust and rapport with your audience and establishing your credibility and reputation within the community. This year, consider creating a proactive and comprehensive marketing plan that incorporates both in-person marketing opportunities and content marketing. Make sure your content is consistent, high quality, and has a unique tone and voice across all distribution channels (website, email, social media, blog, etc.).

When implemented successfully, content marketing can enhance your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts by improving your website’s ranking on search engines like Google. Value-based content (i.e., content that offers free, helpful information) can create opportunities for conversations and encourage potential new clients to engage with you as well. When thinking about developing a content plan for the new year, make sure you are employing a variety of content types, which can include the following:

• Newsletters and emails
• Blogs
• E-books, checklists, and other downloadable content
• Live and recorded webinars
• Embedded videos on your website

Determine a cadence for publishing content (weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly), and commit to publishing content consistently. Creating content can be time-consuming, but outsourcing content creation can save you time and be a worthy investment. WealthCounsel can help with your content needs through our Marketing Source subscription.

6. (Re)Connect with Valued Clients

Your current and past clients play a vital role in your success. Sending them a holiday card or small gift—or even just a quick phone call or email—to acknowledge and thank them for their support will keep you at the top of their minds. This is especially valuable as clients consider updating their estate plans in the new year or think about friends and family who may need your services.

Do not be afraid to ask your clients to tell their friends and family about the ways you and your firm can assist them, as everyone can benefit from creating a comprehensive estate plan or even reviewing their current plan. Asking for a referral can seem awkward at first, so keep it simple and sincere with a phrase like, “I enjoyed working with you and your family so much, and I am looking to connect with more clients like yourself. If you can think of anyone who wants to learn more about creating a plan for the future, could you please send them my way?”

 7. Polish Your Social Media Presence

Social media offers a powerful way to connect with both current and prospective clients by showcasing your professional values, personality, and practice in a more relatable setting. Refresh your Facebook content or consider launching an Instagram account to broaden your reach. Use features like Facebook and Instagram Stories to add a touchpoint and keep your content visible and engaging. 

A strong LinkedIn presence is also essential. It enables you to showcase your expertise, highlight your accomplishments, and connect with potential referral partners. Focus on authenticity and share what makes you and your practice unique beyond your legal skills. Photos of community involvement, speaking engagements, or team activities can help humanize your brand.

On X, you can display your knowledge by highlighting important topics or commenting on industry news. Follow reputable and relevant accounts to stay on top of news that may affect your clients. Repost stories or articles along with your expert thoughts. 

Regardless of the platform, engagement is key. Respond to comments, messages, and questions promptly to foster trust and strengthen relationships. If managing multiple channels feels overwhelming, consider hiring a social media specialist to maintain your online presence and ensure your content remains consistent and of high quality across all platforms.

8. Take Time for Yourself

While you may have ambitious goals for the new year, one of the best ways to ensure you are ready to achieve them is to slow down and take care of yourself. You will not be able to maintain and manage all of the hectic day-to-day responsibilities without also focusing on your well-being. Make sure you take time away from your desk and the office to get some fresh air and exercise, and do things that bring you joy. 

Simply taking regular stretch breaks throughout your workday or going for short walks can be beneficial. Consider time-blocking your calendar by scheduling specific times in each workday for meetings, breaks for movement and fresh air, and productivity to get work done.

Want more help with your practice goals? WealthCounsel’s Practice Success programs are designed to meet you at every stage of your law practice to help you build and grow your business, propel your marketing efforts, acquire more clients, design and improve your processes, and achieve your goals for the future.