February 25, 2026
TV Advertising for Wealth Management: How to Build Trust and Reach High-Net-Worth Clients
Table of Contents
Wealth management is built on trust. Your clients are handing over their life's work, their family's future, their legacy. That kind of relationship doesn't start with a Google ad or a cold LinkedIn message. It starts with credibility.
And nothing signals credibility quite like television.
For wealth managers focused on high-net-worth (HNW) individuals, TV advertising offers something digital channels can't: the prestige and authority that comes with appearing on a premium screen. When a prospective client with $1M+ in investable assets sees your firm on their TV, it registers differently than a banner ad ever could.
Here's the thing: TV advertising used to be reserved for the wirehouses and mega-firms with seven-figure marketing budgets. But connected TV (CTV) has changed the equation entirely. Today, you can run targeted TV ads in affluent ZIP codes starting at just $50, reaching the exact audience you want to attract.
Let's break down why TV works for wealth management, how to target HNW viewers, and what it actually costs.
Why TV Advertising Works for Wealth Managers
Wealth management is a trust-first business. Your clients aren't comparison shopping for the cheapest option. They're looking for a firm that feels established, professional, and worthy of managing multi-generational wealth. TV advertising checks all of those boxes.
The Prestige Signal
Television has a built-in authority that other advertising channels simply don't match. When someone sees your wealth management firm on TV, they associate you with the kind of brands that advertise there: financial institutions, luxury brands, established companies. That association matters enormously when you're asking someone to trust you with their estate plan, tax optimization strategy, and retirement future.
A study from TVB and Accenture found that consumers rate TV advertisers as more trustworthy and established than brands they encounter only through digital channels. For wealth managers competing against larger firms, that trust signal is invaluable.
Reaching Affluent Viewers on Streaming
Your ideal clients are watching streaming TV. According to Nielsen's The Gauge report, streaming now accounts for over 40% of total TV viewing time in the U.S. And affluent households over-index on streaming adoption. They're watching financial news on Peacock, documentaries on Hulu, and sports on ESPN+.
Connected TV lets you show up in those moments. Unlike traditional broadcast, CTV advertising delivers your message on 100+ premium networks, reaching viewers who are engaged and watching on the biggest screen in their home.
The Trust Factor for HNW Decisions
High-net-worth individuals take longer to make financial decisions. They consult with their spouse, their attorney, their CPA. They do research. TV advertising keeps your firm top-of-mind throughout that extended decision cycle in a way that a single digital touchpoint can't.
When someone is evaluating wealth managers to handle their estate planning, retirement strategy, and investment portfolio, familiarity breeds comfort. And TV builds familiarity faster than almost any other channel.
Targeting High-Net-Worth Audiences with CTV
One of the biggest advantages of CTV over traditional TV is precision targeting. You're not paying to reach everyone in a metro area. You're reaching the households that actually match your ideal client profile.
Geographic Targeting in Affluent ZIP Codes
Most wealth managers serve a specific geographic area. CTV lets you target ads down to the ZIP code level, which means you can focus your budget on the neighborhoods where HNW individuals actually live. Think gated communities, luxury developments, and established affluent suburbs.
If your firm is in Scottsdale, you're not paying to advertise across all of Phoenix. You're targeting Paradise Valley, North Scottsdale, and Arcadia, where the concentration of $1M+ households is highest.
Demographic and Behavioral Filters
Beyond geography, CTV platforms offer demographic targeting that helps you reach the right viewers:
Age: Focus on 45-70, where most HNW wealth management decisions happen
Household income: Target $150K+ households as your entry point
Homeownership: Homeowners with high property values correlate strongly with investable assets
Financial interests: Reach viewers who watch financial programming, business news, and investment content
Content Context Matters
Where your ad appears shapes how it's perceived. Running your wealth management ad during a financial documentary on a premium streaming service sends a very different message than appearing on a random free channel. CTV gives you access to networks like CNBC, Bloomberg, Fox Business, and other premium content environments where your target audience naturally spends time.
This is especially important for wealth management, where context reinforces the quality and seriousness of your firm. For a deeper look at how targeting works across connected TV, check out our guide on TV advertising for the financial industry.
What TV Advertising Costs for Wealth Managers
Let's talk numbers. Most wealth managers assume TV advertising requires a massive budget. The reality is very different with CTV.
The CPM Breakdown
CTV advertising typically costs between $15 and $35 per thousand impressions (CPM), with an average around $25. That means for every $25 you spend, your ad reaches approximately 1,000 viewers.
Here's a quick look at what different budget levels can accomplish:
For detailed pricing information, see our full breakdown of local TV advertising costs.
The Real ROI Calculation
Here's where wealth management TV advertising gets really interesting. Consider the lifetime value of a single HNW client.
A client with $2M in assets under management (AUM) at a 1% advisory fee generates $20,000 in annual revenue. Over a 10-year relationship, that's $200,000 in revenue from one client. Even at a 0.75% fee on $1M AUM, you're looking at $7,500 per year, or $75,000 over a decade.
Now compare that to your advertising spend. If a $1,000 monthly TV campaign ($12,000/year) brings in even two new HNW clients, you've generated $40,000+ in annual recurring revenue. The math works overwhelmingly in your favor.
Traditional client acquisition for wealth management often costs $3,000 to $5,000 per client through referral programs, events, and digital advertising. TV advertising at CTV price points can compete with or beat those numbers, especially when you factor in the brand-building effect that compounds over time.
Starting at $50
The good news is you don't need to commit to a large budget to test the waters. With Adwave, you can launch a TV advertising campaign starting at just $50. That's enough to see how CTV works, test your messaging with affluent audiences, and measure the response before scaling up.
What to Say in Your Wealth Management TV Ad
Your 30-second ad needs to speak directly to HNW concerns. Here are the themes that resonate most with wealth management prospects:
Lead with the pain point. "You've spent decades building your wealth. The question is: who's protecting it?" This immediately connects with the anxiety HNW individuals feel about preserving and growing what they've built.
Emphasize holistic planning. Wealth management isn't just investing. Highlight estate planning, tax optimization, charitable giving strategies, and multi-generational wealth transfer. These are the services that differentiate wealth managers from simple investment advisors.
Show stability and experience. Mention your firm's track record, credentials (CFP, CFA, CPWA), and years in business. HNW clients want to know they're working with seasoned professionals.
Include a clear next step. Whether it's a complimentary portfolio review, a retirement readiness assessment, or a family wealth consultation, give viewers a specific reason to reach out.
The best wealth management TV ads feel like a conversation, not a sales pitch. They acknowledge what's at stake and position your firm as the calm, competent partner to help manage it.
Getting Started with Adwave
Launching your first wealth management TV campaign is simpler than you'd expect. Here's how it works with Adwave:
Create your ad for free. Point Adwave to your firm's website, and the AI generates a broadcast-quality 30-second commercial in about two minutes. No production crew, no agency fees.
Set your targeting. Choose the geographic areas where your ideal HNW clients live. Focus on the affluent ZIP codes within your service area.
Set your budget. Start as low as $50 to test, then scale based on results. Most wealth managers find their sweet spot between $1,000 and $5,000 per month.
Launch on 100+ premium networks. Your ad runs across networks like NBC, Hulu, ESPN, and more. The entire process takes under 10 minutes from start to finish.
Track results. Adwave's real-time analytics dashboard shows you exactly how your campaign is performing, so you can optimize as you go.
To see the full process, visit How It Works.
If you're already running TV ads for your broader financial advisory practice, consider creating a separate campaign specifically for wealth management services. Different messaging for different service tiers lets you speak more directly to each audience.
Common Questions Answered
Is TV advertising effective for attracting high-net-worth clients? Yes, and it's particularly well-suited for wealth management. HNW individuals associate TV advertising with established, credible brands. Unlike digital ads that can feel intrusive, a well-crafted TV spot during premium content creates a positive impression that builds trust over time. The prestige factor of television aligns perfectly with the expectations of affluent clients evaluating financial firms.
How do I make sure my TV ads reach affluent viewers and not everyone? Connected TV advertising offers granular targeting that traditional TV never could. You can target specific affluent ZIP codes, filter by household income brackets ($150K+), and focus on viewers of financial and business programming. This means your budget goes toward reaching households that actually match your ideal client profile rather than being spread across the entire market.
What budget should a wealth management firm start with for TV advertising? You can start with as little as $50 to test the channel, but most wealth management firms see meaningful results in the $1,000 to $5,000 per month range. Given that a single HNW client can generate $10,000 to $20,000+ in annual fees, even a modest TV budget can deliver a strong return. Start small, measure the response, and scale based on what you learn.
How is this different from TV advertising for financial advisors in general? Wealth management advertising speaks to a more specific audience: individuals and families with $1M+ in investable assets who need holistic financial planning. While general financial advisor ads might focus on retirement savings or investment basics, wealth management TV ads should emphasize estate planning, tax optimization, multi-generational wealth transfer, and the kind of white-glove service HNW clients expect. The targeting is also more precise, focusing on affluent ZIP codes and high-income households.
Can I run different TV ads for different wealth management services? Absolutely. Many firms create separate campaigns for different service lines, like estate planning, retirement distribution strategies, or business succession planning. With Adwave, you can generate multiple ads and run them simultaneously with different targeting parameters. This lets you test which messages resonate most with your target audience.
How long before I see results from wealth management TV advertising? Wealth management has a longer sales cycle than most industries, so expect to run campaigns for at least 60 to 90 days before drawing conclusions. Brand awareness builds cumulatively, and HNW prospects may see your ad multiple times before taking action. Track both direct responses (phone calls, website visits, consultation requests) and indirect signals (increased referrals, name recognition in meetings) to measure the full impact.