Holiday Events Financial Advisors Can Actually Do Before the End of the Year

The holidays arrive fast—and for many financial advisors, it’s already a sprint. Between client meetings, planning season, and year-end follow-ups, the idea of planning client “gifts” or events can feel impossible.

But here’s the good news: meaningful holiday touch points don’t require huge budgets or months of preparation. Even within FINRA’s $100 per-person gifting limit, you can still create experiences that feel personal, thoughtful, and timely.

Below are simple, holiday-ready ideas you can execute quickly, affordably, and (importantly) compliantly before the year wraps.

Looking for more ideas to use throughout the year? Check out our blog How to Stretch the FINRA $100 Gifts, Gratuities and Non-Cash Compensation

1. Host a Holiday-Themed Virtual Event (Fast + Memorable)

If you want something engaging that doesn’t require booking a venue, a virtual event is one of the fastest holiday activations.

A great option:

Virtual Flower-Arranging or Holiday Floral Workshop

Petal+Eon ship preserved-flower kits directly to each participant and Confetti offers a Holiday Wealth - both host a class live over Zoom.

👉 Petal+Eon

👉 Confetti 

Why it works:

• Easy invites: email or text.
• Client Appreciation Event = Quick compliance approval.
• Under $100 per person.
• Zero travel, zero logistics, high engagement.
• Creates a shared moment you can reference later.

2. Send a Digital Gift Card (Simple, Fast, Personalized)

When time is tight, digital gift cards are the most efficient holiday touchpoint but still feel personal when paired with a warm message.

Try a platform like Giftogram, which lets clients choose the brand they want most (Amazon, Target, restaurants, etc.).

👉 Giftogram.com

Suggested amount: $25–$50

Why this works well during the holidays:

• Delivered instantly (no shipping deadlines to worry about).
• Clients can pick something festive: coffee, books, treats, or gifts for family.
• Well under the FINRA limit.
  

3. Host a Small Holiday Lunch or Coffee Meetup

Holiday dinners can get expensive fast. Instead, consider hosting a casual group lunch or coffee meetup for local clients or referral partners.

Ways to keep it under the limit:

• Choose a café or lunch restaurant where the per-person spend is predictable.
• Invite a wholesaler to co-host or support. 
• Keep it small and conversational for a warm year-end feel.

Why it’s effective:

• Clients appreciate the connection this time of year.
• Group settings create networking moments clients remember.
• Easier to schedule than evening events in a busy season.

4. Send a Holiday Experience-in-a-Box

A small experiential kit feels festive and fun. Perfect for clients who enjoy hands-on gifts or family activities. 

Ideas that fit the $100 cap:

• DIY ornament or holiday craft kits 
• Hot-chocolate or holiday treat boxes
• Mini wreath-making kits
• Small baking kits for families 

These types of gifts feel holiday-specific, useful, and thoughtful and they avoid the generic “branded swag” feel.

5. Pie Pickup

One of the easiest, most personal holiday touch points you can execute is a holiday pie pickup event. It’s simple to organize, low cost, and delivers a warm, memorable experience your clients genuinely appreciate.

How it works:
Send a short email to your clients inviting them to stop by your office during a 2–3 hour pickup window. Let them know you’ll have pies, coffee, and juice ready for them to grab on their way to work, during lunch, or after school pickups.

All you need:

• A selection of holiday pies (pumpkin, apple, pecan—keep it classic)

• Coffee + cider or juice

• A small welcome table or lobby setup

• Quick “hello!” moments as clients come through

It’s festive, efficient, and easy to pull together in just a few days.

The Bottom Line

Year-end connection doesn’t need to be complicated. These ideas are:

• Holiday-specific
• Easy to execute last-minute
• Personalized and memorable
• Compliant under FINRA’s $100 limit

Whether you want to host a holiday virtual workshop, send digital gift cards, or gather clients for a warm seasonal lunch, there’s still plenty of time to create meaningful touch points before the year wraps. 

If you’d like help planning or promoting one of these holiday ideas, we’re happy to support your year-end efforts.