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
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.
Why it works:
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.).
Suggested amount: $25–$50
Why this works well during the holidays:
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:
Why it’s effective:
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:
These types of gifts feel holiday-specific, useful, and thoughtful and they avoid the generic “branded swag” feel.
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:
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.