Not sticking to a budget, for example, can prevent clients from having funds to pay down debt or to increase their retirement plan deferrals. In a similar manner, clients who fail to follow up on plans to revamp their insurance portfolio may continue to face the risk of not having replacement income in the event that they become disabled. Or, they may leave loved ones with insufficient savings if they die.

Meaningful resolutions, of course, are difficult to stick with because they entail making changes, which by definition is usually hard. Yet, advisors can strengthen their book of businesses by helping their clients stick with their resolutions. Here are a few suggestions that advisor can offer to clients.

• Reward yourself. The worn out cliché that people who are engage in work and no play are boring and not much fun has a lot of truth to it. With that in mind, New Year’s resolutions should provide some provisions for individuals to give themselves rewards for their hard work. Budgets, for example, could include an allocation for going out to eat at a nice restaurant under the condition that the savings plan is followed. Similar rewards could also be planned for other goals, such as completing a revamp of an insurance portfolio, increasing retirement plan deferrals, or paying down credit card debt.

•Find peer support. Exercise enthusiasts know that having a workout buddy can go a long way in improving their motivation and gym attendance. Sometimes, peer pressure can be a good thing. The same is true with finances. Indeed, advisors may want to encourage their clients to seek out a trusted friend—or even a spouse—to discuss financial goals and to help provide support during the year. Hearing a supportive friend express encouragement for a goal, of course, can go a long way in helping someone stick with a financial program.

• Keep the end goal in sight.s take a look at how you are doing with your investments and savings rates to seek if you are on track to reaching that goal. Such meetings are also a good time to chart progress, which can give clients a sense of gratification and help them continue to stick with their goals.

• Don’t forget small thing. Clients can also take small measures to help them stay motivated. Simple things like leaving a note on a kitchen appliance or home bulletin board that says something positive about an individual’s financial decisions or shows progress being made can motivating by being self affirming and uplifting. You may want to encourage clients to adopt such measures.