Your Strategic Plan Deserves More Than a Slide Deck

Make 2026 a Growth Year By Starting with the Right Conversations in Q4

Another year. Another planning session. The leadership team gets together. Someone throws last year’s goals on the screen. A few updates. A few vague initiatives.

And just like that . . . “strategy” is done.

If that sounds familiar, you are not alone. For many middle-market firms, strategic planning has become more of a habit than a high-impact business function.

But here’s the hard truth:

A strategy you don’t use is just an expensive opinion.

In today’s market—where private equity is consolidating, accounting firms are repositioning, wealth advisors are becoming exit planners, and consulting shops are being pushed to differentiate—you can’t afford to wing it.

This isn’t the year for rinse-and-repeat planning. It’s the year for clarity, alignment, and action.

The Slide Deck Problem

Most strategic plans fail before they even start—not because they’re bad ideas, but because they were built the wrong way.

Too often, strategy gets reduced to a 20-slide presentation that hits these beats:

• Lofty vision
• Generic goals
• A few KPIs
• A “next steps” slide that nobody follows

What’s missing is the real work— the deep, uncomfortable conversations about what’s not working, what has to change, and what your firm actually wants to become. Without that, the plan becomes something to reference when leadership asks, “Do we have a strategy?”

But in practice? It collects digital dust.

The Stakes: What Happens When You Don’t Plan with Purpose

Let’s call it what it is: Strategy drift is expensive.

Here’s what it looks like:

1. Leadership misalignment – Everyone thinks they’re on the same page. Until Q1 hits.
2. Random acts of marketing – Campaigns are disconnected from business goals.
3. Missed positioning opportunities – You play catch-up while competitors reposition and pull ahead.
4. Stalled internal momentum – The team can’t execute a plan they don’t understand or believe in.

Without clear direction and buy-in, even the best firms start treading water.

What Real Strategic Planning Feels Like

Strategic planning done right is energizing. It unifies leadership, ignites fresh thinking, and sets the tone of accountability.

Here’s what it sounds like behind closed doors:

“Why are we still offering this service?”
“What are we really known for?”
“Who are we not known for anymore?”
“What opportunities are we chasing that we shouldn’t be?”
“What would it take to grow 30% smarter—not just 30% more?”

Real strategy is uncomfortable, and that’s what makes it effective.

At Hollinden, we design strategic planning experiences that move your leadership team beyond status quo thinking. We help firms have the conversations they’ve been avoiding, and turn them into direction, messaging, and momentum.

Q&A: Why bring in an Outside Facilitator?

Q: Can’t we just lead the session ourselves?
A: You can. But you’ll likely fall into old patterns, limit candor, and slow decision-making. Facilitation isn’t about control; it’s about creating space for clarity.

Q: What’s the value of having Hollinden in the room?
A: We bring structure, tough questions, and market perspective. And because we understand the financial services space, we help you tie your plan to actual growth levers, like positioning, marketing, and BD alignment.

Q: Will this just result in another playbook we don’t follow?
A: Not on our watch. Our planning engagements don’t end with a binder—they end with buy-in and a roadmap tied directly to your business and brand strategy.

The Hollinden Approach: Strategy That Sticks

Unlike consultants who hand you a framework and walk away, Hollinden works at the intersection of strategic clarity and brand activation.

We help firms:

• Facilitate firm-wide strategic planning sessions that uncover truth and drive alignment
• Translate business goals into brand and marketing strategies
• Connect your messaging to your momentum—internally and externally

Our clients walk away with more than a plan.
They walk away with conviction and a team that’s ready to execute.

Ready to Lead From the Front?

The best firms aren’t reacting in Q1. They’re already executing.

You don’t need another meeting. You need a catalyst. A reset. A plan that your team can believe in and act on.

Don’t let your 2026 strategy die in a deck. Let’s build something that drives results.

Schedule a Strategy Session

Or reach out to talk about how Hollinden can guide your next move. 

Bonus: 5 Red Flags Your Strategic Planning Needs a Reset

1. Strategy is talked about once a year… and never again.
2. You have growth goals, but no brand narrative to support them.
3. Your leadership team isn’t aligned on your firm’s core focus.
4. Your marketing feels reactive.
5. You’re chasing more, not better.

If any of these feel familiar, let’s talk. Strategic planning is what we do—and we’re damn good at it.