Advisors who aspire to grow their businesses often ask me what those at the top of the production chain are doing that makes them so successful. My answer? Top advisors are "focus in motion."

What do I mean by this? Here, I’ll explore some of the key characteristics of top advisors and ways you can put their ideas to work as your practice evolves.

Recently, a friend of mine decided to sit down and talk with his son about the dangers of smoking. He detailed the health risks and the social stigmas. He told his son that he didn't want him to ever start smoking. Feeling satisfied with himself, he asked his son if he had any thoughts. The teen just shook his head and said, "Dad, don't worry. I quit smoking ages ago."

After much consideration, you've decided to bring on a new advisor to your advisory business. You've spent many hours assessing your firm's needs, conducting interviews, and selecting the best candidate. But your work isn't done quite yet.

If retirement is somewhere on the horizon for you, you're probably trying to identify the right successor for your advisory business. You may consider naming a seasoned advisor who can take the reins immediately when the right time comes. Another option is hiring a junior advisor who can learn from you for several years before taking over. He or she can provide continuity of service and long-term stability for your business and clients before, during, and after the succession process.

Having more clients is great. But it also means more work—more review meetings, transfers, portfolio rebalances—as well as more staff members and advisors to manage. To overcome these challenges, financial advisors can improve operational efficiency and their bottom line—all by increasing scale.