Painter, photographer, chef, writer. These careers, which require sensitivity, creativity and skill, could fall under the umbrella of “artist.” You can add financial advisor to that list, too, says Stephanie Holmes-Winton, CEO of the Money Finder in Halifax.

“The work we choose to do with our lives is art, regardless of what industry it is in,” Holmes-Winton says. “If you have passion about what you do and want to be innovative, that is art.”

A dash of creativity can help you better serve your clients, Holmes-Winton says, and improve your bottom line. She offers the following advice on how to take an artistic approach to your practice:

> Have a message
Part of being an artist — and being an effective financial advisor — is having a well-defined purpose. For an artist, that means having a message. For an advisor, it means having a value proposition that defines what you will do for your clients.

For example, you should be able to clearly illustrate how your delivery of services is going to resonate with your clients. You and your clients will benefit in the long run if you have those thoughts formalized.

> Take a right-brained approach
One theory of psychology states that the right side of the brain deals with creative, thoughtful and intuitive issues, while the left side of the brain is used to process facts, numbers and logic. Typically, creative people are considered right-brained, while people involved in mathematical and scientific professions are considered left-brained.

But being a financial advisor doesn’t mean you have to be totally left-brained, says Holmes-Winton, who sees overarching “artistic potential” in financial services.

Consider the creative elements of your practice, such as your logo, your website, your newsletter and your social-media strategy. How can they be improved to express your purpose as an advisor and demonstrate your value to clients?

And think about the ways in which you can use stories, pictures and symbols to impart financial concepts — such as risk, retirement planning and saving — to your clients.

> Get to know the “censors”
You might see concerns about compliance as a limit to your ability to practice your craft as a financial advisor.

The reality, Holmes-Winton says, is exactly the opposite. “Compliance has no interest in making you a worse advisor,” she says. It is there to help prevent regulatory problems for you and improve your ability to serve your clients.

So, if you feel inspired to start a blog, for example, take the time to explain to your compliance department the kinds of material you intend to post. Compliance officers can help you determine which types of content are appropriate to prevent problems down the road.