By Chen Deng · Founder, LAMOSE · Calgary, Alberta
Somewhere on your desk right now is last year's client gift, still half in the gift-basket cellophane, because nobody eats a $70 fruit tower in one sitting. The recipient remembers the size of the gesture, not the gesture itself. That's the actual problem your next client-gift order needs to solve, and most advisor gift guides online are answering the wrong question anyway.
The short answer: FINRA raised its client gift limit from $100 to $300 a year, effective March 30, 2026. Most gift guides you'll find are still quoting the old number. That extra room means you can afford something with real weight instead of a $19 branded mug. Skip the firm-logo swag. Engrave the client's name, not yours, on something they'll use daily and actually keep. A $35-45 tumbler clears the new limit with room to spare and reads as thoughtful, not compliance-minimum.
The number changed and most gift content hasn't caught up
FINRA Rule 3220 capped non-cash client gifts at $100 a year, per recipient, since 1992. The SEC approved FINRA's amendment raising that to $300, effective March 30, 2026. Search "financial advisor client gifts" right now and most of what ranks (advisor blogs, gift-basket sites, gifting-service curators) still cites $100, because it was written before March. That's not a small gap. It's the difference between a safe, forgettable mug and something actually worth giving.
The rule still applies to gifts connected to the recipient's employer or business relationship, not cash or cash equivalents. Check your own firm's compliance policy before you order, since some firms set a stricter internal limit than FINRA's floor. But the ceiling moved, and what fits under it moved with it.
What actually works vs. what's easy to order
| Option | Typical cost | What it actually says | Room under $300 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Branded tumbler with your firm's logo | $35-55 | "We're a firm that gives out swag" | Yes |
| Gourmet gift basket or wine | $60-120 | Generic, forgotten by January | Yes, but tight across a full client list |
| Gift card | $25-100 | Convenient, but a cash equivalent, check compliance first | Not a cost problem, a compliance one |
| Engraved tumbler with the client's name | $35-45 | "I know who you are, specifically" | Yes, with room to spare |
The logo option isn't wrong, exactly. It's just aimed at the wrong person. A gift with your firm's mark on it is marketing wearing a bow. A gift with the client's own name on it is the only kind that says the relationship, not the account, is what you're marking.
Three ways to do it, by client type
We laser-engrave stainless steel in Calgary, and engraving is free on every order: a name, initials, a closing date, whatever fits the relationship.
- Grouse 16 oz, $35. Wide-mouth, flip lid, six hours hot, twelve cold. The desk client, the one whose office you've been in, who'll set this next to their monitor.
- Robson 21 oz, $40. Narrow-mouth sport cap, twelve hours hot, twenty-four cold, fits a car cup holder. For the client who's commuting or traveling more than they're at a desk.
- Hudson Pro Max 24 oz, $40. Slide lid, bigger pour, built for someone who goes through more coffee than the 16 oz covers.
All three are 18/8 stainless, and all sit well under $300 with meaningful room left, which matters if you're also budgeting for referral gifts or a gift for an assistant the same season.
Get a quote for engraved client gifts
Tell us the count and the timeline. We engrave each name individually in our Calgary workshop, free on every order.
Order timing
Engraving takes real production time. If this is for a December client-gift round, order by mid-November, earlier if you're placing more than a dozen and want every name confirmed and spelled right before it goes to the laser.
Frequently asked questions
What is the FINRA gift limit for financial advisors?
$300 per recipient per year as of March 30, 2026, up from the $100 limit that had been in place since 1992. It applies to non-cash gifts connected to the recipient's business relationship. Check your own firm's compliance policy, since some set a lower internal cap.
Can financial advisors give clients cash or gift cards?
Generally no. Cash and cash equivalents, including most gift cards, fall outside what the Gifts Rule allows, regardless of the dollar limit. A physical item is the safer default.
Are logo-branded gifts a good client gift?
They're common, not necessarily good. A firm logo says the gift is about your business. A client's own name, engraved, says the gift is about the specific relationship. That's the difference between a gift they keep and a gift they re-gift.
How much should I actually spend, if the limit is $300?
Don't spend to the ceiling by default. A $35-45 engraved tumbler reads as more thoughtful than a $150 basket, because the thought is in the personalization, not the price tag. Save the higher end of your budget for milestone clients specifically, not everyone on the list.
Chen Deng founded LAMOSE in 2017. The workshop laser-engraves custom tumblers and bottles in Calgary, Alberta, one client list at a time.
Engraved Client Gifts, Done Right
Bulk pricing, individual name engraving, and a Calgary workshop that hits December deadlines. Built for advisor and firm client lists.
Corporate Gifting → Shop Gift Collection
Share:
Best Man Gift Ideas They'll Actually Keep
Insurance Agency Client Gifts: What the Rebating Laws Actually Allow