Moreover, top firms managed to boost their profit margin by 10 percent on average, thanks to the assistance of this approach, while those firms that did not do so actually lost ground, their profit margin falling by 3 percent.

"In the aftermath of the recession, leading firms took offensive positions with bold and assertive decisions to achieve growth," said Gabriel Garcia, director of relationship management for Pershing Advisor Solutions. "While their competitors were making defensive choices that focused on cutbacks and reducing fees, top firms were looking ahead and making changes that would help better position their organizations during an economic recovery."

In short, they got "aggro" about their growth.

According to the Pershing report, there are three growth strategies used by the top-performing firms.

1. Maintain capacity in human capital to seize the next opportunity. 

Firms did this by:

a) Optimizing use of nonprofessional staff to maximize available advisor time, rather than hiring additional advisors. 

b) Clearly defining roles and responsibilities so that when they did hire — in accordance with long-term plans, and not because of short-term economic turmoil — they knew which needs they had to fill. 

2. Optimize technology, rather than just "buying" a solution. 

How did they accomplish this? By: 

a) Training staff in the use of what they buy. 

b) Focusing on technology that enhances efficiency and productivity. 

3. Compete on value rather than on price. 

The top firms: 

a) Knew how to demonstrate and communicate their value to clients. 

b) Knew their internal costs for services provided to each type of client.