Increasing the number of referrals they receive from current clients is the No. 1 goal for 2014 for financial advisors, according to a survey by SEI released Monday.

SEI, a global provider of asset management, investment processing and investment operations solutions for institutional and personal wealth management based in Oaks, Pa., found that 85 percent of advisors polled want to increase their referrals next year.

The survey asked 800 financial advisors to pick their top five resolutions for the New Year. The second resolution, chosen by 67 percent of respondents, is to systematize internal processes to increase efficiency. Integrating technology to increase efficiency and meeting new centers of influence tied for third at 59 percent each. Rounding out the top goals were being more selective of new clients at 48 percent and finding more prospects through social media (31 percent).

The survey also shows that an overwhelming majority of advisors are optimistic about 2014, with more than two-thirds of respondents describing their mind sets as cautiously optimistic, while another 18 percent say they are excited about the future.

“2013 was a very good year for many advisor firms and the resolutions show they are thinking about building on their successes,” says John Anderson, head of practice management for SEI Advisor Network.

When asked to predict where the Dow Jones Industrial Average will be a year from now, 87 percent say they believe it will be higher than it is today. Fifty-five percent predict it will be between 16,500 and 17,500; 21 percent predict the Dow will be between 16,000 and 16,500; and 10 percent predict it will be above 17,500. Only 13 percent believe it will be below 16,000, the survey says.  
 
The advisors’ chief concern for the New Year is a potential market pullback (41 percent), while 24 percent say tapering concerns them and 15 percent say tax increases.