Advisors Continue Shift To Fee-Based Models Amid Industry Pressures

Advisors are turning to annuities, using tactical asset allocation and continuing to move to fee-based business models, as they cope with the effects that the sluggish economic climate is having on their practices, according to findings from the latest Russell’s Financial Professional Outlook.

About 45% of advisors are responding to decreased margins and increased investor risk aversion by moving transactional clients to fee-based accounts, according to Russell Investments. That falls in line with a general industry shift toward fee-based accounts that began several years ago, according to Phill Rogerson, managing director of consulting and client service for Russell Investments.

Given that some advisors had begun replacing lost business by shifting to transactional models, researchers were surprised that the move toward fee-based models sustained momentum during the market downturn, he said. 

According to the survey, which was released last week, 39% of advisors are selling more annuities, in a response to customer demand for products guaranteed income products. Also, 26% of advisors are using new methods for prospecting for clients. The investment research firm polled 348 financial advisors at brokerage firms, insurance companies and registered investment advisory firms this summer.

In terms of investment management, Russell found that 85% of respondents said they are using tactical asset allocation to diversify clients’ portfolios, and 27% of them are using it extensively. Rogerson said the tactical approach entails a certain amount of risk. 

“These should be employed with caution and a skeptical eye toward the research information,” being used in the strategy, he said. Despite the shift, strategic asset allocation remains the most frequently used strategy for diversifying clients’ portfolios, as 90% of advisors stick with that method, and 35% of respondents said they do so frequently.

“What was striking … was just how much advisors are working to deal with an exceedingly jittery client base,” Rogerson said. What’s more, exactly half of advisors surveyed for the quarterly study said they would actually like to have fewer clients, possibly allowing them to work more efficiently.

On average, these advisors have 392 clients, and would like to reduce that to an average of 211.  Overall, survey respondents said they would prefer between 210 and 240 clients. Basically, keeping clients engaged and rooted in a sensible financial plan takes more effort now than it ever has for many advisors.

“Advisors now are very realistically assessing their client strategies and client service structures,” Rogerson said.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
Investment products Annuities
MORE FROM FINANCIAL PLANNING