The investment advisory industry has taken steps to improve diversity, but the pace of change is slow, and women and racial and ethnic minorities hold relatively few management or adviser positions, according to a study by Cerulli Associates and the Investment Adviser Association.
The study, Driving Diversity: Opportunities for Action in the RIA Marketplace, found that gender and racial/ethnicity disparities among independent and hybrid registered investment advisers remain pervasive.
Only 16% of advisers at those firms are women, while 3.8% identify as Hispanic, 2.6% as Black or African American, and 2.1% as Asian.
While 52% of respondents reported that their firm is working to increase diversity, equity and inclusion, only 35% described the efforts as having been successful.
“Our profession has a long way to go in matters of diversity, equity and inclusion,” Karen Barr, the IAA’s president and CEO, said in a release.
A new proposal could end the ban on promoting client reviews in states like California and Connecticut, giving state-registered advisors a level playing field with their SEC-registered peers.
Morningstar research data show improved retirement trajectories for self-directors and allocators placed in managed accounts.
Some in the industry say that more UBS financial advisors this year will be heading for the exits.
The Wall Street giant has blasted data middlemen as digital freeloaders, but tech firms and consumer advocates are pushing back.
Research reveals a 4% year-on-year increase in expenses that one in five Americans, including one-quarter of Gen Xers, say they have not planned for.
Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.
Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.
