Two-thirds of financial advisors have lost business from clients or prospects because of outdated wealth management technology, according to survey results released Tuesday by Advisor360°, a provider of integrated technology for broker-dealers and other wealth managers.
Fifty-eight percent of survey participants classified their technology as modern, but only 3% described it as integrated and innovative. The remaining 39% admit they need a technological upgrade.
Respondents who said they have modern technology were 50% more likely to report growth in new client assets and had a 33% better chance of getting client referrals compared with those who said their technology needs an upgrade.
"Technology can be a game changer for advisors who want to grow their business," Richard Hart, senior vice president of corporate development at Advisor360°, said in a statement. "Firms that can't innovate to today's standards or don't stack up to peers are leaving money on the table."
More than half of advisors who reported losing business because their wealth management technology did not meet expectations said this has happened with prospects. The remainder said they had lost business from existing clients.
Coleman Parkes Research conducted the survey in September among 300 financial advisors and executives at large broker-dealers, RIAs and bank trust companies across the U.S. with more than $5 billion in assets under management and more than 1,000 employees on average.
Gaps in Current Wealth Technology
The survey findings indicate that firms need to assess how well their existing technology enables advisors to work with clients, as 53% of respondents said their technology is an extension of their practice. Three in 10 advisors said their current technology holds them back when it comes to new business.
Still, 67% of those surveyed gave their existing wealth management platforms high marks for enabling them to focus on their most important clients, and 63% said the same about delivery of robust financial planning advice.
