Independent financial advisors consider growing their business their biggest challenge in 2024, and they believe that robust technology, coupled with multiple custodial relationships, will drive firm growth, according to a recent survey by Interactive Brokers.
Advisors in the survey by the automated global electronic broker said they believe that technology, and specifically automation, can transform their work with clients, with 79% agreeing that automation will give them more time to cultivate client relationships.
Sixty percent said automated processes enable new team members to get up to speed faster, and 58% said automation in account management reduces overhead costs.
"Advisors want robust technology that keeps costs low so they can manage their firms the way they want — this is why we've leaned into automation since the beginning and it's why others are now doing the same," Steven Sanders, executive vice president of marketing and product development at Interactive Brokers, said in a statement.
In particular, advisors are asking for more automation in the tools they use to manage client accounts. Two-thirds of respondents said they want more automation in the new account opening and client onboarding process.
Advisors also said client reporting and portfolio management could benefit from increased automation.
Interactive Brokers conducted a global email survey in April and received completed responses from 100 fee-based, independent advisors with an average of 24 years of experience and $72 million in assets under management. One-fifth of the sample reported managing an average of $278 million in client assets.
Multiple Custodians
Using multiple custodians makes good business sense for advisors, the survey results showed. Respondents said client preference is the main reason they go the multi-custodial route. They also cited service availability and diversity in investment product offerings as reasons they use more than one custodian.
