Advisors Gain Time, Clients and Growth Through Outsourcing, AssetMark Study Finds

Investment management outsourcing is becoming an increasingly important driver of advisory firm growth, with advisors reporting stronger client retention, greater capacity to serve high-net-worth households and more time to focus on financial planning and relationship management, according to AssetMark’s fourth Impact of Outsourcing Study.

The research, conducted by market research consultancy 8 Acre Perspective, surveyed 745 financial advisors during March and April 2026. Among advisors who outsource investment management for at least 20% of client assets, nearly all said the strategy met or exceeded their expectations.

Those advisors reported saving an average of 9.1 hours per week, while 92% said outsourcing improved client retention and 86% reported a greater ability to attract and serve high-net-worth clients.

“As wealth moves across generations, advisors need to understand the goals and expectations of not just one client, but entire families,” said Michael Kim, president and CEO of AssetMark. “Outsourcing allows advisors to devote more time to those conversations while leveraging broader investment capabilities.”

The study found client relationship outcomes improved across every category measured compared with 2024, including referrals, client retention and service to affluent investors. Advisors who outsourced a larger share of assets also reported stronger business results, with those outsourcing nearly all client assets realizing almost three times the average weekly time savings of advisors outsourcing less than 20%.

Beyond efficiency, advisors said outsourcing enhanced portfolio oversight, expanded access to specialized investment products and improved their ability to incorporate strategies outside their core expertise.

Founded in 1996, AssetMark serves more than 10,000 financial advisors and 340,000 investor households, with more than $180 billion in platform assets as of June 30, 2026.