{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"143992","rtpr_id":"nPnrSgVVa-20260915","ticker":"VTMSX","exchange":"NASDAQ","all_tickers":["VTMSX"],"title":"Vanguard Survey: Advisors Embrace New Technologies, but Still Lack Time to Focus on Client Relationships","author":"PR Newswire","published_at":"2026-09-15T13:00:15.126Z","article_body":"Vanguard Survey: Advisors Embrace New Technologies, but Still Lack Time to Focus on Client Relationships\nPR Newswire\n\nVALLEY FORGE, Pa., Sept. 15, 2026\n\nVALLEY FORGE, Pa., Sept. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Financial advisors are\nincreasingly using AI and portfolio management tools to boost efficiency, but\nresults from a new Vanguard survey also reveal that many still lack the time\nto focus on what matters most for growing their business: client\nrelationships. The national survey of financial advisors found that 72% of\nadvisors wish they had more time to devote to prospecting and deepening\nexisting client relationships. The findings suggest that while the financial\nadvisor toolbox may be expanding, meaningful efficiencies remain untapped.\n\n\"Time spent with clients is the currency of growth for financial advisors,\"\nsaid Eve Cout, Head of Advisor Solutions, Financial Advisor Services,\nVanguard. \"For more than two decades, Vanguard Advisor's Alpha\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4771736-1&h=4290105372&u=https%3A%2F%2Fadvisors.vanguard.com%2Fadvisors-alpha&a=Vanguard+Advisor%27s+Alpha)\nresearch has shown that advisors create their greatest value through\nrelationship-oriented services like behavioral coaching, wealth management,\nand financial planning. Technology has the potential to create more capacity\nfor that work, helping advisors improve client outcomes while growing their\nbusiness.\"\n\nAI Adoption Is Widespread, but Its Full Potential Remains Untapped\n\nAI adoption among financial advisors continues to grow, but most firms remain\nin the early stages of implementation. Advisors primarily report using AI to\nsupport administrative tasks such as drafting emails (38%), conducting\nresearch (35%), and taking meeting notes (27%).\n\n\"Many financial advisors have only begun to scratch the surface of AI's\npotential,\" said Lauren Wilkinson, Chief Information Officer, Financial\nAdvisor Services, Vanguard. \"To fully realize the benefits of AI, firms will\nneed to evolve from using the technology to assist with tasks to using it to\nautomate them. Doing so can unlock more time for higher value work.\"\n\nFinancial advisory firms report several hurdles to broader adoption and\nautomation. Compliance and home office hesitance (37%) emerged as the leading\nbarriers preventing advisors from doing more with AI. Advisors also cited a\nlack of time to learn new capabilities (34%), limited proficiency (31%), and\nconcerns that AI would undercut their value (22%) as obstacles to more\nextensive use.\n\nAdvisors Seek Solutions That Free Up Time for More Personalized Advice\n\nBeyond AI, advisors are also turning to portfolio management solutions to\nstreamline investment implementation and build more scalable practices, with\nmodel portfolios emerging as the leading option. When evaluating these\nsolutions, advisors cite investment performance and track record (68%) as\ntheir most important consideration, followed closely by cost (51%). Yet\ndespite the growing adoption of portfolio management tools, nearly one-third\nof advisors (32%) still manage portfolios entirely on their own.\n\n\"Model portfolios help advisors get one of the things they need most: time.\nResearch suggests advisors can save more than 400 hours a year using model\nportfolios(1),\" Eve added. \"The real value isn't just the time saved; it's\nwhat advisors do with it. The best advisors use that capacity to spend more\ntime with clients, deepen relationships, and grow their practice.\"\n\nThe desire to create more human-to-human capacity reflects a broader business\nreality: relationships remain at the center of advisor growth. Advisors\nidentified referrals from existing clients as their most fruitful source of\nnew business, while investors have cited trust, personalization, and\ninvestment performance as the factors most likely to inspire a\nrecommendation(2).\n\nTogether, the findings suggest advisors are embracing technology not simply to\nimprove efficiency, but to use those efficiencies to create more time for the\nrelationship focused work that is most critical to long term practice growth\nand client success.\n\nAdvisor Survey Methodology\nThe survey of financial advisors was conducted in July 2026 through Escalent's\nCogent Beat Advisor survey instrument and included a representative sample of\n549 U.S. advisors. The research explored topics including practice growth,\nclient acquisition, technology and AI adoption, portfolio construction, and\nthe evolving needs of advisory businesses.\n\nAbout Vanguard\nFounded in 1975, Vanguard is one of the world's leading investment management\ncompanies. The firm offers investments, advice, and retirement services to\ntens of millions of individual investors around the globe—directly, through\nworkplace plans, and through financial intermediaries. Vanguard operates under\na unique, investor-owned structure where Vanguard fund shareholders own the\nfunds, which in turn own Vanguard. As such, Vanguard adheres to a simple\npurpose: To take a stand for all investors, to treat them fairly, and to give\nthem the best chance for investment success. For more information,\nvisit vanguard.com\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4771736-1&h=2663557408&u=https%3A%2F%2Finvestor.vanguard.com%2Fcorporate-portal&a=vanguard.com)\n.\n\nAll investing is subject to risk, including the possible loss of the money you\ninvest.\n\nVanguard does not, and will not, make any representations about whether a\nmodel portfolio is in the best interest of any investor; is not, and will not\nbe, responsible for the determination of whether a model portfolio is in the\nbest interests of any investor; and is not acting as an investment advisor to\nany investor. It is the investment advisor's responsibility to determine the\nappropriateness of the model portfolios, or any of the securities included\ntherein, for any client.\n\n(1) Cerulli Associates, 2023. Analyst Note: Responses are from practice\nmanagement professionals.\n(2) IARC Practice Management Research 2026. Vanguard.\n\nView original content to download\nmultimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vanguard-survey-advisors-embrace-new-technologies-but-still-lack-time-to-focus-on-client-relationships-302876004.html\n(https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vanguard-survey-advisors-embrace-new-technologies-but-still-lack-time-to-focus-on-client-relationships-302876004.html)\n\nSOURCE Vanguard\n\n\n\nFor more information, contact the Vanguard PR Hotline at 610-669-5002, vanguard_media_relations@vanguard.com or visit pressroom.vanguard.com.\n\nPhoto: \nhttps://mmx.prnewswire.com/media/MS550364/Vanguard-Logo.jpg?id=OA2941989\n\nCopyright (c) 2026 PR Newswire Association,LLC. All Rights Reserved.","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nPnrSgVVa-20260915","title":"Vanguard Survey: Advisors Embrace New Technologies, but Still Lack Time to Focus on Client Relationships","author":"PR Newswire","ticker":"VTMSX","created":"2026-09-15T13:00:15.126Z","tickers":["VTMSX"],"exchange":"NASDAQ","article_body":"Vanguard Survey: Advisors Embrace New Technologies, but Still Lack Time to Focus on Client Relationships\nPR Newswire\n\nVALLEY FORGE, Pa., Sept. 15, 2026\n\nVALLEY FORGE, Pa., Sept. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Financial advisors are\nincreasingly using AI and portfolio management tools to boost efficiency, but\nresults from a new Vanguard survey also reveal that many still lack the time\nto focus on what matters most for growing their business: client\nrelationships. The national survey of financial advisors found that 72% of\nadvisors wish they had more time to devote to prospecting and deepening\nexisting client relationships. The findings suggest that while the financial\nadvisor toolbox may be expanding, meaningful efficiencies remain untapped.\n\n\"Time spent with clients is the currency of growth for financial advisors,\"\nsaid Eve Cout, Head of Advisor Solutions, Financial Advisor Services,\nVanguard. \"For more than two decades, Vanguard Advisor's Alpha\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4771736-1&h=4290105372&u=https%3A%2F%2Fadvisors.vanguard.com%2Fadvisors-alpha&a=Vanguard+Advisor%27s+Alpha)\nresearch has shown that advisors create their greatest value through\nrelationship-oriented services like behavioral coaching, wealth management,\nand financial planning. Technology has the potential to create more capacity\nfor that work, helping advisors improve client outcomes while growing their\nbusiness.\"\n\nAI Adoption Is Widespread, but Its Full Potential Remains Untapped\n\nAI adoption among financial advisors continues to grow, but most firms remain\nin the early stages of implementation. Advisors primarily report using AI to\nsupport administrative tasks such as drafting emails (38%), conducting\nresearch (35%), and taking meeting notes (27%).\n\n\"Many financial advisors have only begun to scratch the surface of AI's\npotential,\" said Lauren Wilkinson, Chief Information Officer, Financial\nAdvisor Services, Vanguard. \"To fully realize the benefits of AI, firms will\nneed to evolve from using the technology to assist with tasks to using it to\nautomate them. Doing so can unlock more time for higher value work.\"\n\nFinancial advisory firms report several hurdles to broader adoption and\nautomation. Compliance and home office hesitance (37%) emerged as the leading\nbarriers preventing advisors from doing more with AI. Advisors also cited a\nlack of time to learn new capabilities (34%), limited proficiency (31%), and\nconcerns that AI would undercut their value (22%) as obstacles to more\nextensive use.\n\nAdvisors Seek Solutions That Free Up Time for More Personalized Advice\n\nBeyond AI, advisors are also turning to portfolio management solutions to\nstreamline investment implementation and build more scalable practices, with\nmodel portfolios emerging as the leading option. When evaluating these\nsolutions, advisors cite investment performance and track record (68%) as\ntheir most important consideration, followed closely by cost (51%). Yet\ndespite the growing adoption of portfolio management tools, nearly one-third\nof advisors (32%) still manage portfolios entirely on their own.\n\n\"Model portfolios help advisors get one of the things they need most: time.\nResearch suggests advisors can save more than 400 hours a year using model\nportfolios(1),\" Eve added. \"The real value isn't just the time saved; it's\nwhat advisors do with it. The best advisors use that capacity to spend more\ntime with clients, deepen relationships, and grow their practice.\"\n\nThe desire to create more human-to-human capacity reflects a broader business\nreality: relationships remain at the center of advisor growth. Advisors\nidentified referrals from existing clients as their most fruitful source of\nnew business, while investors have cited trust, personalization, and\ninvestment performance as the factors most likely to inspire a\nrecommendation(2).\n\nTogether, the findings suggest advisors are embracing technology not simply to\nimprove efficiency, but to use those efficiencies to create more time for the\nrelationship focused work that is most critical to long term practice growth\nand client success.\n\nAdvisor Survey Methodology\nThe survey of financial advisors was conducted in July 2026 through Escalent's\nCogent Beat Advisor survey instrument and included a representative sample of\n549 U.S. advisors. The research explored topics including practice growth,\nclient acquisition, technology and AI adoption, portfolio construction, and\nthe evolving needs of advisory businesses.\n\nAbout Vanguard\nFounded in 1975, Vanguard is one of the world's leading investment management\ncompanies. The firm offers investments, advice, and retirement services to\ntens of millions of individual investors around the globe—directly, through\nworkplace plans, and through financial intermediaries. Vanguard operates under\na unique, investor-owned structure where Vanguard fund shareholders own the\nfunds, which in turn own Vanguard. As such, Vanguard adheres to a simple\npurpose: To take a stand for all investors, to treat them fairly, and to give\nthem the best chance for investment success. For more information,\nvisit vanguard.com\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4771736-1&h=2663557408&u=https%3A%2F%2Finvestor.vanguard.com%2Fcorporate-portal&a=vanguard.com)\n.\n\nAll investing is subject to risk, including the possible loss of the money you\ninvest.\n\nVanguard does not, and will not, make any representations about whether a\nmodel portfolio is in the best interest of any investor; is not, and will not\nbe, responsible for the determination of whether a model portfolio is in the\nbest interests of any investor; and is not acting as an investment advisor to\nany investor. It is the investment advisor's responsibility to determine the\nappropriateness of the model portfolios, or any of the securities included\ntherein, for any client.\n\n(1) Cerulli Associates, 2023. Analyst Note: Responses are from practice\nmanagement professionals.\n(2) IARC Practice Management Research 2026. Vanguard.\n\nView original content to download\nmultimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vanguard-survey-advisors-embrace-new-technologies-but-still-lack-time-to-focus-on-client-relationships-302876004.html\n(https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vanguard-survey-advisors-embrace-new-technologies-but-still-lack-time-to-focus-on-client-relationships-302876004.html)\n\nSOURCE Vanguard\n\n\n\nFor more information, contact the Vanguard PR Hotline at 610-669-5002, vanguard_media_relations@vanguard.com or visit pressroom.vanguard.com.\n\nPhoto: \nhttps://mmx.prnewswire.com/media/MS550364/Vanguard-Logo.jpg?id=OA2941989\n\nCopyright (c) 2026 PR Newswire Association,LLC. All Rights Reserved."},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-09-15T13:00:15.193188253Z","server_sent_at_ms":1789477215193},"received_at":"2026-09-15T13:00:51.864Z","source_url":"https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vanguard-survey-advisors-embrace-new-technologies-but-still-lack-time-to-focus-on-client-relationships-302876004.html"},"analysis":{"id":"132818","press_release_id":"143992","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Capital Markets","sector":"Financials"},"redFlags":["Marketing/thought-leadership survey, not an issuer disclosure of fund performance or material corporate events"],"eventType":"other","narrative":"Vanguard published a national survey of 549 U.S. financial advisors finding that 72% wish they had more time for prospecting and deepening client relationships, even as technology adoption grows.\n\nAI use is widespread but early-stage: advisors mainly deploy it for drafting emails (38%), research (35%), and meeting notes (27%), with compliance and home-office hesitance (37%) cited as the leading barrier to broader automation.\n\nOn portfolio solutions, advisors rank investment performance and track record (68%) and cost (51%) as top considerations, and Vanguard cites research suggesting model portfolios can save more than 400 hours per year.\n\nThis is Vanguard thought-leadership and marketing content; it contains no fund-level performance, holdings, or strategic disclosures relevant to the VTMSX fund itself.","sentiment":"neutral","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":false,"suggestedAngle":"Suppress as marketing content -- no fund-relevant impact for VTMSX holders."},"keyFigures":{"customDimensions":{"advisors_surveyed":549,"pct_use_ai_for_research":"35%","pct_want_more_client_time":"72%","pct_top_consideration_cost":"51%","pct_use_ai_for_meeting_notes":"27%","pct_use_ai_for_email_drafting":"38%","pct_barrier_lack_time_to_learn":"34%","pct_barrier_limited_proficiency":"31%","model_portfolio_hours_saved_per_year":"more than 400 hours","pct_barrier_ai_undercut_value_concern":"22%","pct_manage_portfolios_entirely_on_own":"32%","pct_barrier_compliance_home_office_hesitance":"37%","pct_top_consideration_performance_track_record":"68%"}},"quotedText":"Time spent with clients is the currency of growth for financial advisors","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Eve Cout","role":"Head of Advisor Solutions, Financial Advisor Services, Vanguard"},{"name":"Lauren Wilkinson","role":"Chief Information Officer, Financial Advisor Services, Vanguard"}],"products":["Vanguard Advisor's Alpha","model portfolios"],"companies":[{"name":"Vanguard","relationship":"survey publisher / parent of the filer fund complex"},{"name":"Escalent","relationship":"survey research provider (Cogent Beat Advisor instrument)"},{"name":"Cerulli Associates","relationship":"cited research source"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"materialImpact":{"score":1,"reasoning":"This is a Vanguard thought-leadership survey about advisor technology adoption. It contains no fund-level performance, holdings, fee, or strategic disclosures and has no direct bearing on the VTMSX fund."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[],"primary":"VTMSX"},"globalImportance":8,"audienceRelevance":5,"eventTypeSecondary":[],"importanceComponents":{"fundImpact":"none","tickerTier":"mutual fund share class (not an operating company)","eventGravity":"thought-leadership survey / marketing content","issuerAuthored":true,"householdBrandBoost":"minor -- Vanguard is a household name, but content is not market-moving"}},"event_type":"other","event_type_secondary":null,"sentiment":"neutral","material_impact_score":1,"narrative":"Vanguard published a national survey of 549 U.S. financial advisors finding that 72% wish they had more time for prospecting and deepening client relationships, even as technology adoption grows.\n\nAI use is widespread but early-stage: advisors mainly deploy it for drafting emails (38%), research (35%), and meeting notes (27%), with compliance and home-office hesitance (37%) cited as the leading barrier to broader automation.\n\nOn portfolio solutions, advisors rank investment performance and track record (68%) and cost (51%) as top considerations, and Vanguard cites research suggesting model portfolios can save more than 400 hours per year.\n\nThis is Vanguard thought-leadership and marketing content; it contains no fund-level performance, holdings, or strategic disclosures relevant to the VTMSX fund itself.","key_figures":{"customDimensions":{"advisors_surveyed":549,"pct_use_ai_for_research":"35%","pct_want_more_client_time":"72%","pct_top_consideration_cost":"51%","pct_use_ai_for_meeting_notes":"27%","pct_use_ai_for_email_drafting":"38%","pct_barrier_lack_time_to_learn":"34%","pct_barrier_limited_proficiency":"31%","model_portfolio_hours_saved_per_year":"more than 400 hours","pct_barrier_ai_undercut_value_concern":"22%","pct_manage_portfolios_entirely_on_own":"32%","pct_barrier_compliance_home_office_hesitance":"37%","pct_top_consideration_performance_track_record":"68%"}},"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Eve Cout","role":"Head of Advisor Solutions, Financial Advisor Services, Vanguard"},{"name":"Lauren Wilkinson","role":"Chief Information Officer, Financial Advisor Services, Vanguard"}],"products":["Vanguard Advisor's Alpha","model portfolios"],"companies":[{"name":"Vanguard","relationship":"survey publisher / parent of the filer fund complex"},{"name":"Escalent","relationship":"survey research provider (Cogent Beat Advisor instrument)"},{"name":"Cerulli Associates","relationship":"cited research source"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"model_name":"glm-5.3-flash","prompt_hash":"sha256:727b4b9429a443af","schema_hash":"sha256:05005c02d9cffac9","created_at":"2026-09-15T13:03:37.286Z","global_importance":8,"audience_relevance":5,"importance_components":{"fundImpact":"none","tickerTier":"mutual fund share class (not an operating company)","eventGravity":"thought-leadership survey / marketing content","issuerAuthored":true,"householdBrandBoost":"minor -- Vanguard is a household name, but content is not market-moving"}},"durationMs":null,"modelName":"glm-5.3-flash"}}