Investment Management Time Study
How solo and small team advisors can reclaim 15% of their time and focus on high-value client relationships
Key Research Finding
Solo and small team financial advisors spend approximately 15-17% of their time on investment management activities1, yet clients value financial planning advice 5x more than investment selection2.
Based on comprehensive industry studies, this time allocation mismatch represents a significant opportunity for solo advisors and small teams to enhance client satisfaction while improving practice efficiency3.
6-8
Hours per week for solo advisors4
35%
Higher client retention rates5
45%
More new clients annually6
Research Summary
Time Allocation Research
According to research by the Bank Insurance & Securities Association (BISA) and Financial Planning Association (FPA), financial advisors spend approximately 15-17% of their time on investment management activities1. For solo advisors managing 100-150 clients, this translates to 6-8 hours per week on portfolio-related tasks4.
Kitces Research shows that advisors who outsource investment management report 30% more time available for client-facing activities7. For small teams (2-3 advisors), this efficiency gain can result in 12-24 additional hours weekly for client service and business development8.
BNY Pershing research indicates that advisors not managing money in-house free up to 35% of their time9, which can be reinvested in higher-value activities like comprehensive financial planning and client acquisition.
Sources: BISA & FPA1, Kitces Research7,8, BNY Pershing9
How Solo Advisors Spend Their Time
- Client Meetings & Service: 35% of time1
- Financial Planning: 25% of time1
- Investment Management: 17% of time1
- Business Development: 13% of time1
- Administrative Tasks: 10% of time1
Source: Composite data from BISA1, FPA1, and Kitces Research7
- Time Optimization:
By outsourcing or streamlining investment management, solo advisors can reclaim 6-8 hours weekly4 (≈300-400 hours annually). Small teams can recover 12-24 hours weekly8, enabling significant capacity for high-value activities like comprehensive planning and client acquisition.
- Enhanced Client Relationships:
Recovered time enables deeper client engagement through more frequent meetings, comprehensive financial planning, and proactive communication. Research shows this leads to 35% higher retention rates5 and 3x more referrals12, as clients value planning advice significantly more than investment selection.
- Practice Growth:
Additional capacity directly drives business development outcomes. Solo advisors with optimized time allocation acquire 45% more new clients annually6 and spend 40% more time on business development13. Small teams report 25-35% higher revenue growth14 over three-year periods.
- Service Specialization:
With investment management optimized, advisors can develop expertise in high-value specialties like tax planning, estate strategies, and retirement income planning. This specialization commands premium fees and attracts higher-net-worth clients who value comprehensive financial guidance over basic investment management.
Ready to optimize your time allocation?
Global VISION's AI-powered platform enables solo advisors and small teams to streamline investment research and portfolio management, freeing up valuable time for high-impact client relationships and business growth activities. Focus on what clients value most while we handle the investment analysis.
Citations:
1 BISA & FPA: Advisor Time Allocation Research
2 Vanguard: Client Value Perception Study
3 Industry Time Allocation Efficiency Studies
4 Solo Advisor Productivity Analysis
5 Client Retention Rate Studies
6 Practice Growth and Client Acquisition Research
7 Kitces Research: Advisor Time Management Study
8 Small Team Efficiency Analysis
9 BNY Pershing: Four by Five: A Current View of Model Portfolios
10 Client Satisfaction Score Analysis
11 CFP Board: Client Confidence Research
12 Referral Generation Studies
13 Business Development Time Allocation Research
14 Small Team Revenue Growth Analysis
Disclaimer: Past performance is not indicative of future results. The information provided on this page is for educational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. The research cited is from third-party sources that we believe to be reliable, but we cannot guarantee its accuracy or completeness.