Merger and acquisition activity in wealth management is on the rise, with 2020 seeing about 18% more deals--and about 8 times greater deal value-- than the 10-year average, according to Dealogic. 

What’s driving this consolidation, and how might it affect advisors’ ability to continue to provide personalized service to every client? Marta Norton, chief investment officer for the Americas at Morningstar Investment Management, shares her views on the pressure to consolidate, its impacts on personalization, as well as some advice on using technology to personalize portfolios for clients.

Will Consolidation Destroy Personalization for Financial Advisors?

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The evolution of financial advice in a few decades time has been nothing short of revolutionary. The industry's transformation has been driven by technological advancements, regulatory changes and evolving investor preferences. Traditional methods of in-person advice have been expanded to include digital platforms, providing investors with greater accessibility and customization. And we've all observed an evolution in financial planning journeys and an increase in the number of advisors making financial planning core to their value proposition. But we still have to ask, is there room for improvement?

Lifetime Financial Advice: Enhanced Personalization by Considering Human Capital

Much of the discussion around financial advice tends to be around asset allocation, product selection, and fund structures. These are all worthy conversations and topics we’ve enjoyed discussing previously on this show. But one topic that feels underexplored: how do advisors deliver financial advice to clients across generations? A retired client in their 70s needs a much different advice offering than a 40-year-old client in their prime work years. In this episode, we are diving into the fascinating intergenerational dynamics of financial advice.

Baby Boomers to Millennials: Working Across Generations to Help Them Achieve Financial Goals

The Magnificent Seven continue to capture the attention of advisors and investors, dominating U.S. equity performance over the last year. Will this trend continue throughout 2024? Will growth stocks continue to beat value? What about large versus small? And what is 2023's signal about where markets are headed this year? We're delighted to be joined by John Owens, Senior Portfolio Manager for Morningstar's Select Equity Strategies, and Paul Tait, Portfolio Specialist at Morningstar Wealth. Together, they help unpack the landscape for U.S. stocks in a digestible manner.

U.S. Stocks: Beyond the Magnificent Seven

The topics we're discussing today align with the recent release of Morningstar Wealth's 2024 Market Outlook.

A recession seemed to be the consensus view entering the year, but markets love to fool the masses, and a stock market rally followed. However, the rally was not evenly distributed. Bonds, for example, remain in a multi-year drawdown, and many investors are questioning their role in a portfolio. With this as the backdrop, what actions make sense to support clients? 

In today's episode, we're delighted to have Morningstar Wealth's CIO of the Americas, Marta Norton, and Chief U.S. Economist, Preston Caldwell with us to dig into the outlook, share their perspectives, and, as always, be sure to address the implications on client portfolios and any suggested actions to take

2024 Outlook: Economy, Inflation, Best Ideas, and AI

A lot has already been said about the potential of artificial intelligence, or AI, but how are people actually engaging with it? And how should investors think about their AI exposure in a portfolio? Morningstar has invested heavily in generative AI, with Morningstar Mo taking the stage at our investment conference, and in a first, we're delighted to be joined by a special guest: Mo the AI character. We’ll also be joined by Adley Bowden, Head of Individual Investor and Grady Burkett, Portfolio Manager of the Hare strategy. This marks the start of a new season of Simple But Not Easy, with Nick VanDerSchie taking the mic from Jonathan Linstra, whom we thank for his fabulous insights. Together, let's turn AI speculation into real-world application.

Will Consolidation Destroy Personalization for Financial Advisors?

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