---
title: Advisor Use of Model Portfolios and SMAs
description: Get data-driven insights into how and why financial advisors use model portfolios and SMAs to better serve clients and scale their practices.
---

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# Advisor Use of Model Portfolios and SMAs

 Examining the competitive landscape for third-party model providers and asset managers

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While managed account assets are growing year-over-year, advisors’ reliance on model portfolios is increasing more slowly than anticipated. To overcome limitations to use and expand distribution for their model portfolios, model portfolio providers must convince advisors of the benefits of partnering with external providers.

In this report, we’ll dive deeper into ways to better support the use of model portfolios for affluent clients and reveal which providers are succeeding in meeting the needs of advisors.

## New This Year

Advisor interest in varying levels of actively managed ETF model portfolios (all active, primarily active and a blend of active and passive); Provider consideration and use for active ETF model portfolios

## Methodology

- 400 financial advisors
- Web-based survey conducted September–October 2025

## Areas of Inquiry

**Model Portfolios**

- Current and anticipated use of model portfolios
- Unaided consideration of third-party model providers (asset managers)
- Aided awareness of third-party model portfolio providers
- Brand imagery association (e.g., offers portfolio construction tools that meet advisors' needs, is a leader in asset allocation)
- Model provider penetration (use)
- Advisor assessment of the benefits of using model portfolios

**Separately Managed Accounts**

- Current and anticipated use of SMAs
- Unaided consideration of SMA managers
- Aided awareness of SMA managers
- Penetration of SMA managers
- Direct indexing use and brand awareness

## Subscription Details

**Publication Date: December 2025  
Data Cuts Available:**

- Channel (National, Regional, Independent, Bank, RIA)
- Advisor AUM
- Advisor age
- Heavy users of models provided by asset managers and other third-party providers

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