2020:  A DE&I MOVEMENT OR A MOMENT?

Was 2020 the start of a movement toward DE&I or just a passing moment?  FlexShares wanted to know, so we conducted a 2021 survey of high-net-worth consumers and advisors to compare with findings from our 2019 research. Download our latest research from this page to learn about changing advisor attitudes, what consumers say is important when choosing an advisor and the business benefits that advisors from firms with diversity initiatives are reporting.

2021 KEY FINDINGS

82%

of consumers want their advisor backed by a team

58%

of consumers want that team to be diverse

5x

women are 5x as likely to work with a female advisor

Next
FS_Diversity Paper 2021 Cover thumb

Diversity is Good Business for Advisory Firms

Our 2021 study focused on attitudes and actions that financial advisors are taking to build more diverse teams and clientele. As in 2019, we also surveyed consumers to better understand the characteristics important to them when choosing an advisor. We found some meaningful changes in how advisors think about diversity, equity and inclusion. The survey tracked changes in the prioritization of DE&I by firms and their actions to support it. As in 2019, we found that for many firms, their assessment of DE&I may be at odds with consumer preferences.

What's different about this content?

  • We used key findings from our 2019 survey as a baseline to evaluate how recent events have impacted advisors’ perceptions of and actions toward diversity.
  • We extended the study into topics related to attracting a diverse client base, including whether it’s perceived to be a strategic priority and what, if anything, advisors are doing to make it happen.
  • We studied changing consumer preferences in choosing an advisor or advisory firm.

PODCAST DISCUSSIONS ON TOPICS OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

BluBrry_TFA-Logo

To advance open dialogue on how and why to build a diverse industry, FlexShares has released a growing series of Flexible Advisor podcast episodes from leaders from within Northern Trust and the wealth management industry. 

Click on the podcasts below to listen or navigate to more diversity-focused podcasts from the yellow drop-down menu above. 

speaker-1

Shundrawn Thomas
President
Northern Trust Asset Management

Leadership and Diversity

Joey Stemmle

Joey Stemmle
CFP®, President, FPA NexGen

 

FPA’s NexGen and LGBTQ Outreach

Miranda Reiter

Dr. Miranda Reiter
CFP®, Professor, Texas Tech University

Consumer Preferences In Hiring a Financial Planner

Steph Wagner-2

Steph Wagner

Director of Women and Wealth, Northern Trust

 

Guiding Women Through Divorce

Subscribe to The Flexible Advisor podcast (available wherever you download your podcasts) to be alerted when new episodes on this topic and many others are published.

more on the business case for diversity

Visit Us

FLEXSHARES ETFS

FlexShares offers an array of ETFs, designed for all types of investors. Visit our website to learn more.

MORE INSIGHTS

Read more of our unique insights on other investment and advisor topics in our Insights section.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Before investing, carefully consider the FlexShares investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other information is in the prospectus and a summary prospectus, copies of which may be obtained by visiting www.flexshares.com. Read the prospectus carefully before you invest..

Foreside Fund Services, LLC, distributor.

Please remember that all investments carry some level of risk, including the potential loss of principal invested. They do not typically grow at an even rate of return and may experience negative growth. As with any type of portfolio structuring, attempting to reduce risk and increase return could, at certain times, unintentionally reduce returns.

MANAGED BY NORTHERN TRUST

Privacy Policy