The BlackRock Advisor Trends Survey is proprietary research that examines how financial advisors are responding to changes in investor expectations, portfolio construction and practice management. The survey explores topics including serving high-net-worth clients, model portfolios, tax-aware investing, private markets, technology adoption, and business growth strategies. By identifying emerging trends and advisor priorities, the research provides insights to help advisors benchmark their practices, uncover opportunities to better serve clients, and prepare for the future of wealth management.

Advisors are increasingly tailoring their services to address the unique financial needs of high-net-worth clients. This includes expanding beyond traditional investment management to provide more personalized planning around taxes, concentrated stock positions, liquidity events, charitable giving, estate considerations, and alternative investments. Many advisors are also incorporating separately managed accounts (SMAs), tax-aware investment strategies, and customized model portfolios to deliver greater flexibility while maintaining operational efficiency. These approaches help advisors provide more personalized advice without sacrificing scalability.

Model portfolios can serve as a flexible foundation for personalization. Advisors are increasingly adapting models by incorporating separately managed accounts (SMAs), alternative investments and tax-aware strategies to address each client's unique circumstances, including tax positions, legacy holdings, liquidity needs and investment preferences. Rather than building every portfolio from scratch, advisors can customize key components while maintaining a consistent investment framework and more efficient portfolio management process. This approach enables advisors to deliver a more personalized client experience while supporting practice growth and operational scalability.

For many high-net-worth clients, improving after-tax returns can be just as important as investment performance. Advisors can enhance after-tax outcomes through strategies such as tax-aware portfolio management, tax-loss harvesting, asset location, direct indexing and the use of tax-efficient investment vehicles where appropriate. Incorporating these approaches into portfolio construction can help clients retain more of their investment returns while supporting broader financial goals. Advisors who integrate tax considerations into the investment process may also strengthen client relationships by demonstrating value beyond traditional portfolio management.

Next-generation advisors are helping reshape wealth management by combining personalized advice with technology-enabled efficiency. BlackRock's Advisor Trends Survey found that younger advisors are more likely to offer specialized planning services, including charitable giving, risk management and liquidity event planning, while also adopting advanced investment strategies such as direct indexing, concentrated stock management and access to private markets. They are also focused on improving operational efficiency and embracing innovative technology to support future growth. Their approach demonstrates how advisors can deliver increasingly personalized experiences while building scalable, growth-oriented practices.