Envestnet says advisers are opening fewer new accounts in 2018

The bull market marches on, but Envestnet is preparing for slower growth in net flows for the rest of 2018.

In a conference call discussing the financial technology giant’s second-quarter earnings, Envestnet CEO Jud Bergman said the rate of new account openings by advisers slowed during the quarter. While he acknowledged that could be an anomaly, Mr. Bergman said the company expects the trend to continue for the rest of the year.

Growth was similarly slow in 2011 and in 2015, and Mr. Bergman attributed a 2018 slowdown to the natural ebbs and flows of the market.

“I think it’s more of a news cycle that may be taking its toll on some psychology of investors, causing a little bit of slowness,” he said. “Advisers across the industry are not opening up as many new accounts and there is higher redemption rates with existing accounts.”

The slowdown has not impacted Envestnet’s overall growth. The company grew second-quarter revenue by 20% from the prior-year period. Excluding the FolioDynamix purchase for $195 million in cash, Envestnet’s revenue grew organically by 12%.

Regarding FolioDynamix, Mr. Bergman said Envestnet has completed the first tranche of customer transitions and is underway with the second.

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The company is also focusing more on financial planning, client relationship management and other areas critical to RIAs, which Mr. Bergman said are its fastest growing adviser channel. He added that the shift away from commission-based compensation models will fuel Envestnet’s long-term strategy.

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“We expect that outsource technology in general and improved digital solutions in particular will be an increasingly important source of growth for our advisers and enterprises,” Mr. Bergman said. “We expect wirehouses will continue to be a force in the industry as they more fully embrace a fiduciary standard of care and seek technology innovation.”