Target-Date CITs Continue to Surpass Mutual Funds
Target‑date collective investment trusts (CITs) now command 54% of the market, overtaking mutual funds for the second consecutive year. The overall target‑date universe expanded 20.3% in 2025, reaching $4.8 trillion, driven by 21 new CIT series that are largely conversions of existing mutual‑fund lineups. Five providers—Vanguard, Fidelity, T. Rowe Price, BlackRock and Capital Group—control roughly 80% of assets, with Vanguard alone holding about 38% of CIT assets. Early‑glide‑path equity exposure has risen to a median 93%, reflecting a shift toward higher‑risk, lower‑cost allocations.
Product & Service Launches – 3/12/2026
Morningstar, WealthBox, and FutureVault each unveiled AI‑powered tools designed to embed intelligent assistants directly into adviser workflows. Morningstar’s AI assistant integrates with its Direct Advisory Suite, enabling natural‑language navigation from client setup to portfolio analysis. WealthBox added autonomous Agents, one‑click...
CRM Software Top of Mind Among Advisers’ Tech Options
Advisory firms now use CRM software at a record 91.08% penetration, up from 86.33% in 2025, with Orion Redtail capturing 42.53% market share. While CRM tools rank highest in perceived value, adoption of cybersecurity platforms (21.69%) and data‑warehouse solutions (3.27%) remains...
Advisory M&A News – 3/11/2026
Wealth Enhancement added a $1.2 billion adviser team in Kansas, lifting its total assets to over $143.8 billion. Summitry’s purchase of Vantage Wealth brings $721 million AUM, pushing its portfolio past $3 billion. NewEdge Advisors’ Pillar Channel surpassed $14 billion after affiliating with Stonegate, while...
DOL Won’t Fight Final Motion for Final Judgement in Second Fiduciary Rule Case
The U.S. Department of Labor will not contest a motion to vacate the 2024 Retirement Security fiduciary rule, effectively ending the regulation that required advisers to act in clients' best interests. The rule, stalled since July 2024, has no replacement...
Marsh Unveils Health Benefit Price Transparency Tool
Marsh McLennan Agency launched Network Navigator, a health‑benefit pricing tool that translates Transparency in Coverage data into actuarially‑certified, provider‑level insights for employers. The platform lets users benchmark network costs by provider, location, service type or specialty amid federal proposals to expand price‑transparency...
Carta Partners With Vestwell, Morgan Stanley on Retirement Planning Service
Carta Inc. announced Carta 401(k), a retirement solution that blends Morgan Stanley’s institutional consulting with Vestwell’s AI‑driven platform, targeting high‑growth private‑capital firms. The service integrates with over 200 payroll systems, offers transparent, scalable fees and leverages SECURE 2.0 tax credits to offset...
