Putnam Investments surveyed over 800 financial advisors to learn more about how they are using social media for business. The findings are the fourth annual iteration of the study.

1. Financial Advisors and Social Media
Putnam Investments surveyed over 800 financial advisors to learn more
about how they are using social media for business. The findings are the
fourth annual iteration of the study.
THE SOCIAL ADVISOR
81%
are using social
media for business
Up from 75% in 2014
79%
gained new clients
via social media
Up from 66% reporting
client gains in 2014
was the average asset gain
53% gained
over $1M in
new assets
Median = $1.9M$4.6M
The typical financial advisor who
has gained assets using social media
Active on
5social
networks
$80M
Book of
business
$1.8M
Typical
client assets
44-year-old
male with 10 years
of experience
All assets are reported as medians.
Wirehouse
advisor
or financial planner
71% who gained
assets were active
on a daily basis
Advisors were asked how they are leveraging
their primary social networks for business.
FINDINGS: NETWORKS
FINDINGS: BUSINESS GOALS
64%68%88%
56%
30%
11%
Improving my referral network
Connecting with peers
Enhancing current client relationships
Building my brand identity
Expanding my professional knowledge
Promoting myself as a thought leader
ADOPTION
PRIMARY NETWORK
GAINED NEW BUSINESS
AVERAGE USE/MONTH
54% 48%65%
65%
57%
51%
51%
52%
54%
52%
45%
41%
47%
43%
47%
49%
56%59%
47% 42%70%
17 times 24 times 22 times
Asset gains are reported as medians. Adoption is calculated among advisors active on social media for business and/or personal use.
All other findings are based on advisors using social media for business purposes.
The 2015 Putnam Investments Survey of Financial Advisors’ Use of Social Media was conducted in partnership with Brightwork
Partners LLC among 817 advisors nationally who have been advising retail clients for at least two years. The online study was conducted
in July 2015.