Cogent Research

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  Most 401(k) plan sponsors use social media

  By Warren S. Hersch  |  May 15, 2013

  The use of social media for 401(k) information is highest among mid-sized plan sponsors, who represent plans with total assets of between $20 million and $100 million.

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  Most affluent Gen Yers use social media for personal finance, investing

  By Warren S. Hersch  |  March 8, 2013

  At 42 percent, Facebook is the most widely used online portal for investing among Gen Y investors.

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  Investors turn to social media for finance, investing

  By Warren S. Hersch  |  February 25, 2013

  Almost 35 percent of affluent investors say they use social media and company blogs for personal finance and investing purposes.

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  Study details advisors’ sources of retirement income

  By Warren S. Hersch  |  February 7, 2013

  Employer-sponsored retirement plans account for 27 percent of advisors’ income in retirement.

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  Cogent’s Meredith Rice: VA brand awareness is down, but sales remain strong

  By Warren S. Hersch  |  January 11, 2013

  Meredith Rice, a senior project director at Cogent Research, explains the impact of brand and customer loyalty on revenue in the affluent marketplace.

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  Cogent survey: more investors in 2012 view annuities as critical to retirement strategy

  By Warren S. Hersch  |  October 16, 2012

  Nearly three-quarters of the annuity owners surveyed say they are more likely than not to agree that annuities are a critical part of a retirement strategy in 2012.

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  VAs from Prudential Financial, Jackson National Nab Top Scores in Cogent Survey

  By Warren S. Hersch  |  August 23, 2012

  The Cogent survey assigned a “star” designation to Prudential Financial and Jackson National Life citing the companies’ “brand equity, commitment and ownership.” The insurers trail only RiverSource in terms of revenue earned per advisor.

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  Vanguard Earns Highest Ratings as an ETF Provider in Cogent Study

  By Warren S. Hersch  |  July 30, 2012

  The Vanguard Group, Malvern, Pa., now tops the field of providers of exchange-traded funds in favorable impressions among financial advisors, according to new research.

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  Cogent: Advisor Usage of ETFs Rose 10% in 2011, Outpacing Other Products

  By Warren S. Hersch  |  April 10, 2012

  The report reveals that 66% of advisors now sell ETFs, up from 60% in in 2010, 55% in 2009 and 46% in 2007. The percent change between 2007 and 2011 is 43%, outpacing the four-year percent change of mutual funds (2%), individual securities (5%), variable annuities (4%), separately managed accounts...

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  Cogent Research: Elite Group of Advisors Driving 401(k) Business

  By Warren S. Hersch  |  December 1, 2011

  While just over half of the estimated 315,000 retail investment advisors in the United States currently support at least one 401(k) plan, only 7% of advisors are heavy plan producers with $25 million or more in 401(k) assets under management, according to a new report.