Article last updated 10 October 2025.
Ahead of launching our new Model Portfolio Service (MPS) on platform, in September 2025 we commissioned independent researchers to speak to 100 UK-based independent financial advisers, each managing average client assets of just under £1 million. The aim was to understand how they use MPS today, what the biggest challenges are and how they see the future of advice evolving.
The study confirms what many already know from experience: advisers are under pressure. Portfolio management, compliance and administration are taking up time that could otherwise be spent on planning, client conversations and business development.
While advisers continue to divide their time across multiple areas, only 43% believe their current split allows them to focus on what really matters to clients. Almost half said financial planning, from tax and pensions to estate and inheritance advice, offers the greatest opportunity to build long-term relationships. When asked what truly differentiates a financial adviser in today’s market, two-thirds pointed to comprehensive, forward-looking planning rather than superior investment performance.
There’s no question about where advisers want to focus their time. The challenge is how to get there.
Regulatory demands are now one of the biggest constraints on adviser time. Nearly all respondents (98%) said that compliance and documentation requirements delay their ability to make timely portfolio decisions, and a fifth described the impact as significant. Looking ahead, nine in ten advisers expect the compliance burden to grow even further over the next three years.
Portfolio management is adding to the strain. While some advisers say they spend fewer than five hours a month on portfolio-related work, three-quarters are spending between six and 20 hours. Many expect that commitment to rise. The most common portfolio-related pain points include the time taken to rebalance, the difficulty of keeping up with market moves and the challenge of maintaining consistency across clients.
Advisers were also clear about the opportunity cost of managing portfolios in-house. Two-thirds said that if they could reallocate just five to ten hours of portfolio management time each week, they could grow their client base by up to 10% over the next year. A further quarter said they could grow by between 11% and 20%.
When asked how they would use that extra time, most advisers said they would focus on bringing in new clients, doing deeper tax and estate planning work, and having more proactive conversations with current clients.
For firms looking to scale without sacrificing service, this kind of shift could be transformative.
The research suggests that MPS is already well embedded in many advice businesses, but its role is set to grow. Six in ten advisers say between 26% and 50% of their clients’ investable assets are currently in model portfolios, and nearly half expect that proportion to rise to more than 50% in the next three years.
Advisers also expect more from MPS solutions. Nine in ten said they plan to increase their use of actively managed portfolios, citing economic uncertainty, market volatility and the need for greater portfolio resilience as the main reasons. The same proportion said they would make greater use of MPS if more services offered high-conviction, outcomes-led solutions at fair and competitive prices.
Saving time remains a top priority when selecting investment solutions, followed closely by risk management, client suitability and access to research. Advisers also want MPS providers that make compliance easier, not harder.
The message is clear: advisers want more time for planning, less friction in portfolio management and stronger support in meeting their regulatory obligations. Model portfolio services that can deliver on those needs, without adding complexity or cost, are increasingly seen as essential to the future of advice.
Advisers also want MPS solutions that fit neatly into their existing platform infrastructure. In the survey, 74% said integration with their current tech framework is essential, making ease of use and compatibility key factors when selecting a provider.
For a deeper dive into the findings and more insights from advisers across the UK, please complete the below form to download the full report.
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