As technology upends the trillion-dollar financial services industry, Escalent is on the inside. The world’s leading financial institutions trust our insights experts to guide them through disruption. Every day we talk to the specialized populations critical to our clients’ success, uncovering unparalleled financial services insights. Our blend of primary and secondary research, syndicated research tools, agile implementation model and advisory services for banking, wealth management, insurance and fintech firms produces powerful, award-winning, financial services industry research and market analysis to move you up and to the right.
Cogent Syndicated and Javelin Advisory are trusted and respected for industry-leading, forward-looking research and consulting in the financial services market. Backed by Escalent, these syndicated research teams offer an unbeatable, diverse, and in-depth view of the industry through multiple lenses to leading firms.
Our robust set of financial services research and consulting solutions helps your brand thrive in the increasingly competitive and regulated industry landscape. Whether it’s through effectively positioning and building your brand identity, assessing ever-evolving market dynamics, finding value in untapped first-party and proprietary data or uncovering your unique customers’ needs, behaviors and decision drivers, our team layers deep financial services expertise to help move your firm forward, quickly and innovatively.
Show me moreTo deliver truly impactful financial services insights that move the industry, you need more than data. Tap into our bench of in-house specialty teams whose expertise spans deep data analytics, behavioral science, qualitative research, secondary research, cultural intelligence, human-guided AI and insight-driven storytelling to provide transparency that helps your brand see clearly, mitigate risk and act decisively.
Show me moreOur financial services insights experts don’t use AI just to use AI. We find practical, responsibly governed ways to enhance—not replace—our deep industry knowledge. By combining human expertise, responsible innovation and rigorous governance, we ensure AI is used ethically at every step. Data quality, transparency and human-in-the-loop review are non-negotiables, helping our teams think faster, work smarter and deliver deeper, trusted financial services insights.
Show me moreAs financial advisors seek to spend more time on business development, new data from Cogent Syndicated reveal that three in ten advisors plan to rely more on model portfolios over the next year.
Using The Advisor Exchange, we conducted our own activity to dive into advisors use and perceptions on private markets.
AI is not a replacement for human advisors, but empowers them to “trust but verify,” blending digital decision-making with a human safety net.
Financial services institutions are navigating rapid disruption from digital innovation, economic uncertainty and rising customer expectations. Banks, insurers and wealth managers must compete not only with traditional institutions but also with fintech companies that deliver faster and more intuitive digital experiences.
At the same time, trust remains central to financial decision-making. Institutions must balance innovation with security, transparency and regulatory compliance while delivering seamless customer experiences across digital and physical channels.
The financial services customer journey has become increasingly complex as consumers research and compare products across multiple digital and offline channels before making decisions. Customers often evaluate providers based on convenience, trust, pricing and digital experience.
Journey mapping helps institutions identify key decision points and friction areas across the path to purchase. These insights allow financial firms to improve customer acquisition strategies, refine product positioning and create experiences that better align with evolving financial behaviors.
Financial decisions are rarely based purely on rational analysis. Behavioral science shows that psychological factors such as trust, risk perception and cognitive bias often influence how consumers evaluate financial products.
Applying behavioral science principles helps institutions understand why customers hesitate, switch providers or remain loyal. These insights enable financial firms to design messaging, product experiences and digital interactions that better reflect how people actually make financial decisions.
Technology is rapidly changing how financial products are delivered and consumed. Digital banking platforms, fintech startups and embedded finance solutions are enabling consumers to access financial services faster and more conveniently than traditional models.
As a result, financial institutions must compete on digital experience, personalization and speed as much as on product offerings. Organizations that successfully combine technological innovation with strong customer trust are better positioned to remain competitive.
Artificial intelligence is transforming how financial institutions analyze customer behavior and market trends. Advanced analytics can process large volumes of data, helping organizations identify patterns in spending, product usage and financial needs.
However, data alone cannot explain why customers make certain financial decisions. Many institutions are combining AI-driven analytics with behavioral research to better understand customer motivations and design more effective products and experiences.
New findings from Cogent Syndicated reveal inheritors' growing preference for integrated advice as average anticipated inheritances double to $1 million
New Escalent data reveals the number of "technical" advisors has dropped to 36% as professionals focus on client acquisition
New research from Escalent shows one quarter of DC advisors likely to recommend alternatives, with National, large-scale producers driving the trend
