For the third time in four years, Dimensional Fund Advisors tops the list of mutual fund companies best positioned to increase its share of assets with financial advisers. Longtime adviser favorite American Funds, meanwhile, is showing signs that it’s due for a turnaround.
DFA scored the highest in a survey of 1,700 financial advisers by Cogent Research LLC that asked how likely they are to increase or decrease assets with 24 different mutual fund companies. The Austin, Texas-based mutual fund company, best known for its factor-based investing philosophy and high barriers to entry for the mutual fund world, at least, scored 25% higher than bond megashop Pacific Investment Management Co. LLC, which came in second. The Vanguard Group Inc., the world’s largest mutual fund company, finished third.