Escalent

06/16/2026

From regulatory green light to real-world adoption, alternative investments are no longer a niche conversation in the DC market.

As plan sponsors and plan advisors explore new ways to improve participant outcomes, our Cogent Syndicated research show that interest in private markets and alternative strategies is continuing to grow across all DC stakeholders.

In our latest white paper: https://hubs.li/Q04kw6Tw0, we share some of the most telling findings from our recent research among the top three stakeholders in the DC plan market.

06/15/2026

Understanding customer intent starts with understanding the data behind it.

During the 2026 Spring edition of the Commercial Vehicle Business Summit, Escalent’s Dania Rich-Spencer joined a panel of industry experts to discuss why smart data is the new competitive edge in commercial vehicles.

Drawing on industry perspectives and market insights, the conversation explores how connecting data, buyer intent, and real-world context can help organizations make more informed decisions and build stronger customer relationships.

Watch the session here: https://hubs.li/Q04jL8_k0

Escalent's Dania Rich-Spencer and industry experts discuss why smart data is the competitive edge in commercial vehicles at CVBS Spring 2026

06/11/2026

Customer success is entering a new operating model, where "human-led" and "AI-ready" are no longer separate priorities.

In a new blog post by Lara Gill, we explore how CS teams can evolve to meet rising customer expectations while scaling with AI, all without losing the human connection that drives loyalty.

The takeaway isn't "more AI." It's building systems where AI amplifies human judgment rather than replacing it.

Read the full blog post here: https://hubs.li/Q04l3lCJ0

06/11/2026

As interest in and adoption of alternatives continue to grow in the DC market, DC investment managers are facing a critical question: How can they responsibly meet demand while mitigating risk and maximizing potential gains?

Our new white paper from Cogent Syndicated explores some of the most telling findings from our recent research among the DC market’s three key stakeholders: plan advisors, plan sponsors and plan participants.

Download the report to learn more: https://hubs.li/Q04kwgvq0

06/10/2026

With growing risk awareness around alternatives, new data from Cogent Syndicated reveals a striking paradox: as affluent investors become more knowledgeable about alternatives, the proportion of those willing to allocate toward alternatives drops.

Our new study shows that average intended allocations among investors who are familiar with alternatives have fallen from 26% to 19% since 2025.

Furthermore, just 37% of affluent investors indicated they understand ‘a little’ about alternatives, suggesting that "awareness is expanding, but knowledge remains limited among clients, highlighting a clear opportunity for advisors to provide specialized guidance and education", explains Kristin Hall, report author and product director at Escalent.

Read the full press release here: https://hubs.li/Q04kWPj70

06/10/2026

AS EV adoption accelerates across the US, utility companies and EV charging providers are forming increasingly sophisticated alliances designed to support the rapid expansion of charging infrastructure while protecting grid reliability.

For utilities, automakers, charging providers and consumers, the stakes are high because these partnerships could help create a cleaner, more resilient and more efficient energy ecosystem.

KC Boyce discusses this alongside other energy leaders in this new Electrical Apparatus article.

Read it here: https://hubs.li/Q04kzBxR0

Electrical Apparatus Magazine

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06/09/2026

A recent LIFE&Health Advisor article by Escalent’s Meredith Lloyd Rice shares data from Cogent Syndicated, highlighting the rise in use of model portfolios among financial advisors.

The article shares data from our recent Advisor Use Model Portfolios and SMAs report, revealing that among users of model portfolios, advisors under 45 continue to report the strongest reliance on them and among those aged 55 to 64, 49% reported they had increased their use of models in 2025.

Read the full article here: https://hubs.li/Q04kzvZ30

While advisors devote more time to business development by Meredith Lloyd Rice Meredith Lloyd Rice is a vice president in Escalent’s Cogent Syndicated division. She manages the firm’s syndicated research products focused on the financial advisor market and is the lead author of the Advisor Brand...

06/09/2026

Alternative investments are gaining momentum in the DC market—fueled by recent regulatory support and rapid real-world adoption across stakeholders.

New data from Cogent Syndicated shows plan advisor interest in alternatives is closely tracking the growing curiosity among both plan sponsors and plan participants.

What’s driving this shift, and what could it mean for 401(k) investment options moving forward?

Download our new white paper to explore how rising interest in alternatives is reshaping the DC landscape for plan advisors, plan sponsors and plan participants: https://hubs.li/Q04ksfZD0

Alternative investments, which were once limited to the retail space as a diversification lever for high-net-worth and institutional clients, have quickly become one of the top conversations in the DC retirement plan market.

06/08/2026

How are leading fleets and dealers using technology to stay ahead of evolving customer expectations and operational demands?

Our very own Gregory Skinner addressed this during his presentation at the 2026 Commercial Vehicle Business Summit, Spring edition. From improving service efficiency to enhancing fleet performance and customer experience, he explores how industry leaders are putting data-driven intelligence into action.

Watch the replay here: https://hubs.li/Q04jKRxp0

During the 2026 Commercial Vehicle Business Summit, Spring edition, Gregory Skinner explores the future of industry data

06/04/2026

The energy and utility industry is changing faster than most systems were ever designed to handle.

Between electrification, AI-driven demand, grid constraints, and rising customer expectations, energy companies and utilities are being pushed to rethink not only infrastructure, but also the customer experience itself.

In a new interview, Escalent’s Energy Managing Director, Chris Montaglione, speaks with Katie Warwick, senior VP with Hall & Partners, an Escalent company, about what’s really shaping the future of energy and utilities in 2026—and why the biggest opportunity may be rebuilding trust with customers.

Read here to learn more: https://hubs.li/Q04jw9Gl0

Discover key trends shaping the future of energy and utilities in 2026, from electrification and AI-driven demand to grid constraints and customer expectations.