Model portfolios have become one of the most scalable and fastest-growing tools in wealth management, enabling financial advisors to grow their practices and spend more time with clients. U.S. assets invested in models reached USD 8 trillion in 2025 and are projected to surpass USD 13 trillion by 2030¹.As demand grows, model providers are seeking to differentiate their offerings among thousands of options available in the marketplace.

With S&P DJI, model providers and advisors can:

  • Build or access best-in-class model portfolios using investment products linked to world-renowned indices.
  • Source institutional-quality index data to develop and assess model portfolios.
  • Access consultation and from a global leader in indexing.

Contact our model capabilities specialists

A Comprehensive Index Ecosystem

From broad U.S. and global equity indices including the S&P 500®, S&P MidCap 400®, S&P SmallCap 600® and S&P Global BMI, to leading fixed income indices including the iBoxx® series and a wide range of factor, thematic and innovative index solutions, our index ecosystem provides a comprehensive starting point for model portfolio construction.

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Industry-Leading Index Data Solutions

S&P DJI's institutional-grade index data solutions enable model providers to develop and evaluate model portfolios. Flexible subscription packages can be customized by geography, sector, style and/or index series to align with specific business objectives and analytical needs.

Available data packages include:

• Index-level data
• Constituent-level data
• Corporate action information

Whether conducting due diligence, benchmarking performance or supporting portfolio research, S&P DJI’s index data solutions provide reliable and transparent market information.

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Research & Insights

  • Heroes in Haystacks: Index Comparisons for Active Portfolio Performance

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  • Redefining the Role of Index Providers

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  • Latest Findings in the Active versus Passive Debate

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Why Leading Model Providers Choose S&P DJI

S&P DJI’s iconic indices and market-leading data capabilities play a central role in the growing models ecosystem.

World-Renowned Indices
In addition to iconic market benchmarks such as The 500® and Dow Jones Industrial Average®, S&P DJI is home to the S&P MidCap 400®, S&P SmallCap 600®, S&P Global BMI and iBoxx® index series, in addition to innovative factor and thematics index solutions.
Largest Provider of Financial Market Indices

As the world’s leading resource for index-based concepts, S&P DJI has over USD 27 trillion in assets either indexed or benchmarked to its indices².

²S&P Dow Jones Indices, Annual Survey of Assets as of Dec. 31, 2024.

130 Years of Innovation and Expertise
Since 1896, S&P DJI has provided leading-edge index solutions backed by robust methodologies and strong governance.
Essential Part of the Market Ecosystem
S&P DJI serves as an index intellectual property licensor to 91 of the top 100 global asset managers and more than 50 of the largest public pension funds.
Global Support, High-Touch Service
With client-dedicated professionals across 20 offices, S&P DJI serves clients in 70+ countries and delivers high-touch service across the engagement lifecycle.

What’s Fueling Growth in Model Portfolios?

  • Scalability

    Scalability

    Model portfolios help advisors streamline portfolio construction and investment oversight, potentially giving them more time to serve clients and grow their practices. In a recent study conducted by Cerulli Associates, surveyed advisors who primarily use models expected to either increase (52%) or maintain (48%) their usage over the next 12 months. None of the advisors in the sample expected to decrease their usage³.

    ³Source: Cerulli Associates, 2025.

  • Customization

    Customization

    Model portfolios can be designed to accommodate a wide range of client considerations, preferences and investment objectives. In fact, Cerulli Associates found that one-third of model assets are now in custom models, and over 70% of model providers view them as a “large opportunity”—the highest rated among all model types⁴.

    ⁴Source: Cerulli Associates, 2025. AUM data as of Dec. 31, 2024.

     

  • Risk Management

    Risk Management

    While advisors remain responsible for client relationships and due diligence, portfolio construction and ongoing investment management may be handled by specialized model providers, helping create a more scalable operating model.

  • Diversification

    Diversification

    Alternative asset classes are increasingly being incorporated into model portfolios for their diversification characteristics. In 2024, only 29% and 21% of providers included commodities and liquid alternatives in their models, respectively. Those figures have since risen to 41% and 31% in 2026, respectively, which highlights financial advisors’ growing appetite for differentiated holdings beyond stocks and bonds⁵.

    ⁵Source: BlackRock Models Intelligence Quarterly Q2 2026.

Model Portfolio Fundamentals

Why are advisors increasingly using model portfolios?

Model portfolios can help advisors scale portfolio management responsibilities and improve operational efficiency, affording them more time for client engagement, business development and financial planning.

What types of model portfolios exist?

Model portfolios come in many forms, including strategic asset allocation, risk-based, income-focused, factor-based, thematic and tax-aware solutions, often incorporating a variety of asset classes. They can be constructed using active, index-based or blended investment approaches and customized to address a wide range of investor objectives, risk tolerances and portfolio needs.

What are the benefits of working with an index provider when constructing or using model portfolios?

Index providers can offer market insight, transparent index methodologies and institutional-quality data to support model development, analysis and ongoing monitoring. Because an index provider maintains a consistent index methodology for each index series, working within this framework may help to avoid unintended gaps or overlaps in coverage.

Contact Us

 
Blake Spivey
Head of Enterprise Wealth, Americas
blake.spivey@spglobal.com
 
Mark Aziz
Director, Direct Indexing and Model Portfolios Strategist
mark.aziz@spglobal.com

¹Source: Jack Pitcher, “More Financial Advisers Are Outsourcing Investment Decisions,” Wall Street Journal, June 12, 2025.