GITNUXREPORT 2025

Upskilling And Reskilling In The Ria Industry Statistics

Most RIAs invest heavily in digital/upskilling, boosting growth and client trust.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

82% of RIAs plan to implement new digital tools in the next year, requiring digital upskilling

Statistic 2

40% of RIA firms have implemented artificial intelligence tools in their client service processes, requiring reskilling of staff

Statistic 3

72% of RIAs are exploring or adopting machine learning tools, necessitating staff reskilling

Statistic 4

RIA firms that invest in employee engagement and training see 21% higher profitability

Statistic 5

Only 44% of RIAs invest in leadership development programs, showing room for growth

Statistic 6

46% of RIA firms have adopted gamification techniques in their training programs to improve engagement

Statistic 7

Only 34% of RIA professionals feel fully confident with the latest compliance regulations, indicating a need for reskilling

Statistic 8

45% of RIA firms report difficulty finding talent with necessary technological skills, highlighting a skills gap

Statistic 9

62% of RIAs have used online learning platforms for workforce upskilling during the pandemic

Statistic 10

65% of RIA firms use webinars and virtual training for staff development, especially post-pandemic

Statistic 11

88% of firms plan to incorporate remote learning modules in their ongoing training programs

Statistic 12

79% of advisors believe that flexible learning options like microlearning boost participation

Statistic 13

80% of RIA firms have developed internal knowledge-sharing platforms to facilitate continuous learning

Statistic 14

67% of firms have used virtual reality (VR) platforms for immersive training experiences, especially in compliance simulations

Statistic 15

76% of RIA firms have increased their investment in employee training over the past two years

Statistic 16

68% of financial advisors believe upskilling is essential for staying competitive

Statistic 17

The average RIA firm dedicates 15% of its annual budget to employee training and development

Statistic 18

58% of new hires in RIAs undergo targeted onboarding programs focused on skills development

Statistic 19

73% of advisors believe that continuous education helps improve client trust and retention

Statistic 20

55% of RIAs are planning to expand their training programs in data analytics and AI

Statistic 21

74% of firms have reported that reskilling efforts have directly improved their operational efficiency

Statistic 22

The global market for corporate training is projected to reach $375 billion by 2025, impacting RIA industry investments in upskilling solutions

Statistic 23

84% of RIAs consider upskilling in technology as critical for future growth

Statistic 24

69% of financial advisors have taken courses in behavioral finance to enhance client advising skills

Statistic 25

78% of RIAs believe that digital literacy is essential for all employees

Statistic 26

Only 29% of RIA firms have formal certification programs for continuous professional development, indicating a growth opportunity

Statistic 27

52% of advisors report that new regulatory training has pushed them to develop new skills

Statistic 28

The average age of advisors reskilled through formal education programs is 45 years old, indicating adult learning trends

Statistic 29

91% of RIAs view upskilling as a strategic priority for attracting younger talent

Statistic 30

58% of RIAs increased their focus on cybersecurity training for staff in the last year

Statistic 31

67% of firms report that employee reskilling has led to increased client satisfaction scores

Statistic 32

35% of RIA professionals have completed certification courses related to sustainable investing, highlighting trendy upskilling areas

Statistic 33

64% of firms have tailored their training programs to include emotional intelligence and soft skills development

Statistic 34

71% of new advisors receive targeted training on compliance and regulatory updates before engaging with clients

Statistic 35

73% of RIA firms report that upskilling initiatives have helped reduce staff turnover

Statistic 36

83% of RIAs plan to increase investment in digital transformation training in the next year

Statistic 37

55% of advisors have participated in peer-to-peer mentoring programs as part of upskilling efforts

Statistic 38

69% of firms reported that reskilling their staff in compliance reduces audit issues

Statistic 39

54% of RIA firms have fully integrated continuing education credits into their HR policies, ensuring ongoing skills development

Statistic 40

66% of RIAs have increased focus on training related to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing

Statistic 41

61% of RIA firms aim to reskill their staff in emerging financial technologies over the next two years

Statistic 42

87% of firms have reported an uptick in employee certifications after implementing targeted upskilling programs

Statistic 43

50% of RIA firms actively partner with educational institutions for workforce development

Statistic 44

34% of RIAs have implemented AI-driven personalized training programs for staff

Statistic 45

74% of firms see a direct correlation between upskilling initiatives and improved client outcomes

Statistic 46

56% of advisors report that reskilling has helped them better serve diverse client needs

Statistic 47

90% of RIAs agree that ongoing professional development is vital for compliance and risk management

Statistic 48

62% of RIA firms have increased their investment in soft skills training such as communication and leadership

Statistic 49

48% of RIA firms actively track and measure training effectiveness through KPIs and performance metrics

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Key Highlights

76% of RIA firms have increased their investment in employee training over the past two years
68% of financial advisors believe upskilling is essential for staying competitive
The average RIA firm dedicates 15% of its annual budget to employee training and development
82% of RIAs plan to implement new digital tools in the next year, requiring digital upskilling
Only 34% of RIA professionals feel fully confident with the latest compliance regulations, indicating a need for reskilling
58% of new hires in RIAs undergo targeted onboarding programs focused on skills development
45% of RIA firms report difficulty finding talent with necessary technological skills, highlighting a skills gap
73% of advisors believe that continuous education helps improve client trust and retention
62% of RIAs have used online learning platforms for workforce upskilling during the pandemic
55% of RIAs are planning to expand their training programs in data analytics and AI
74% of firms have reported that reskilling efforts have directly improved their operational efficiency
The global market for corporate training is projected to reach $375 billion by 2025, impacting RIA industry investments in upskilling solutions
RIA firms that invest in employee engagement and training see 21% higher profitability

As the RIA industry accelerates its digital transformation, a striking 76% of firms are investing more than ever in employee upskilling and reskilling — a critical move to stay competitive, serve clients better, and bridge the growing skills gap.

Digital Transformation and Technology Adoption

82% of RIAs plan to implement new digital tools in the next year, requiring digital upskilling
40% of RIA firms have implemented artificial intelligence tools in their client service processes, requiring reskilling of staff
72% of RIAs are exploring or adopting machine learning tools, necessitating staff reskilling

Digital Transformation and Technology Adoption Interpretation

With over 80% of RIAs embracing new digital and AI tools, the industry is clearly betting big on reskilling their teams to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

Employee Engagement and Leadership Development

RIA firms that invest in employee engagement and training see 21% higher profitability
Only 44% of RIAs invest in leadership development programs, showing room for growth
46% of RIA firms have adopted gamification techniques in their training programs to improve engagement

Employee Engagement and Leadership Development Interpretation

Despite a promising 21% profitability boost from employee engagement and the innovative use of gamification by nearly half, the fact that less than half of RIA firms prioritize leadership development reveals a significant opportunity—investing in people remains the most lucrative upgrade yet to be fully embraced.

Learning Platforms and Training Methods

Only 34% of RIA professionals feel fully confident with the latest compliance regulations, indicating a need for reskilling
45% of RIA firms report difficulty finding talent with necessary technological skills, highlighting a skills gap
62% of RIAs have used online learning platforms for workforce upskilling during the pandemic
65% of RIA firms use webinars and virtual training for staff development, especially post-pandemic
88% of firms plan to incorporate remote learning modules in their ongoing training programs
79% of advisors believe that flexible learning options like microlearning boost participation
80% of RIA firms have developed internal knowledge-sharing platforms to facilitate continuous learning
67% of firms have used virtual reality (VR) platforms for immersive training experiences, especially in compliance simulations

Learning Platforms and Training Methods Interpretation

Despite a surge in virtual and flexible training methods, the stark reality remains: only a third of RIA professionals feel confidently compliant, exposing an urgent need to bridge the skills gap through innovative upskilling and reskilling initiatives in a rapidly evolving industry.

Professional Development and Upskilling Strategies

76% of RIA firms have increased their investment in employee training over the past two years
68% of financial advisors believe upskilling is essential for staying competitive
The average RIA firm dedicates 15% of its annual budget to employee training and development
58% of new hires in RIAs undergo targeted onboarding programs focused on skills development
73% of advisors believe that continuous education helps improve client trust and retention
55% of RIAs are planning to expand their training programs in data analytics and AI
74% of firms have reported that reskilling efforts have directly improved their operational efficiency
The global market for corporate training is projected to reach $375 billion by 2025, impacting RIA industry investments in upskilling solutions
84% of RIAs consider upskilling in technology as critical for future growth
69% of financial advisors have taken courses in behavioral finance to enhance client advising skills
78% of RIAs believe that digital literacy is essential for all employees
Only 29% of RIA firms have formal certification programs for continuous professional development, indicating a growth opportunity
52% of advisors report that new regulatory training has pushed them to develop new skills
The average age of advisors reskilled through formal education programs is 45 years old, indicating adult learning trends
91% of RIAs view upskilling as a strategic priority for attracting younger talent
58% of RIAs increased their focus on cybersecurity training for staff in the last year
67% of firms report that employee reskilling has led to increased client satisfaction scores
35% of RIA professionals have completed certification courses related to sustainable investing, highlighting trendy upskilling areas
64% of firms have tailored their training programs to include emotional intelligence and soft skills development
71% of new advisors receive targeted training on compliance and regulatory updates before engaging with clients
73% of RIA firms report that upskilling initiatives have helped reduce staff turnover
83% of RIAs plan to increase investment in digital transformation training in the next year
55% of advisors have participated in peer-to-peer mentoring programs as part of upskilling efforts
69% of firms reported that reskilling their staff in compliance reduces audit issues
54% of RIA firms have fully integrated continuing education credits into their HR policies, ensuring ongoing skills development
66% of RIAs have increased focus on training related to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing
61% of RIA firms aim to reskill their staff in emerging financial technologies over the next two years
87% of firms have reported an uptick in employee certifications after implementing targeted upskilling programs
50% of RIA firms actively partner with educational institutions for workforce development
34% of RIAs have implemented AI-driven personalized training programs for staff
74% of firms see a direct correlation between upskilling initiatives and improved client outcomes
56% of advisors report that reskilling has helped them better serve diverse client needs
90% of RIAs agree that ongoing professional development is vital for compliance and risk management
62% of RIA firms have increased their investment in soft skills training such as communication and leadership
48% of RIA firms actively track and measure training effectiveness through KPIs and performance metrics

Professional Development and Upskilling Strategies Interpretation

With 76% of RIA firms boosting training investments and nearly all recognizing upskilling as a strategic necessity—especially in tech, compliance, and client service—it's clear that in this industry, staying ahead isn't just about assets under management but also about the agile workforce continuously evolving to meet future challenges.