Vanguard’s Adviser Research Centre – what we learned in our first year!
Over the past year, Vanguard’s Adviser Research Centre (ARC) has been on a mission to support financial advisers with practical tools and research that drive real improvements for clients. In a recent webinar, Sebastian Lewis, CFA — Senior Strategist at Vanguard’s ARC — sat down with Timeline CEO Abraham Okusanya to reflect on the Centre’s first 12 months and the key lessons that have had the greatest impact.
One of the central themes of the discussion was the enduring value of Adviser’s Alpha — Vanguard’s well-known framework for how advisers add value beyond simply picking investments. Even after 25 years, it remains just as relevant, helping advisers guide clients through complex markets, behavioral pitfalls, and major life transitions.
The conversation also explored the evolving dynamics of the Great Wealth Transfer, highlighting how client needs and expectations are shifting as trillions of pounds move between generations. Sebastian emphasized the critical role of behavioural coaching, especially during uncertain times, and reinforced how indexing continues to form the bedrock of resilient portfolio construction.
Real-world examples shared during the session showed how advisers are successfully applying ARC’s insights to improve client outcomes, manage intergenerational wealth conversations, and deliver long-term value.
If you missed it, you can still watch the recap and catch all the practical insights that can help take your client relationships to the next level.
Your specialist, Sebastian Lewis, CFA - Senior Strategist at Vanguard’s Advisory Research Centre
Sebastian worked at Morgan Stanley in equity sales from 1999-2003 and then joined Sanford Bernstein in New York where he spent 15 years covering asset managers, hedge funds and sovereign wealth funds. From 2018-2022 he was Director of European Research at Sanford Bernstein in London. Sebastian joined Vanguard in January 2024.