A practical guide to assets under management: what AUM means, where to find it on a company website, how to check it with official records and how to use it wisely.
Quick answer: Assets under management (AUM) is the total market value of investments a firm manages for its clients. Most asset managers and advisers show their AUM on their company website, usually on the “About us”, “Investor relations” or fact sheet pages. To verify it, check official filings, such as Form ADV on the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure site in the US, or annual reports for listed firms.
When you choose a fund manager or financial adviser, one of the first numbers you see is assets under management. A large AUM can signal trust and scale, while a small AUM may mean a boutique firm with more personal service.
But the figure on a company website is marketing material. It may be rounded, out of date or calculated in a different way from official filings. This guide shows you where to find AUM on a company website, how to check it and what the number really tells you.
In this article
- What does assets under management mean?
- Where can you find AUM on a company website?
- How do you verify a company’s assets under management?
- AUM vs other measures
- What does a company’s AUM tell you?
- Why does a company’s AUM change?
- Which companies have the largest assets under management?
- Tips for using AUM wisely
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Thoughts
What does assets under management mean?
Assets under management means the total value of client money a firm invests and manages on their behalf. It includes shares, bonds, funds, cash and other assets in client accounts or funds the firm runs.
- Rises: when markets go up or new clients invest
- Falls: when markets drop or clients withdraw money
- Used for: measuring firm size, growth and, often, fees
Many advisers charge a fee based on AUM, often around 1% a year for smaller accounts, falling for larger ones. That is why AUM directly affects a firm’s revenue.
Where can you find AUM on a company website?
1. About us page
Most firms list a headline figure, such as “$45 billion under management”, with an “as of” date.
2. Investor relations
Listed asset managers publish AUM in quarterly results, press releases and annual reports.
3. Fund fact sheets
Each fund page shows the fund size, which is that fund’s share of the firm’s AUM.
4. Regulatory or legal pages
Some advisers link to their Form ADV brochure or other disclosures in the footer.
5. Press and news
Firms often announce milestones, such as crossing $1 billion in AUM.
A wealth firm’s homepage says “over $2 billion managed for families”. The footer links to its Form ADV, where regulatory AUM is shown as $1.84 billion as of last December. The website figure includes some advisory assets the firm does not directly manage, which explains the gap.
How do you verify a company’s assets under management?
- In the US, search the firm on the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure site. Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5, shows regulatory assets under management.
- For listed firms, read the latest quarterly results or annual report on the investor relations page.
- In the UK, check the firm is authorised on the FCA Financial Services Register. The register confirms permissions but does not list AUM, so use the firm’s annual report or fund documents.
- Check the date of every figure. AUM can change a lot in one quarter.
- Compare the website number with the filing. Small differences are normal; big unexplained gaps are a warning sign.
Always make sure you are on the firm’s real website. Fake “clone firm” sites copy real names to trick investors.
AUM vs other measures
| Term | Meaning | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| Assets under management (AUM) | Money the firm actively manages and makes decisions on | Websites, filings, results |
| Regulatory AUM (RAUM) | AUM calculated under SEC Form ADV rules | Form ADV |
| Assets under administration (AUA) | Assets the firm holds or services but does not manage | Platforms, custodians |
| Assets under advisement | Assets the firm advises on but clients decide | Consultants |
| Fund size / net assets | Value of a single fund | Fact sheets |
Be careful when comparing firms. One may quote AUM while another quotes total client assets, which can look much bigger.
What does a company’s AUM tell you?
- Scale: big firms can spread costs and invest in research and technology
- Trust: a long record of growing AUM suggests clients stay
- Stability: firms with steady AUM are less likely to close funds
- Fee power: larger firms often offer lower fees on big accounts
But AUM is not a measure of skill. A huge firm can perform badly, and a small boutique can perform very well. Look at fees, long-term results, strategy and service too. Our guide to value investing explains how to judge investments on their merits.
Adviser A manages $8 billion and charges 1.2%. Adviser B manages $400 million and charges 0.8% with a dedicated planner. Both have similar results. For a $300,000 account, Adviser B saves $1,200 a year and gives more personal service, so AUM size alone is not the deciding factor.
Why does a company’s AUM change?
AUM moves for two main reasons: market performance and net flows. If markets rise 10%, a firm’s AUM rises even if no new client joins. If clients withdraw money, AUM falls even in a good market.
- Market moves: share and bond prices change the value of client portfolios every day
- Net inflows: new clients and extra deposits add to AUM
- Outflows: withdrawals, closed accounts and lost mandates reduce it
- Acquisitions: buying another firm can add billions overnight
- Currency: for global firms, exchange rates change the reported figure
When a firm reports growth, check whether it came from new money or just rising markets.
Which companies have the largest assets under management?
The world’s largest asset managers each look after trillions of dollars. BlackRock, Vanguard, Fidelity, State Street and others regularly appear at the top. BlackRock reports AUM of more than $10 trillion on its investor relations pages.
The exact ranking changes each quarter with markets and fund flows, so check each firm’s latest results for current numbers. Industry rankings from groups such as the Thinking Ahead Institute are also published yearly.
Tips for using AUM wisely
- Always note the “as of” date beside any AUM figure.
- Check whether the number is AUM, AUA or total client assets.
- Verify with official filings before you invest.
- Look at AUM trends over several years, not one figure.
- Ask how fees are linked to AUM and whether they fall as your balance grows.
If you run a business and are comparing financial partners, our guide to the asset-liability committee explains how banks manage their own balance sheets.
Take a screenshot of the AUM claim on a firm’s website with the date. If you later see a very different number in filings, you can ask the firm to explain the difference.
Pick one fund manager or adviser you are considering. Find the AUM on its company website, then search the firm on the SEC adviser site or its annual report and compare the two figures and dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is assets under management in simple terms?
It is the total value of client investments a firm manages and makes decisions about.
Where do companies show AUM on their website?
Usually on the About us page, investor relations section, press releases or fund fact sheets.
How can I check a company’s AUM officially?
In the US, use Form ADV on the SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure site. For listed firms, use quarterly or annual reports.
Why do website AUM and Form ADV figures differ?
They may use different dates or definitions. Websites sometimes include assets the firm advises on but does not manage.
Is a higher AUM always better?
No. AUM shows size and trust, not skill. Check fees, performance and service as well.
How do advisers make money from AUM?
Many charge a yearly percentage of AUM, so their income rises and falls with the value of client assets.
Final Thoughts
- Assets under management shows how much client money a firm manages.
- Company websites show AUM on About, investor relations and fact sheet pages.
- Verify the figure with filings such as Form ADV or annual reports.
- Use AUM as one factor, alongside fees, results and service.
