Blackrock, Mainstay Investments/NYLIM, and JPMorgan Asset Management were the top three firms receiving the highest wholesaler satisfaction scores in an FA Vision survey conducted by consulting firm Kasina and advisor website Horsesmouth. Responses were gathered in April from 3,129 advisors.

Wholesaler satisfaction scores for Blackrock and Mainstay for example were 84 and 83 out of 100. Blackrock was specifically noted for their ability to help conduct client meetings, while Mainstay stood out for their availability and responsiveness.

The other eight firms, placing fourth through tenth were Nationwide funds, MFS Investment Management, Natixis Funds, Ivy Funds, PIMCO/Alliance Funds, DWS Investments, and Janus Capital Group.

The survey, which crosses wirehouse, independent and bank channels, “is extremely important for companies to understand if they’re getting the return on creating their brand, marketing and wholesaling,” says Lee Kowarski, principal at Kasina. “It’s critical to know how you’re being seen by customers as well your prospects.”

For example, the survey found that advisors meet with a wholesaler on average 2.81 times a year, but wholesalers with the highest satisfaction scores meet more often that that with their top clients. Blackrock had 3.80 meetings per year, Nationwide, 3.57, JPMorgan Asset Management, 3.29, and Mainstay Investments, 3.27. The wholesaler satisfaction score is a weighted average of such factors as ability to deliver value-added programs, knowledge about the firm’s products and about the firm’s competitive products.

“Firms that rose to the top are very consciously focused on being smarter about how their wholesalers spend their time, which involves segmenting the financial advisors they do business with and taking a more scientific approach to managing their sales forces,” says Kowarski.