What Franklin Resources does

Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN) is a global investment management organization operating primarily under the Franklin Templeton brand, headquartered in San Mateo, California, with a presence spanning North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and emerging markets. The firm manages $1.78 trillion in assets under management (May 2026) across equity, fixed income, multi-asset, and alternative strategies, serving institutional investors (pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, endowments), retail investors and high-net-worth individuals (via mutual funds, ETFs, and SMAs), and financial advisors (via model portfolios and private markets). Its product shelf includes Western Asset fixed income, ClearBridge equities, Putnam funds (rebranding to Franklin in July 2026), Alcentra European alternative credit, OSAM's Canvas SMA platform, Lexington private equity secondaries, and the newly launched Franklin Crypto division.

The firm operates a multi-affiliate architecture built on a series of acquisitions: Legg Mason (2020), Lexington Partners (2021), O'Shaughnessy Asset Management (2021), Alcentra (2022), Putnam Investments (2023), Apera (2025), and 250 Digital (2026). Underlying technology includes Western Asset's fixed income platform, OSAM's Canvas customization and tax-optimization engine, blockchain-based tokenization via the BENJI token system, and the Corastone-built Private Markets Model Portfolios infrastructure that lowers minimums for private market exposure.

Franklin Resources earns revenue primarily through investment management fees calculated as a percentage of AUM, supplemented by performance/incentive fees on alternatives and closed-end fund distribution income. Q2 fiscal 2026 operating revenues were $2.29 billion (up 9% year-over-year), with adjusted operating income up 25.8% year-over-year. Distribution is overwhelmingly indirect, relying on financial advisor networks, RIA/broker-dealer relationships, institutional sales teams, and a growing roster of platform partnerships (Morningstar Wealth, Ritholtz, Corastone, Binance, Kraken). Management has guided to 30%+ operating margins by 2027.

Name

Franklin Resources

Legal name

Franklin Resources, Inc.

Website

https://franklinresources.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Franklin Resources (NYSE:BEN) is a global investment manager operating as Franklin Templeton, managing $1.78 trillion in assets across equity, fixed income, alternatives, and digital assets for institutional, retail, and advisor clients worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Asset Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities (523), Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) Wealth Management (FSAEABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialized/Niche-Vertical RIAs (e.g., Medical, Tech, Executives, Athletes) (FSAAACAL), Institutional Consulting RIAs (OCIO/Endowments/Foundations/Pensions) (FSAAACAG)

Keywords

• Asset management
• Investment management
• Wealth management
• Mutual funds
• Alternative investments

Headquarters

HQ city

San Mateo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Investment Management Fees: Franklin Resources generates revenue primarily through investment management fees calculated as a percentage of assets under management. Fees are earned from managing mutual funds, closed-end funds, ETFs, separately managed accounts, and institutional mandates across equity, fixed income, and alternative asset classes. Q2 fiscal 2026 operating revenues of $2.29 billion.
2. Performance Fees / Incentive Fees: The firm earns performance-based fees on certain alternative investment products and private market strategies, contributing to record $14.3 billion in alternatives fundraising. Investment management fee revenue expected to grow at four times the rate of expense increases.
3. Closed-End Fund Distributions: Franklin Templeton manages 14+ closed-end funds under its brand, generating distribution income from quarterly/monthly dividends to shareholders. Funds include Western Asset diversified income funds, emerging markets funds, and energy/infrastructure funds.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Franklin Resources (Franklin Templeton) is a global investment management firm managing approximately $1.78 trillion in assets under management across mutual funds, ETFs, closed-end funds, separately managed accounts (SMAs), and alternative investment vehicles. The firm offers equity, fixed income, multi-asset, private markets, and digital asset strategies to institutional clients, financial advisors, and retail investors worldwide.

Product overview

Franklin Resources operates as a global investment management firm under the Franklin Templeton brand, offering a diversified portfolio of investment products including mutual funds, ETFs, separately managed accounts (SMAs), and alternative investments. The company's architecture comprises its core Franklin Templeton platform supplemented by acquired brands including Putnam Investments, O'Shaughnessy Asset Management (with its Canvas platform), Alcentra, and 250 Digital, as well as subsidiary Western Asset Management for fixed income. In 2026, the company launched Franklin Crypto as a dedicated digital asset division and Private Markets Model Portfolios to expand into tokenized products and private markets. The company manages $1.78 trillion in assets under management across equity, fixed income, and multi-asset strategies for institutional and retail investors worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Franklin Crypto A dedicated active digital asset management division that integrates cryptocurrency-native expertise with Franklin Templeton's traditional asset management infrastructure to provide institutional clients with active cryptocurrency investment management.
• Franklin BSP CLO ETF A collateralized loan obligation ETF providing institutional investors with exposure to structured credit instruments.
• Private Markets Model Portfolios Model portfolios using a single-ticket, SMA-style structure that reduces operational complexity and lowers minimum investment thresholds while offering diversified multi-asset exposure across public and private markets.
• Franklin Templeton Alternatives The alternative investments platform offering private equity, private credit, real estate, infrastructure, and alternative debt strategies with record AUM of $282.8 billion as of Q2 fiscal 2026.
• Franklin U.S. Equity Index ETF (USPX) A U.S. equity index ETF listed on major exchanges for institutional and retail investors seeking diversified U.S. equity exposure.
• Franklin Templeton Closed-End Funds A suite of 14+ closed-end funds under the Franklin Templeton brand generating distribution income from quarterly/monthly dividends, including Western Asset diversified income funds, emerging markets funds, and energy/infrastructure funds.
• Franklin Templeton Mutual Funds A diversified shelf of 100+ mutual funds spanning equity, fixed income, and multi-asset strategies sold primarily through financial advisor networks for retail and institutional investors.
• Franklin Templeton Separately Managed Accounts (SMAs) Separately managed accounts providing customized investment solutions and tax-optimized strategies for high-net-worth individuals and wealth management platforms.

Quantifiable outcome

• Record $16.9 billion in long-term net inflows for Q2 fiscal 2026
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Payward (Kraken)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Franklin Templeton partnered with Payward (operator of the Kraken cryptocurrency exchange) to develop onchain investment products. The partnership connects Franklin Templeton's tokenization capabilities with Kraken's xStreams framework and institutional crypto infrastructure, enabling new digital asset investment products for institutional clients.
• Morningstar WealthflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2026Morningstar Wealth announced collaboration with Apollo Global Management, Franklin Resources, and J.P. Morgan Asset Management to create research-driven public/private model portfolios for financial advisors. The partnership packages Franklin Templeton's private credit and real estate exposure into diversified portfolios using ETFs and interval funds through Morningstar's advisor platform.
• BinanceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Franklin Templeton partnered with Binance to launch an off-exchange institutional collateral program designed to improve capital efficiency in digital asset trading. The partnership supports Franklin's broader digital asset strategy and Franklin Crypto division.
• Ritholtz Wealth ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Franklin Resources announced collaboration with Ritholtz Wealth Management to expand tokenized products and private markets offerings for investors. The partnership integrates Franklin Templeton's tokenization infrastructure with Ritholtz's wealth management capabilities for client access.
• CorastonecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Franklin Templeton launched Private Markets Model Portfolios in collaboration with Corastone, a digital infrastructure platform designed to streamline and scale private market investments for financial advisors. The portfolios use a single-ticket, SMA-style structure that reduces operational complexity and lowers minimum investment thresholds while offering diversified multi-asset exposure across public and private markets.
• Uzbekistan National Investment Fund (UzNIF)minorOthers · 1 May 2026Franklin Resources acted as a cornerstone investor in the Uzbekistan National Investment Fund IPO, committing approximately $300 million alongside BlackRock and Redwheel. The fund, managed by a Franklin Templeton subsidiary, holds stakes in 13 companies and listed on the London Stock Exchange valued at $1.95 billion.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FTI_Global
• Facebookfacebook.com/franklintempleton
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/franklin-templeton

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A8 records

Investments16 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Franklin Resources