{"id":64387,"date":"2026-02-11T02:10:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T07:10:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allianceadvisors.com\/how-digital-tools-have-become-the-new-standard-in-mutual-fund-proxy-solicitations\/"},"modified":"2026-06-11T09:09:20","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T13:09:20","slug":"how-digital-tools-have-become-the-new-standard-in-mutual-fund-proxy-solicitations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allianceadvisors.com\/ja\/how-digital-tools-have-become-the-new-standard-in-mutual-fund-proxy-solicitations\/","title":{"rendered":"How Digital Tools Have Become the New Standard in Proxy Solicitations for Companies With Retail Heavy Shareholder Bases"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\">[vc_row css_animation=&#8221;fadeIn&#8221; content_placement=&#8221;bottom&#8221; column_spacing=&#8221;0px&#8221; wpex_bg_image_source=&#8221;featured&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1779350602445{background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}&#8221; min_height=&#8221;450px&#8221; wpex_bg_position=&#8221;center right&#8221;][vc_column wpex_bg_image_source=&#8221;featured&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1738695614909{background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}&#8221; wpex_bg_position=&#8221;center center&#8221;]<div class=\"vcex-spacing wpex-w-100 wpex-clear\" style=\"height:300px;\"><\/div><style>.vcex-heading.vcex_6a3c5457d1660{width:600px;color:var(--wpex-accent);font-size:var(--wpex-text-5xl);font-weight:600;line-height:var(--wpex-leading-tight);}@media (max-width:479px){.vcex-heading.vcex_6a3c5457d1660{font-size:30px;}}<\/style><h1 class=\"vcex-heading vcex-heading-plain vcex-module wpex-heading wpex-text-2xl wpex-max-w-100 wpex-mr-auto vc_custom_1779350588937 vcex_6a3c5457d1660\"><span class=\"vcex-heading-inner wpex-inline-block\">How Digital Tools Have Become the New Standard in Proxy Solicitations for Companies With Retail Heavy Shareholder Bases<\/span><\/h1><style>.vcex-heading.vcex_6a3c5457d271e{width:600px;color:var(--wpex-accent);font-size:var(--wpex-text-lg);font-weight:600;line-height:var(--wpex-leading-tight);}@media (max-width:479px){.vcex-heading.vcex_6a3c5457d271e{font-size:16px;}}<\/style><h3 class=\"vcex-heading vcex-heading-plain vcex-module wpex-heading wpex-text-2xl wpex-max-w-100 wpex-mr-auto vc_custom_1740761328938 vcex_6a3c5457d271e\"><a href=\"https:\/\/allianceadvisors.com\/ja\/author\/sam\/\" class=\"wpex-no-underline wpex-inherit-color-important\"><span class=\"vcex-heading-inner wpex-inline-block\"><span class=\"vcex-heading-icon vcex-heading-icon-left vcex-icon-wrap wpex-mr-5\">By<\/span>Sam Chandoha<\/span><\/a><\/h3><div class=\"vcex-spacing wpex-w-100 wpex-clear\" style=\"height:50px;\"><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]<div class=\"vcex-spacing wpex-w-100 wpex-clear\" style=\"height:30px;\"><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=&#8221;fadeIn&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]Any company with a retail\u2011heavy shareholder base faces the same reality: achieving a majority vote threshold at a shareholder meeting is both difficult and expensive. Shareholder demographics are remarkably consistent across these types of companies: large numbers of retail investors holding relatively small dollar\u2011value positions, dispersed across intermediaries and account types. Whether a shareholder holds shares in street name or is registered makes little difference the underlying demographic challenge remains the same. Compounding this issue, the NOBO\/OBO framework allows a company to identify only roughly half of its street\u2011name shareholders, which significantly limits direct outreach. The result is a persistent pattern of low engagement: a large population of shareholders who do not prioritize voting and often ignore traditional proxy mailings.<\/p>\n<p>These issues are not new. However, one structural development has turned what was once a manageable challenge into a more complex and costly undertaking: the dramatic expansion of share ownership across the investing population, especially younger investors.<\/p>\n<h2>Historical Solicitation Strategies<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Outbound telephone campaigns:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>For many years, a typical solicitation followed a predictable pattern. Companies would mail proxy materials to all shareholders, wait for approximately 25 percent of the votes to be returned, and then engage a proxy solicitor to launch an outbound telephone campaign to the remaining unvoted registered and NOBO accounts. The introduction of telephone voting by Shareholder Communications Corporation in the 1990s significantly improved this process: call\u2011center agents could reach shareholders at home, walk them through the voting process, and complete a vote in under two minutes. With a call center staffed by 200 agents, a proxy solicitor could contact approximately 20,000 shareholders during a single evening shift.<\/p>\n<p>Today, that model faces substantial headwinds. The widespread adoption of mobile phones, combined with the abandonment of landline service in most households, has reduced the effectiveness of outbound calling. While telephone outreach is still used and continues to generate some votes, it can no longer be relied upon to bridge the gap between votes returned by mail and votes required for approval. Where agents once completed as many as 22 calls per hour, that number has dropped to roughly six to eight, as shareholders increasingly decline to answer calls from unfamiliar numbers or screen heavily against perceived spam. Even when fund groups possess mobile numbers, reachability and connection rates have declined.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Explosion of Retail Ownership:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The shareholder landscape in 2026 is unrecognizable from the the one that existed from a few years ogo. The proliferation of low-cost brokerage platforms, the democratization of retail investing, and the explosive growth of exchange-traded funds have produced a seismic shift in the number of shareholder accounts in the U.S.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=&#8221;fadeIn&#8221;][vc_column]<div class=\"vcex-shortcode wpex-clr\"><div id=\"footable_parent_65675\"\n         class=\"ninja-footable-loader footable_parent ninja_table_wrapper loading_ninja_table wp_table_data_press_parent semantic_ui colored_table\">\n                    <h3 class=\"table_title footable_title\">Estimated Brokerage Accounts by Decade (Top 10 Largest Brokers)<\/h3>\n                        <table data-ninja_table_instance=\"ninja_table_instance_0\" data-footable_id=\"65675\" data-filter-delay=\"1000\" aria-label=\"Estimated Brokerage Accounts by Decade (Top 10 Largest Brokers)\"            id=\"footable_65675\"\n           data-unique_identifier=\"ninja_table_unique_id_1693434935_65675\"\n           class=\" foo-table ninja_footable foo_table_65675 ninja_table_unique_id_1693434935_65675 ui table  ninja_search_right nt_type_legacy_table celled vertical_centered striped ninja_custom_color inverted footable-paging-right ninja_table_search_disabled ninja_table_pro\">\n                <colgroup>\n                            <col class=\"ninja_column_0 \">\n                            <col class=\"ninja_column_1 \">\n                    <\/colgroup>\n        <thead>\n<tr class=\"footable-header\">\n                                        <th scope=\"col\"  class=\"ninja_column_0 ninja_clmn_nm_year \">Year<\/th><th scope=\"col\"  class=\"ninja_column_1 ninja_clmn_nm_total_client_accounts \">Total Client Accounts<\/th><\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n\n        <tr data-row_id=\"1240\" class=\"ninja_table_row_0 nt_row_id_1240\">\n            <td>1985<\/td><td>11,500,000<\/td>        <\/tr>\n            <tr data-row_id=\"1241\" class=\"ninja_table_row_1 nt_row_id_1241\">\n            <td>1995<\/td><td>27,200,000<\/td>        <\/tr>\n            <tr data-row_id=\"1242\" class=\"ninja_table_row_2 nt_row_id_1242\">\n            <td>2005<\/td><td>72,500,000<\/td>        <\/tr>\n            <tr data-row_id=\"1243\" class=\"ninja_table_row_3 nt_row_id_1243\">\n            <td>2015<\/td><td>82,600,000<\/td>        <\/tr>\n            <tr data-row_id=\"1244\" class=\"ninja_table_row_4 nt_row_id_1244\">\n            <td>2025<\/td><td>160,000,000<\/td>        <\/tr>\n    <\/tbody><!--ninja_tobody_rendering_done-->\n    <\/table>\n    \n    \n    \n<\/div>\n<\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=&#8221;fadeIn&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]Just looking at Robinhood data alone, in 2016, the firm had an estimated one million funded accounts and in the latest quarter they reported 27.4 million, a twenty-seven-fold increase\u00b9. Estimating the average number of holdings per brokerage account across the industry is difficult, but according to Charles Schwab, the average number of positions in self-directed accounts within the Schwab system is twelve across six categories of investment. Using only equities, the number is six which means that the number of holdings in brokerage accounts has grown from an estimated 69 million in 1985 to approximately 960 million in 2025, without counting mutual funds or ETF\u2019s\u00b2. This represents a fourteen-fold increase in the number of discrete shareholder-to-company relationships that the proxy communication system must serve. The cost and complexity implications are staggering, and they are borne overwhelmingly by issuers and, ultimately, their shareholders.<\/p>\n<h2>Digital Tools Deliver Votes<\/h2>\n<p>There is no single solution to retail shareholder engagement, and different shareholder segments respond to different approaches. Nonetheless, many proxy solicitation programs have historically leaned on a uniform playbook: mail, remail, and repeated outbound calling. In an environment where landlines are disappearing and digital communication is ubiquitous, that model is increasingly difficult to sustain on its own.<\/p>\n<p>韩国GV Advisors has developed a suite of digital tools designed to complement traditional solicitation methods and, in many situations, to extend or enhance their effectiveness. For larger shareholders, outbound telephone outreach remains a useful tactic. For smaller, harder\u2011to\u2011reach, or historically unresponsive shareholders, targeted digital channels such as text messaging and branded email campaigns provide additional touchpoints that align more closely with how investors communicate today. This hybrid strategy can be more cost\u2011effective and has the potential to generate vote returns even after traditional telephone campaigns have reached diminishing marginal results.<\/p>\n<h2>Case Study: Digital Tools in Practice<\/h2>\n<p>韩国GV Advisors was engaged to assist with a large\u2011scale proxy solicitation involving approximately 5,000,000 shareholders. The company had previously retained another proxy solicitor that, after one adjournment and more than 60 days of activity, had achieved only 38 percent of the outstanding shares voted, despite a requirement to reach 50 percent. At that point, the outbound call campaign had largely run its course and was generating minimal daily vote movement.<\/p>\n<p>With 30 days remaining before the deadline, 韩国GV Advisors was retained with a clear mandate: deploy a broad suite of digital tools to re\u2011engage shareholders and restart vote momentum. The objective was not to abandon traditional methods but to add complementary channels that could more effectively reach shareholders who were not responsive to previous outreach. It is important to note that no single tool operated as a standalone solution or \u201cmagic bullet.\u201d Each tactic produced measurable results on its own, but the most meaningful impact came from a coordinated, phased strategy designed to reach different shareholder segments at different points in the solicitation.<\/p>\n<p>Below, is an overview of each of the digital tools that were used during this engagement to deliver the majority vote needed and a successful outcome.<a href=\"applewebdata:\/\/D0D929BA-EE00-402A-BA65-D6BB5F2373C0#_ftnref1\" name=\"_ftn1\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Text\u2011to\u2011Vote<\/h3>\n<p>Given widespread reluctance to answer unknown phone calls, Text\u2011to\u2011Vote has emerged as an effective way to capture shareholder attention particularly among younger investors who prefer to transact via mobile devices. This approach allows 韩国GV Advisors to send shareholders a concise SMS or MMS text message containing an embedded, secure link that directs them to a voting page. Registered and NOBO shareholders can review key information and vote quickly and conveniently from their phones.<\/p>\n<p>In this case study, Text\u2011to\u2011Vote accounted for 33.3 percent of the total votes captured during the solicitation. While the relative contribution of text messaging will vary by shareholder base and data quality, these results indicate that text can be a significant driver of incremental participation when integrated into a broader strategy.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=&#8221;fadeIn&#8221; remove_bottom_col_margin=&#8221;true&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1770797342038{padding-top: 30px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}&#8221; wpex_bg_color=&#8221;#f1f1f1&#8243;][vc_column]<div class=\"vcex-heading vcex-heading-plain vcex-module wpex-heading wpex-text-2xl wpex-mb-30 wpex-text-center\"><span class=\"vcex-heading-inner wpex-inline-block\">Text to Vote\u2122<\/span><\/div><figure class=\"vcex-image vcex-module wpex-text-center\"><div class=\"vcex-image-inner wpex-relative wpex-inline-block\"><img width=\"1920\" height=\"758\" src=\"https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Text-to-vote.png\" class=\"vcex-image-img wpex-align-middle\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Text-to-vote.png 1920w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Text-to-vote-300x118.png 300w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Text-to-vote-1024x404.png 1024w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Text-to-vote-768x303.png 768w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Text-to-vote-1536x606.png 1536w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Text-to-vote.png?w=192 192w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Text-to-vote.png?w=384 384w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Text-to-vote.png?w=576 576w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Text-to-vote.png?w=960 960w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Text-to-vote.png?w=1152 1152w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Text-to-vote.png?w=1344 1344w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Text-to-vote.png?w=1728 1728w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Text-to-vote.png?w=450 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 980px) 100vw, 980px\" \/><\/div><\/figure>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=&#8221;fadeIn&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1770797350232{padding-top: 20px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]\n<h3>Email Voting<\/h3>\n<p>Email voting operates on a similar principle but allows for a more detailed communication than text. Branded email messages are delivered to registered, OBO, and NOBO shareholders and include direct voting links that enable participation in just a few clicks. Unlike traditional mail, email provides immediate delivery, clear calls to action, and the ability for shareholders to vote without printing, signing, or mailing a proxy card.<\/p>\n<p>In the solicitation described above, Email Voting represented <strong>37.9 percen<\/strong>t of the total votes captured. For shareholder populations with reliable email coverage, this channel can serve both as a primary method of engagement and as a reinforcement to other outreach, particularly when reminders are sequenced over time.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=&#8221;fadeIn&#8221; remove_bottom_col_margin=&#8221;true&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1770797359473{padding-top: 30px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}&#8221; wpex_bg_color=&#8221;#f1f1f1&#8243;][vc_column]<div class=\"vcex-heading vcex-heading-plain vcex-module wpex-heading wpex-text-2xl wpex-mb-30 wpex-text-center\"><span class=\"vcex-heading-inner wpex-inline-block\">Email Voting<\/span><\/div><figure class=\"vcex-image vcex-module wpex-text-center\"><div class=\"vcex-image-inner wpex-relative wpex-inline-block\"><img width=\"1920\" height=\"904\" src=\"https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Email-Voting.png\" class=\"vcex-image-img wpex-align-middle\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Email-Voting.png 1920w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Email-Voting-300x141.png 300w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Email-Voting-1024x482.png 1024w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Email-Voting-768x362.png 768w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Email-Voting-1536x723.png 1536w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Email-Voting.png?w=192 192w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Email-Voting.png?w=384 384w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Email-Voting.png?w=576 576w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Email-Voting.png?w=960 960w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Email-Voting.png?w=1152 1152w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Email-Voting.png?w=1344 1344w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Email-Voting.png?w=1728 1728w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Email-Voting.png?w=450 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 980px) 100vw, 980px\" \/><\/div><\/figure>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=&#8221;fadeIn&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1770797367535{padding-top: 20px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]\n<h3>Proxy Lite<\/h3>\n<p>Proxy Lite is designed to address the same core challenge facing traditional outbound calling: shareholders\u2019 reluctance to answer calls from unfamiliar numbers. In this approach, shareholders receive a prerecorded message asking them to call a toll\u2011free number regarding their investment. When they return the call, they are connected to a live agent who can review the proposals and record their vote. If the shareholder answers the initial call, they can press \u201c1\u201d to be routed immediately to an agent.<\/p>\n<p>In the case study, Proxy Lite accounted for<strong> 11.1 percent<\/strong> of the total votes captured. While this channel still relies on voice communication, it inverts the dynamic by prompting shareholders to initiate the contact, which can reduce the friction associated with unsolicited calls.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=&#8221;fadeIn&#8221; remove_bottom_col_margin=&#8221;true&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1770797374355{padding-top: 30px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}&#8221; wpex_bg_color=&#8221;#f1f1f1&#8243;][vc_column]<div class=\"vcex-heading vcex-heading-plain vcex-module wpex-heading wpex-text-2xl wpex-mb-30 wpex-text-center\"><span class=\"vcex-heading-inner wpex-inline-block\">Proxy Lite<\/span><\/div><figure class=\"vcex-image vcex-module wpex-text-center\"><div class=\"vcex-image-inner wpex-relative wpex-inline-block\"><img width=\"1920\" height=\"811\" src=\"https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Proxy-Lite.png\" class=\"vcex-image-img wpex-align-middle\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Proxy-Lite.png 1920w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Proxy-Lite-300x127.png 300w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Proxy-Lite-1024x433.png 1024w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Proxy-Lite-768x324.png 768w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Proxy-Lite-1536x649.png 1536w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Proxy-Lite.png?w=192 192w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Proxy-Lite.png?w=384 384w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Proxy-Lite.png?w=576 576w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Proxy-Lite.png?w=960 960w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Proxy-Lite.png?w=1152 1152w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Proxy-Lite.png?w=1344 1344w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Proxy-Lite.png?w=1728 1728w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Proxy-Lite.png?w=450 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 980px) 100vw, 980px\" \/><\/div><\/figure>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=&#8221;fadeIn&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1770797381852{padding-top: 20px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]\n<h3>QR Code Mailings<\/h3>\n<p>QR Code Mailings are targeted communications sent late in the solicitation cycle to the largest unreachable or still\u2011unvoted shareholders. These mailings emphasize urgency and provide shareholders with two immediate options: scan a QR code to vote electronically or call a live agent to cast their vote. By combining physical mail with digital and telephone options, this approach offers a clear, time\u2011sensitive call to action at a critical stage.<\/p>\n<p>In this campaign, QR Code Mailings represented <strong>18.2 percent<\/strong> of the total votes captured. Although they are more targeted and often more expensive on a per\u2011piece basis than standard mailings, their focus on large, unvoted positions can make them an efficient tool for closing the gap in the final days of a solicitation.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=&#8221;fadeIn&#8221; remove_bottom_col_margin=&#8221;true&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1770797389768{padding-top: 30px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}&#8221; wpex_bg_color=&#8221;#f1f1f1&#8243;][vc_column]<div class=\"vcex-heading vcex-heading-plain vcex-module wpex-heading wpex-text-2xl wpex-mb-30 wpex-text-center\"><span class=\"vcex-heading-inner wpex-inline-block\">QR Code Mailings<\/span><\/div><figure class=\"vcex-image vcex-module wpex-text-center\"><div class=\"vcex-image-inner wpex-relative wpex-inline-block\"><img width=\"1920\" height=\"790\" src=\"https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/QR-Code-Mailings.png\" class=\"vcex-image-img wpex-align-middle\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/QR-Code-Mailings.png 1920w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/QR-Code-Mailings-300x123.png 300w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/QR-Code-Mailings-1024x421.png 1024w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/QR-Code-Mailings-768x316.png 768w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/QR-Code-Mailings-1536x632.png 1536w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/QR-Code-Mailings.png?w=192 192w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/QR-Code-Mailings.png?w=384 384w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/QR-Code-Mailings.png?w=576 576w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/QR-Code-Mailings.png?w=960 960w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/QR-Code-Mailings.png?w=1152 1152w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/QR-Code-Mailings.png?w=1344 1344w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/QR-Code-Mailings.png?w=1728 1728w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/QR-Code-Mailings.png?w=450 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 980px) 100vw, 980px\" \/><\/div><\/figure>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=&#8221;fadeIn&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1770797397645{padding-top: 20px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]\n<h3>The Common Thread: Immediacy and Accessibility<\/h3>\n<p>Across all these engagement strategies, a consistent theme emerges, immediacy. Digital tools provide shareholders with the ability to review key information and vote almost instantly, using channels they already rely on in their daily lives. Without simple, fast, and accessible voting options, many shareholder interactions fail to translate into actual votes, especially among those who are neutral or mildly supportive but not motivated to overcome procedural friction.<\/p>\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>韩国GV Advisors has been deploying digital solicitation tools for more than a decade, but their role in proxy campaigns has changed meaningfully as shareholder communication habits have evolved. In an environment marked by reachability challenges, declining landline usage, and changing expectations around convenience, digital tools have become a central component of many successful solicitation strategies, rather than a peripheral add\u2011on.<\/p>\n<p>Digital channels can deliver votes at every stage of the solicitation cycle, particularly in later phases when traditional methods have been exhausted and timelines are compressed. They can be implemented relatively quickly, scaled efficiently, and configured in a cost\u2011conscious way when integrated with data\u2011driven targeting and clear messaging.<\/p>\n<p>The effective use of these tools is both an art and a science which require a nuanced understanding of shareholder behavior, regulatory obligations, and operational constraints. 韩国GV Advisors\u2019 experience across numerous corporate and mutual fund solicitations indicates that a well\u2011designed digital program, paired with traditional tactics where appropriate, can help funds meet their voting objectives while managing cost and mitigating execution risk.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1753787606989{padding: 20px !important;background-color: #F1F1F1 !important;}&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221; font_size=&#8221;13px&#8221;]\n<h3>Citations<\/h3>\n<p><sup>1 <\/sup>Robinhood, Robinhood Markets, Inc. Reports February 2026 Operating Data, https:\/\/investors.robinhood.com\/static-files\/79cafd75-c807-4044-a305-8f99a5b295dd.<\/p>\n<p>\u00b2\u00a0Charles Schwab, Self-Directed Brokerage Account Indicators, <a href=\"https:\/\/corporateservices.schwab.acsitefactory.com\/resource\/sdba-indicators-q4-2025-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/corporateservices.schwab.acsitefactory.com\/resource\/sdba-indicators-q4-2025-report<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=&#8221;fadeIn&#8221; disable_element=&#8221;yes&#8221; remove_bottom_col_margin=&#8221;true&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1775826205710{padding-top: 30px !important;padding-right: 30px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;padding-left: 30px !important;}&#8221; wpex_bg_color=&#8221;#f1f1f1&#8243;][vc_column]<div class=\"wpex-post-cards wpex-post-cards-staff_8 wpex-relative\"><div class=\"wpex-post-cards-inner\"><div class=\"wpex-post-cards-loop wpex-post-cards-grid wpex-row wpex-clr\"><div class=\"wpex-post-cards-entry col col-1 span_1_of_1 post-40279 type-staff tag-99 tag-96 tag-97 cat-137 cat-132 translation_priority-373\"><div class=\"wpex-card wpex-card-staff_8\"><div class=\"wpex-card-inner wpex-flex wpex-flex-col wpex-flex-grow wpex-md-flex-row wpex-gap-20 wpex-md-gap-40 wpex-items-center\"><div class=\"wpex-card-media wpex-md-w-30 wpex-flex-shrink-0 wpex-self-stretch overlay-parent overlay-parent-1\"><div class=\"wpex-card-thumbnail wpex-relative wpex-w-100 wpex-h-100\"><a href=\"https:\/\/allianceadvisors.com\/ja\/staff-member\/sam-chandoha\/\"><img width=\"1000\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Sam-Chandoha-2023.jpg\" class=\"wpex-align-middle wpex-w-100 wpex-h-100 wpex-object-cover\" alt=\"Head shot of Sam Chandoha\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Sam-Chandoha-2023.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Sam-Chandoha-2023-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Sam-Chandoha-2023-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Sam-Chandoha-2023-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Sam-Chandoha-2023-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Sam-Chandoha-2023-350x350.jpg 350w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Sam-Chandoha-2023-230x230.jpg 230w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Sam-Chandoha-2023-210x210.jpg 210w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Sam-Chandoha-2023-220x220.jpg 220w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Sam-Chandoha-2023-64x64.jpg 64w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Sam-Chandoha-2023-26x26.jpg 26w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Sam-Chandoha-2023-70x70.jpg 70w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Sam-Chandoha-2023-290x290.jpg 290w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Sam-Chandoha-2023-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Sam-Chandoha-2023.jpg?w=400 400w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Sam-Chandoha-2023.jpg?w=500 500w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Sam-Chandoha-2023.jpg?w=700 700w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Sam-Chandoha-2023.jpg?w=900 900w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Sam-Chandoha-2023.jpg?w=450 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 980px) 100vw, 980px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpex-card-details wpex-flex-grow wpex-last-mb-0\"><div class=\"wpex-card-element wpex-card-staff-member-position wpex-text-sm wpex-uppercase wpex-mb-10\">Chief Marketing Officer &amp; Head of Corporate Affairs<\/div><h2 class=\"wpex-card-title wpex-heading wpex-text-2xl\"><a href=\"https:\/\/allianceadvisors.com\/ja\/staff-member\/sam-chandoha\/\">Sam Chandoha<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"wpex-card-excerpt wpex-last-mb-0 wpex-mt-20\"><p>W. Sam Chandoha is a pioneer in alternative solicitation strategies for mutual funds. He was the architect of the vote-by-telephone concept and designed the procedures and operational frameworks that form the basis of today\u2019s industry-standard practices. He is CMO and Strategic Advisor at 韩国GV Advisors.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"wpex-card-element wpex-card-staff-social wpex-mt-20 wpex-child-inherit-color\"><div class=\"staff-social wpex-social-btns wpex-flex wpex-flex-wrap wpex-gap-10\"><a href=\"mailto:schandoha@allianceadvisors.com\" class=\"wpex-email\">Email<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_section disable_element=&#8221;yes&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1779349862269{padding-top: 30px !important;padding-right: 30px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;padding-left: 30px !important;}&#8221;][vc_row content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; remove_bottom_col_margin=&#8221;true&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221; font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; font_style=&#8221;italic&#8221;]\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This article first appeared on the Ignites website <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ignites.com\/c\/5092414\/717834\/alliance_advisors_digital_tools_have_become_standard_mutual_fund_proxy_solicitations_white_paper?referrer_module=emailNewsletter&amp;module_order=5&amp;code=Y21KaFltbHVaV0YxUUdGc2JHbGhibU5sWVdSMmFYTnZjbk11WTI5dExDQXhPREF4TURNMU5Dd2dNVFEzTVRjeE5ERTNPUT09\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">HERE<\/a>.<br \/>\nCopyright \u00a9 2026 F.T. Specialist Inc. All rights reserved.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243; wpex_bg_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221;]<figure class=\"vcex-image vcex-module\"><div class=\"vcex-image-inner wpex-relative wpex-inline-block\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ignites.com\/c\/5092414\/717834\/alliance_advisors_digital_tools_have_become_standard_mutual_fund_proxy_solicitations_white_paper?referrer_module=emailNewsletter&#038;module_order=5&#038;code=Y21KaFltbHVaV0YxUUdGc2JHbGhibU5sWVdSMmFYTnZjbk11WTI5dExDQXhPREF4TURNMU5Dd2dNVFEzTVRjeE5ERTNPUT09\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored noopener noreferrer\"><img width=\"615\" height=\"124\" src=\"https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ignites-logo.png\" class=\"vcex-image-img wpex-align-middle\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ignites-logo.png 615w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ignites-logo-300x60.png 300w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ignites-logo.png?w=61 61w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ignites-logo.png?w=123 123w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ignites-logo.png?w=184 184w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ignites-logo.png?w=246 246w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ignites-logo.png?w=369 369w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ignites-logo.png?w=430 430w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ignites-logo.png?w=492 492w, https:\/\/e4h8grreyn6.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ignites-logo.png?w=553 553w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 615px) 100vw, 615px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/figure>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section]\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row css_animation=&#8221;fadeIn&#8221; content_placement=&#8221;bottom&#8221; column_spacing=&#8221;0px&#038;#8&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":64789,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[383],"tags":[],"post_series":[],"ppma_author":[466],"class_list":["post-64387","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-whitepapers-ja","entry","has-media"],"authors":[{"term_id":466,"user_id":35,"is_guest":0,"slug":"sam","display_name":"Sam Chandoha","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/allianceadvisors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Sam-Chandoha-2023.jpg","url2x":"https:\/\/allianceadvisors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Sam-Chandoha-2023.jpg"},"author_category":"1","first_name":"Sam","last_name":"Chandoha","user_url":"","job_title":"Chief Marketing Officer & Head of Corporate Affairs","description":"With decades of entrepreneurial and direct industry experience Sam is uniquely poised to provide strategic advice on business development, acquisitions and global expansion."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/allianceadvisors.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64387","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/allianceadvisors.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/allianceadvisors.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allianceadvisors.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/35"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allianceadvisors.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64387"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/allianceadvisors.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64387\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":66395,"href":"https:\/\/allianceadvisors.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64387\/revisions\/66395"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allianceadvisors.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/64789"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/allianceadvisors.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64387"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allianceadvisors.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=64387"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allianceadvisors.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=64387"},{"taxonomy":"post_series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allianceadvisors.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_series?post=64387"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allianceadvisors.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=64387"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}