Franklin Templeton is owned by its publicly traded parent, Franklin Resources Inc, which trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BEN, and no single private owner controls it.
Franklin Templeton is a global investment management firm offering mutual funds, exchange traded funds, and separately managed accounts to individual investors, financial advisors, and institutions in more than 150 countries.
The firm grew from a small fund distributor founded in New York in 1947 into a multi brand asset manager overseeing more than 1.66 trillion dollars as of September 2025, expanded by acquisitions such as Templeton in 1992 and Legg Mason in 2020.
So how does a firm started by one man selling mutual funds grow into a global manager overseeing more than a trillion dollars, and who actually controls it today?
This article looks at Franklin Templeton ownership structure, the Johnson family stake, its CEO and founder history, how its major acquisitions have shaped the firm, its retirement and investment services, and how to reach Franklin Templeton customer support.
So let us get started.
Table of Contents
Company Overview
Franklin Templeton is a global investment management firm offering mutual funds, exchange traded funds, and separately managed accounts.
The brand combines the original Franklin funds business with Templeton Investments, a value oriented international fund manager acquired in 1992.
Today the firm serves individual investors, financial advisors, and institutions across more than 150 countries.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1947 |
| Founder | Rupert H Johnson Sr |
| Headquarters | San Mateo, California |
| Ownership | Publicly traded, Johnson family is largest shareholder |
| Stock Ticker | NYSE: BEN |
| CEO | Jenny Johnson |
| Type | Global asset management firm |
Ownership and Parent Company
Franklin Templeton operates under its corporate parent, Franklin Resources Inc, a publicly traded holding company.
Franklin Resources owns the Franklin Templeton family of brands, including Templeton, Mutual Series, Clearbridge Investments, Western Asset Management, Martin Currie, and Benefit Street Partners, among other specialist investment managers.
There is no outside conglomerate above Franklin Resources. It remains an independent, family influenced public company.
Core mutual fund and ETF brand
Specialist equity manager
Fixed income specialist
Public or Private, Shareholders
Franklin Resources is a public company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker BEN.
The Johnson family, led historically by Charles Johnson and Rupert Johnson Jr, has long held a large ownership stake dating back to when the family took the company public.
Institutional index fund managers such as Vanguard and BlackRock also hold meaningful stakes, as is typical for most publicly traded companies.
Because Franklin Resources discloses its ownership structure in SEC filings, investors can review the most current proxy statement for exact shareholder percentages.
CEO and Founder
Franklin Distributors was founded in 1947 by Rupert H Johnson Sr in New York City.
His son, Charles Johnson, later led the company for decades and helped grow it into a major mutual fund business, including the acquisition of Templeton in 1992.
Jenny Johnson became President and CEO in February 2020, becoming the third generation of the Johnson family to lead the firm.
Jenny Johnson is the daughter of former CEO Charles Johnson and has worked at the company for more than three decades.
Ownership and Acquisition History
Rupert H Johnson Sr starts Franklin Distributors in New York.
Franklin Resources lists shares publicly and later relocates its headquarters to California.
Franklin acquires Templeton, Galbraith and Hansberger, adding global value investing expertise.
Jenny Johnson becomes President and CEO, the third generation of the family to lead the firm.
Franklin Templeton acquires Legg Mason, adding Clearbridge and Western Asset Management to its lineup.
Franklin Resources reports assets under management above 1.6 trillion dollars.
Financials: Revenue, Net Income, AUM or Valuation
Franklin Resources reported preliminary assets under management of approximately 1.66 trillion dollars as of September 2025, according to the company official investor relations announcements.
Quarterly revenue has generally run in the range of roughly 2.3 billion dollars per quarter in recent reporting periods, per company earnings releases and coverage from outlets such as StockTitan.
As a publicly traded company, Franklin Resources files detailed quarterly and annual reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission that break down revenue, operating income, and net income by business segment.
Investors should always confirm the latest audited figures on the official Franklin Resources investor relations site rather than relying on older third party estimates.
Retirement and Investment Services
Franklin Templeton offers a broad lineup of mutual funds and exchange traded funds commonly used inside 401k plans, IRAs, and Roth IRAs.
The firm also provides target date retirement funds designed to automatically adjust risk as an investor approaches retirement age.
Financial advisors and retirement plan administrators frequently include Franklin Templeton funds within employer sponsored plan lineups.
Choosing specific funds or account types for retirement savings is a personal decision, so working with a qualified financial or tax advisor is recommended before making changes.
For a look at another large fund manager with a similar institutional footprint, see our profile of BlackRock.
Customer Service and Contact Information
Investors and shareholders can reach Franklin Templeton through the official contact page at franklintempleton.com, which lists current phone numbers by account type.
Financial advisors and institutional clients typically work with a dedicated relationship manager rather than a general call center.
Because contact details can change, always verify the current phone number or email listed on the official Franklin Templeton website before reaching out.
Franklin Templeton Headquarters
Franklin Resources is headquartered in San Mateo, California, after relocating from New York decades ago.
The firm also maintains major offices worldwide, including in London, Singapore, and Fort Lauderdale, reflecting its global fund lineup similar in reach to Fidelity Investments.
Is Franklin Templeton Worth It or Good?
Franklin Templeton has built a long track record spanning more than 75 years, including through its well known Templeton value investing heritage.
Some of its actively managed funds have faced criticism in past years for underperforming lower cost index alternatives, a common industry wide debate covered in financial trade press.
Investors researching a specific Franklin Templeton fund should review that fund prospectus and independent rating sources before investing.
- Long history and broad global fund lineup
- Multiple specialist managers under one public parent
- Established retirement and target date fund options
- Some actively managed funds carry higher fees than index funds
- Performance varies significantly across the many fund brands
- Complex multi brand structure can confuse new investors
Frequently Asked Questions About Franklin Templeton
Who owns Franklin Templeton?
Franklin Templeton is owned by its publicly traded parent, Franklin Resources Inc, which trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker BEN. The Johnson family remains the largest shareholder group.
Is Franklin Templeton a bank?
No. Franklin Templeton is an investment management company, not a bank. It manages mutual funds, ETFs, and other investment products rather than accepting deposits.
Who is the CEO of Franklin Templeton?
Jenny Johnson has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Franklin Resources since February 2020, making her the third generation of the Johnson family to lead the company.
Is Franklin Templeton publicly traded?
Yes. Franklin Resources Inc, the parent company of Franklin Templeton, has traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker BEN since 1971.
Sources
Learn more from the Franklin Templeton Wikipedia entry and official Franklin Resources assets under management announcements, or visit the official Franklin Templeton website directly.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.