Nine mutual fund providers will see stronger than average investment momentum from investors in 2012, according to a recent survey of affluent investors by Cogent Research. Vanguard and T. Rowe Price, followed by Fidelity Advisor Funds, Fidelity Investments, American Funds, Wells Fargo Advantage Funds, Schwab/Laudus Funds, J.P. Morgan Funds and ING Funds topped the list, which was included as part of Cogent Research's 2012 Investor Broadscape report released earlier this month.

The study found that over the past year, investors have significantly reduced the average number of fund families with which they work from 1.9 to 1.56. Also, current investors are three times more likely to increase investments with current managers as they are to redeem investments, an indication of strengthened loyalty to existing providers.

"A year ago, it was often the case that more clients were planning to give up on a manager than invest more money," said Cogent Research Principal John Meunier. "Today the opposite is true. Investors who stuck it out with their current managers are prepared to grow these relationships."