Executive Change

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  April 11, 2022 FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 001-09318 13-2670991 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)                 One Franklin Parkway ,  San Mateo ,  CA 94403 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: ( 650 ) 312-2000 Not Applicable (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.) Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions: ☐   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) ☐   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) ☐   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) ☐   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Title of each class Trading symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered Common Stock, par value $0.10 per share BEN New York Stock Exchange Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company     ☐ If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.   ☐   Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. (c) On April 11, 2022, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Franklin Resources, Inc. (the “Company”) appointed Mr. Matthew Nicholls, currently Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, to the additional role of Chief Operating Officer of the Company, effective April 15, 2022. Mr. Nicholls will expand his responsibilities to include technology, operations, and human resources. Since joining the firm in 2019, Mr. Nicholls has worked in close partnership with all these groups to drive changes designed to improve operational capabilities across the firm. Biographic information regarding Mr. Nicholls is included at the end of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021 under the heading “Information About Our Executive Officers,” and such information is incorporated herein by reference. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC. Date: April 12, 2022 /s/ Thomas C. Merchant Thomas C. Merchant Vice President and Secretary 3