InvestmentNews reveals inaugural 5-Star Fund Providers

Which top asset management firms made the cut?

It’s with great pride and pleasure that InvestmentNews presents its first-ever list of 5-Star Fund Providers.

Drawing from a comprehensive survey of its readers, InvestmentNews’ inaugural ranking of the top asset management firms in the US seeks to answer one simple question: What is it that makes a good fund manager?

As noted by Thomas Ruggie, founder and CEO of Ruggie Wealth Management at Destiny Wealth Partners, having a strong shelf of funds is a major piece of the puzzle.

“What stands out is not necessarily a particular fund per se, but does a company have a family of funds that have a good, consistent, strong track record,” Ruggie says. “It’s not just one particular fund, it’s a structure of having best in class across the board.”

To find out which are the Top US Asset Management Firms – and how they made the cut – click here.

While much has been said about the role of Vanguard – one of this year’s honorees – in kicking off the race for low fees, investors and advisors have to consider both sides of the investment equation. In other words, for any asset manager vying for a top spot, performance cannot and should not be ignored.

“I want best performance net of fees, and in some cases, it makes sense to pay higher fees to a mutual fund if you get a good consistent manager,” Ruggie says.

In life and in investing, doing well takes a mix of luck and skill. For asset managers who manage funds in the billions, with people’s financial lives and futures in the balance, it’s the latter that must drive success.

As Ruggie points out, the best fund providers have to go far beyond keeping their hands on the wheel, but also keep their eyes out on the horizon.

“I’m a believer that strategy trumps performance, and so what’s more important to me is the strategy that’s put in place and the adjustments of allocation based on where that proverbial hockey puck is going,” he says.

To find out who the Top US Asset Management Firms are – and how they made the cut – click here.