Asset managers are keen to engage with the growing clout of independent and hybrid RIAs and will ensure that they provide the right resources in return.
Expanding product distribution is a priority for 85% of asset managers polled by Cerulli Associate,s followed by rolling out customized investment solutions (50%), including, but not exclusively focused on, equity direct indexing.
“As more advisors look to add personalization to their practices, being able to personalize beyond just equities through a multi-asset-class solution will become an important capability for managers touting personalization and customization,” Matt Belnap, associate director at Cerulli, said in a statement.
Another priority is creating new vehicles (46%), with 62% citing active exchange-traded funds, which many asset managers have not really investigated so far, meaning significant work is required.
“The relative tax advantages of the vehicle, combined with increased advisor comfort with ETFs in client portfolios, make active ETFs an attractive proposition for asset managers,” Belnap explained.
Other key product areas for asset managers in the months ahead are model-delivered separate accounts (50%), interval funds (46%), and collective investment trusts (42%).
“While interest in these types of products could be managers just looking to add where they currently have gaps in their lineup, careful consideration of whether there is appetite for these types of products at distribution partners will lead to a better chance of success for asset managers when they do come to market,” Belnap concluded.
Two longtime RIA industry figures have joined the board of directors at TaxStatus, a fintech company that garners thousands of IRS data points on clients to share with advisors for improved financial planning oversight and time savings.
Sieg, 58, was head of Merrill Wealth Management, left in 2023 and returned that September to Citigroup, where he worked before being hired by Merrill Lynch in 2009.
Firms announce new recruits including wirehouse breakaways.
"QuantumRisk, by design, recognizes that these so-called "impossible" events actually happen, and it accounts for them in a way that advisors can see and plan for," Dr. Ron Piccinini told InvestmentNews.
Advisors who invest time and energy on vital projects for their practice could still be missing growth opportunities – unless they get serious about client-facing activities.
Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.
Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.
