As outlined in previous blog posts, advisors’ demand for alternative investment products continues to increase, driven by dynamic market conditions, product availability and the desire for further portfolio diversification. This wave of demand has resulted in the birth and evolution of a multitude of alternative investment products, which have become more readily available to non-institutional investors. While the esoteric asset class of “alternatives” continues to evolve, it has become less opaque both from the institutional and non-institutional vantage point. Still, the question remains, “what are alternatives?” Continue reading
Top advisory solutions provider – FolioDynamix receives prestigious 2013 MMI award
This morning we announced that FolioDynamix has been recognized by the Money Management Institute (MMI) as the 2013 Advisory Solutions Service Provider of the Year. The annual award is bestowed upon the wealth management and advisory solutions firm that best contributed to the innovation, growth and long-term sustainability of the advisory solutions industry. Continue reading
Banks look to their wealth management groups for growth
Over the past month, I have heard a common theme in our meetings with many bank wealth management groups…senior management is looking for help in growing bank earnings coming from their affiliated wealth areas. Who can blame them as they face higher costs of regulation, tepid loan demand and excess deposits? The past decade delivered an emphasis on increased fee income, but that was in the form of overdraft and account fees. With those sources maxed out in most people’s eyes, the attention is shifting back onto the wealth management groups. Continue reading
Bank & Trust Summit workshop details
If you are attending the Bank & Trust Summit in Colorado Springs next week, I will be leading a workshop discussion entitled “Embrace Open Architecture Smartly.” The session is scheduled for April 30 at 2:10PM and will focus on using the right mix of technology and both internal and external investment strategies to grow the wealth management business and set a solid foundation for future evolution. I hope to see you there!
Posted in Leadership, Wealth Management Best Practices
Tagged bank trust, FolioDynamix, open architecture
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Wealth management ROI – FolioDynamix customers speak out
Thank you to those of you that completed the FolioDynamix 2013 Wealth Management Client Survey! The survey aggregated responses from the majority of FolioDynamix’ client base – which includes mid-to-large size registered investment advisory firms, broker dealers, bank trusts, custodians and other wealth service providers – to gauge return on investment and satisfaction levels with the FolioDynamix unified wealth management technology platform and advisory solutions. The wealth management ROI survey results show Continue reading
Posted in Clients, Company, Leadership, Wealth Management Best Practices
Tagged advisor desktop, advisor productivity, FolioDynamix, operational efficiency, risk management, ROI, wealth management innovation, wealth management lifecycle, wealth management platform, wealth management technology
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Pricing intelligence when investment advisors need it most
I’m very excited to announce that FolioDynamix has partnered with PriceMetrix, enabling us to embed real-time pricing information and intelligence directly within the FolioDynamix SingleSightSM wealth management platform. As a result of this long-term partnership, FolioDynamix’ client firms and their investment advisors will now have real-time access to PriceMetrix pricing intelligence when they need it most and in the context of what they are working on at any given moment in the FolioDynamix platform. Continue reading
Video: Alternates and SMA growth in wealth management products mix
Advisors are seeking more alternative products in mutual fund vehicles and fixed income SMAs in traditional format from the FolioDynamix turnkey wealth management platform – as well as showing continued interest in UMAs. I recently discussed these trends and other thoughts on the shift in wealth management products in a wealth strategies Q&A with Tom Stabile of Fundfire. Because we believe this content to be valuable to all wealth management firms, we have arranged for public access to this exclusive Fundfire video. Continue reading
Wealth management firms top challenges: scalability
A shocking number of wealth management firms are not equipped to navigate through fluctuating financial cycles, competitor innovation and exceeding client expectations. The ability to grow your bottom line, without piling on additional cost or sacrificing service levels, is an ongoing challenge facing wealth management firms. Embedding scalability into your wealth management business operations and developing next generation business models is vital, as many firms are buckling under the pressure of industry change. In this last installment of our three-part blog series examining top challenges facing wealth management firms, we explore how scalable business models can help you expand your wealth management product offerings, achieve higher profitability and propel you into new markets. Continue reading
Alternative investments on the rise: insights on the U.S. energy revolution
As FolioDynamix and FDx Advisors’ chief investment officer, Shari Hensrud-Ellingson, cited in her 2013 wealth management trends blog post earlier this year, interest in alternative investments is on the rise as advisors look for ways to diversify client portfolios, improve returns and help their clients navigate the new normal of the very dynamic and global capital markets. At FDx Advisors, we strive to always stay on the leading edge of industry trends that could impact our wealth management client firms, with alternatives being no exception. As part of our ongoing research effort, I had the opportunity this past week to attend a conference in Cincinnati hosted by Fund Evaluation Group. One of the sessions was called The U.S. Energy Revolution: Opportunities and Challenges for Investors. Continue reading
Posted in Advisory Services, Market Trends
Tagged alternative investments, energy sector, FDx Advisors, FDx Research
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Video: Close the gap between trust and retail brokerage channels
More financial services companies that have both private banking and brokerage channels are seeking ways to merge their product platforms, reversing a long trend of investment program silos. In this video interview with Tom Stabile of Fundfire, I discuss the business ramifications to banks and highlight a solution banks can use to close the gap between trust and retail brokerage channels. Continue reading