Products April 12, 2011

Report Emphasizes Importance of CRM Solutions for WM

The Aite Group published a report examining how a strong customer relationship management (CRM) tool can positively impact a wealth management practice.  
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The report, “CRM for Wealth Management: Approaching Total Practice Management,” details the value that CRM solutions can provide to the wealth management industry. The report highlights investment drivers for CRM and forecasts CRM spending in North America to increase. In addition, it provides an in-depth comparison of seven North American CRM vendors that cater to the wealth management industry, and names best-in-class solutions for several categories.

In a March 2011 adviser survey, the Aite Group found nearly a quarter of 380 financial advisers either do not have access to a CRM solution or do not find the solution useful for their business model. Aite expects this number to decrease as the value of CRM solutions becomes more apparent; older CRM tools were not as comprehensive as today’s, the firm said. Today’s tools are Web-accessible and service-oriented, allowing advisers to manage and automate client service; sales, marketing, and risk management processes through embedded best practices; workflow tools; and integration with other wealth management applications.

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“Financial advisers need to up their game in a post-crisis environment in which clients are more risk-averse and seek increasing control over their investments,” says Sophie Schmitt, senior analyst with Aite Group and author of the report. “Advisers need CRM technology now, more than ever, to help them manage increased client activities efficiently and strategically.”

The report also provides an in-depth comparison of seven North American CRM vendors that cater to the wealth management industry, and names best-in-class solutions for several categories. To purchase this report, contact sales@aitegroup.com.   

Products April 12, 2011

Bandon Launches Fixed Income Fund

Bandon Capital Management launched the Bandon Isolated Alpha Fixed Income Fund, a global absolute return-oriented fixed income strategy.
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The fund (symbol: BANIX) is intended to be an “all season” strategy for investors seeking consistent returns through all market environments. In the pursuit of its objectives the fund has the flexibility to invest in an unconstrained fashion across global fixed income securities and sectors including strategies that go both long and short in an attempt to capitalize on market opportunities in both directions.  

Bandon said the philosophy underlying the strategy is to incorporate an absolute return approach in the management of the two principal risk/return drivers for fixed income investing – interest rates and credit – within predefined exposure bands and a rigorous, quantitative risk management framework. 

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Sub-adviser Logan Circle Partners, LP, is a $12 billion Philadelphia-based, institutional, credit specialist fixed income manager, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Fortress Investment Group, LLC (FIG). The manager follows a bottom up, research driven, duration neutral, global unconstrained multi-sector absolute return credit strategy comprised of their best ideas across liquid credit markets.  

Dix Hills Partners, LLC, is a $1 billion New York based, institutional alternative investment manager focused on active duration strategies in developed sovereign markets. The manager follows a fundamentally based, systematized, credit neutral (excluding sovereign credit risk), directional active duration strategy focused on the U.S., UK, German and Japanese markets. 

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