Edward Simpson
Edward Simpson provides an executive summary video update regarding the changing face of distribution in the asset management sector. Also discusses how progressive funds are matching their sophisticated fund strategy with a sophisticated marketing strategy.
Edward Simpson
Why is Twitter important for your business?
Twitter is a great way to drive repeat business and to attract new customers. While the platform itself may not have had obvious business advantages in its’ early incarnation, namely the restrictive 140 character messaging capability, the growth in Twitter’s popularity has now put those initial doubts firmly to bed.
It may not be your favourite social media platform, but it has undeniable ability in terms of stretching the reach of your business.
Twitter simply has to be included in any social media campaign your business conducts.
Here’s why:
While Twitter can still be viewed as a micro blogging tool that is used by the “young”, there is no doubt that it is much more than that, and can genuinely help with your company’s attempts to expand their communication’s reach. Talk to us to see how to develop a social media strategy designed to create that all important first impression.
Ken Carmody
Within the congested asset management sector, brand recognition and brand equity is key. Ascertaining, defining and marketing your brand is vital in your company’s growth and success. A corporate brand identity establishes a strategic framework and creative platform upon which to market your products and services. Your brand is the first thing to be seen by your target audience, as you seek to transition a good first impression to brand loyalty. Successful branding can be a powerful way for funds to distinguish themselves from their competitors. It is your corporate face to the outside world. Here are a few rules to follow;
Whether you are about to launch a fund or looking at boosting your brand equity to an existing fund, our professional branding services provide companies with a brand identity that encapsulates a company’s vision, values, personality, positioning and image. We believe in developing a corporate branding strategy as the first critical step to ensure the key components that comprise of a corporate identity meet your goals and objectives.
Ken Carmody
Should the UK vote itself out of the EU, the asset management sector will face considerable disruption. UCITS by law must be domiciled and managed in the EU meaning that Brexit could prompt a significant number of re-domiciliations. Currently, the majority of UK UCITS assets stem from EU investors.
The provision of a new treaty or settlement must be drawn up to facilitate funds established as UCITS in the UK that would no longer have an association with the UCITS Directive following an EU exit. In the absence of new terms, these funds would have to be re-domiciled to an EU country and seek re-authorisation under the UCITS Directive, or discontinue acting as UCITS altogether.
If we consider the scenario that could occur if UK UCITS are not given special treatment then it would be fair to assume the affects will impact distribution across the EU. In this scenario, UK UCITS will be required to formalise country-by-country distribution agreements. Cumulatively, this would be an expensive procedure to embark upon.
A strategy of delegating managers to EU domiciled funds would most likely be adopted. Ireland and Luxembourg would be the obvious choices for establishing such funds. This is a lengthy process which can take up to six months.
Brexit could result in higher transaction costs and a need for more investment staff. If UK-housed asset managers are afforded the use of Luxembourg or Ireland based management companies to distribute UCITS funds to investors in Europe whilst keeping their investment teams in the UK, then a lot of other roles would need to be relocated to the EU. Including distribution and sales teams, risk analysis overseers etc.
Another route to the European investor would be the acquirement of an AIFMD distribution passport from the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). Passport approval in the past has proven to be a slow process, look at Guernsey, Jersey and Switzerland for example and the difficulty the Cayman Islands and the US have had in securing their passport. It could take the UK two years from the point of exit to a point where permanent passporting is attained leaving the asset management sector in a state of limbo.
The EU will no doubt be sympathetic to the UK and allow time to transition but there will be a significant period of investor nervousness created by the apparent uncertainty. Problems may arise even before the referendum takes place as nervous European investors pull money from UCITS funds.
Ken Carmody
The fintech scene is booming. Berlin, London, Silicon Valley and New York City-based fintech start-ups are disrupting the traditional financial services industry. These innovators are garnering incredible amounts of investment, 2014 witnessed $12.2 billion worth of investment in fintech ventures and 2015 numbers are set to show more than $20 billion. The fintech sector is estimated to be worth almost $5 trillion so safe to say that it is fast becoming a major sector bringing with it challenges and opportunities to the incumbent players of the financial services arena. How will this juggernaut affect wealth management? (more…)
