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7:45am – 8:15am
Registration and Breakfast
8:15am – 8:30am
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Arlen Oransky, Senior Vice President, Chief Membership and Programs Officer, MMI
Darryl Keeton, Head of Distribution, Homestead Funds
Robert Tynes, Senior Vice President, Confluence Investment Management
8:30am – 9:15am
Keynote Presentation
Hidden Gems: Enduring Attributes Make a Difference
There are roughly 600 asset managers with less than $10 billion in U.S. mutual-fund assets, all competing for dwindling distribution shelf space and in an environment where investors have flocked to lower-cost options and passive strategies. Still, there are opportunities for those that fly under the radar to grow, particularly those with strong stewardship attributes. Morningstar evaluates more than 400 asset managers globally, assigning each a parent rating based on their track records on putting investor interests ahead of their own. In this presentation, Bridget Hughes shares current industry trends relevant for smaller asset managers and delves into Morningstar’s approach to parent ratings, highlighting some best practices that have made a difference for smaller managers.
Bridget Hughes, Director, Parent Research, Global Manager Research, Morningstar
9:15am – 10:15am
Model Portfolios and Holistic Advice
Advisors have long been resistant to outsourcing portfolio construction despite the potential advantages of professional management and time freed up to focus on client relationships. However, asset managers, broker-dealers, and third-party strategists are now placing increased emphasis on offering asset allocation models – sometimes at no cost – through their systems and through emerging FinTech marketplaces. For large wealth management firms, the value proposition is compelling as the models control the investor experience and free advisors’ time to focus on organic growth. For large asset managers, model portfolios allow them to establish their intellectual capital with advisors and influence flows into their products. This session provides an overview of the landscape of asset allocation model delivery, looking at whether the demand exists to make model portfolios a sustainable long-term trend, and how emerging asset managers can continue to compete successfully in a market seemingly poised to be dominated by scale competitors.
Moderator: Bing Waldert, Managing Director, U.S. Research, Cerulli Associates
Panelists:
Steve Carl, Chief Business Development Officer, Madison Investments
Matt Hamilton, Vice President, Model Portfolios, Fidelity Institutional Asset Management
10:15am – 10:30am
Networking & Refreshment Break
10:30am – 11:30am
Asset Managers and Technology Challenges: What Does the Future Hold?
Digital engagement is an increasingly important component of the client/advisor relationship. The ability to earn and keep a client’s trust via an omni-channel digital platform can help differentiate an advisor’s offering. As the pressure to engage digitally with clients and prospects increases, advisors will seek out more efficient processes for generating proposals, onboarding clients, and managing portfolios – and will look for incremental value from their asset management partnerships to help deliver a better portfolio and experience. This panel explores how advisors are leveraging new technology to better serve their clients and how asset managers can continue to evolve their role in the advisor technology space.
Moderator: Scott Lamont, Wealth Technology Specialist, F2 Strategy
Panelists:
Robert Eaton, Managing Director, Head of US Business Development, Aladdin Wealth Tech, BlackRock
Jonathan Hudacko, CEO, Just Invest, LLC
Suresh Iyengar, Vice President, Head of Sales, Jemstep by Invesco
11:30am – 12:30pm
Operations and Compliance Due Diligence
Compliance due diligence has increasingly become a more substantive part of the manager selection process. While many managers have become familiar with more detailed compliance reviews for institutional mandates, the requirements for ‘40 Act funds can impose even more stringent requirements – ranging from business insurance and cybersecurity controls to audited financial statements. These requirements can be particularly onerous for smaller managers, many of which outsource all or some aspects of compliance oversight. This panel explores the most important aspects that managers need to be aware of and how outsourced solutions can strengthen or weaken compliance approvals.
Moderator: Cherrise Cederqvist, Vice President, Strategic Investment Research Group, PGIM
Panelists:
Allison Fraser, Director, Registered Investment Companies, Ascendant Compliance Management
Melanie Mendoza, Chief Compliance Officer, Matarin Capital Management
Dawn Pallitto, Vice President, Asset Management Compliance, PGIM
12:30pm – 1:30pm
Networking Luncheon
1:30pm – 2:30pm
Succession Planning for Emerging Managers
Succession planning is critical with respect to any “going concern” – small or large. However, research shows that most small businesses – including those in the asset and wealth management industry – fail to plan for an orderly management and ownership succession. In this session, the panel tackles a broad range of the most salient issues relating to emerging asset managers. Topics include why a formal succession plan is so important, the planning process, and, most importantly, the execution – all with particular emphasis on effective communication with your constituents.
Moderator: Robert Tynes, Senior Vice President, Confluence Investment Management
Panelists:
Michael Serchen, Senior Vice President, Director of Managed Accounts, Anchor Capital Advisors
Jonathan Stern, Partner, Berkshire Global Advisors
2:30pm – 2:45pm
Networking & Refreshment Break
2:45pm – 4:45pm
Platform Sponsor Roundtable
This highly interactive two-hour session is consistently cited by Forum attendees as the highlight of the conference. The format provides an opportunity for asset managers and gatekeepers from different distribution channels to engage in direct dialogue.
The Roundtable will:
- put you face-to-face with knowledgeable executives from different intermediary channels,
- allow you to hear directly from key sponsor firms on the best ways to engage with them and add value to their efforts, and
- provide a roadmap to navigate specific sponsor platforms and create natural follow-up steps.
To provide maximum value and make efficient use of the available time, manager representatives will have the opportunity to submit questions to platform sponsors in advance of the Forum.
National/Regional Firm Channel
Tim Baldes, Principal, Edward Jones
Ryan Casper, Director, Head of International Equities Due Diligence, Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Danny Herceg, Vice President, Program Manager, Separately Managed Accounts, Morgan Stanley
Greg Trinks, Head of Investment Management Research, UBS Wealth Management Americas
Bank Trust Channel
Karti G. Bhatt, Executive Director, J.P. Morgan Private Bank
Luis Diez, Head of Fixed Income Manager Research, Northern Trust
Alison Marschner, Vice President, CSI Product Manager, Citizens Wealth Management
Peter Winkler III, Investment Analyst, Global Manager Research, Wells Fargo Institute
TAMP/Consultant Firm Channel
Patrick Early, Vice President, Senior Advisory Solutions Consultant, BNY Mellon | Lockwood
Sharon Hughes, SVP, Asset Manager Relationship Management, Envestnet
Roddy Marino, Executive Vice President, National Accounts & Distribution, Brinker Capital
Matt Sturdivan, Director of Traditional and Long/Short Equity, RVK, Inc.
4:45pm
Closing Remarks and Adjournment
Arlen Oransky, Senior Vice President, Chief Membership and Programs Officer, MMI
