NEW YORK (June 6, 2024) – ISS Market Intelligence (MI), a leading provider of data, analytics, insights, media, and events solutions to the global financial services industry, today announced the results of its ISS MI Advisor Pulse Series – Specialists and Teams study. Conducted through interviews with 782 U.S.-based financial advisors, the survey, executed in March 2024 and part of the ongoing Advisor Pulse Series research, delves into the crucial role of specialists in navigating complex financial landscapes.
Key insights from the survey highlight the critical role specialists have in guiding advisors through the complex investment landscape. As interest in alternatives has surged, 42% of advisors stressed the importance of asset managers providing alternatives specialists to help them make informed investment decisions. Notably, this was even more pronounced among wirehouse advisors at 56%. Opportunities to connect with advisors were not only limited to non-traditional players, as 41% of advisors underscored the importance of asset managers providing portfolio construction specialists.
Advisors are bullish on increasing engagement with specialists of multiple stripes. 25% of advisors said they increased the frequency of meetings with alternatives specialists and ETF specialists over the past year. This interest is set to carry into the immediate future, with 27% of advisors planning on increasing meetings with alternatives specialists over the next 12 months and 26% doing so with ETF specialists. The constantly shifting investment landscape means that advisors want to meet with specialists frequently on these topics. 35% of advisors wanted to meet with an alternatives specialists at least once a quarter, as did 35% of advisors for portfolio construction specialists and 34% of advisors for ETF specialists.
In parallel to the survey on specialists, ISS MI conducted a research interview process with leading asset managers to round out perspectives on the optimal deployment of specialist advisor support, with the detailed findings of this research to be released shortly. The research revealed that challenges persist in leveraging specialists effectively. Asset managers face a dilemma in having them work more independently. Advisors expressed ambivalence over whether wholesalers need to be present in meetings with specialists, with only 28% saying they preferred the wholesaler’s presence. Still, advisors stressed that their top challenge of working with them is specialists’ lack of understanding of their business, highlighting the need for wholesalers to provide proper context and insights on advisor behavior for the specialist. Addressing these challenges is critical before deploying specialists on their own.
To learn more about ISS MI’s Advisor Pulse Series, visit https://www.issmarketintelligence.com/solutions/marketsage/advisor-pulse-series/
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About ISS Market Intelligence
ISS Market Intelligence (ISS MI) is a leading provider of data, insights, and market engagement solutions to the global financial services industry. ISS MI empowers asset and wealth management firms, insurance companies, distributors, service providers, and technology firms to assess their target markets, identify and analyze the best opportunities within those markets, and execute on comprehensive go-to-market initiatives to grow their business. Clients benefit from our increasingly connected global platform that leverages a combination of proprietary data, powerful analytics, timely and relevant insights, in-depth research, as well as an extensive suite of industry-leading media brands that deliver unmatched market connectivity through news and editorial content, events, training, ratings, and awards.
About ISS STOXX
ISS STOXX GmbH, through its group companies, is a leading provider of comprehensive and data-centric research and technology solutions that help capital market participants identify investment opportunities, detect qualitative and quantitative portfolio company risks, and meet evolving regulatory requirements. With roots dating back to 1985, we today deliver world-class benchmark and custom indices across asset classes and geographies and serve as a premier source of independent corporate governance, sustainability, cyber risk, and fund intelligence research, data, and related offerings. Our products and services give clients the scale and leverage they need to grow their business more effectively and efficiently. ISS STOXX, which is majority owned by Deutsche Börse Group, is comprised of more than 3,400 professionals operating across 33 global locations in 19 countries. Its approximately 6,400 clients include many of the world’s leading institutional investors who turn to ISS STOXX for its objective and varied offerings, as well as companies focused on ESG, cyber, and governance risk mitigation as a shareholder value enhancing measure. Clients rely on ISS STOXX’s expertise to help them make informed decisions to benefit their stakeholders.
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Morgan Stoll
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press@issmarketintelligence.com
