Asset Managers Need To Use Portfolio Assistance Services More Strategically According To DST Kasina Study

NEW YORK, Dec. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- DST kasina, a  provider of data-driven insights and distribution solutions to financial companies around the world, today released the results of its study on the use of portfolio construction analysts and portfolio-manager proxies by asset managers.

According to the study, titled "Optimizing Portfolio Assistance Services to Boost Sales," the edge that these portfolio services currently provide asset managers will evaporate unless firms carefully structure and optimize these services to provide a truly distinct and compelling value.

Among the study's key findings:

• Two-thirds of surveyed firms indicated the portfolio analytics teams report within distribution.
• Only one-third of firms "assign" an advisor to a single portfolio consultant, which hampers continuity of history and service.
• Nearly half of asset managers leave the decision on whom to offer a PM proxy entirely up to the wholesaler – just one in five have minimum qualifications they require consistently.
• More than half of firms have the PM proxy report to portfolio management.

"Asset management firms are increasingly relying on portfolio construction analysts and PM proxies to establish and deepen their relationships with advisors," says Tracy Needham, Senior Research Analyst at DST kasina. "But just offering these assistance services is not enough anymore. They are fast becoming table stakes across the industry, and firms need to wield these services much more strategically if they want to win meetings with advisors."

Research for the paper included surveys of 23 distribution executives at asset managers, as well as a dozen interviews with portfolio analysis, PM proxy, and distribution executives. The asset managers represented a wide range of firms, from diverse financial services firms to niche asset managers.

"Complexity is the name of the game for advisors and asset managers today," says Needham. "Our study shows how certain asset managers are using portfolio construction and PM proxy services far more effectively to cater to advisors' needs."   

In addition to the study's findings, the kasina report includes actionable recommendations for asset managers to more successfully and cost-effectively turn portfolio assistance services interest into increased sales and loyalty.

For more information on kasina's "Optimizing Portfolio Assistance Services to Boost Sales" report, contact Myra Bartalos, Head of Marketing, at [email protected].

About DST kasina

DST kasina helps leading companies in the financial services industry manage data, gain insight, and ignite change in their business. Through effective use of advanced analytics, research, and distribution intelligence technologies, DST kasina enables business to better understand, predict, and optimize key business factors impacting their asset growth and profitability. For more information on how to leverage DST kasina's strategic advisory services, visit www.kasina.com.

About DST

DST Systems, Inc. is a leading provider of sophisticated information processing and servicing solutions to companies around the world. Through its global enterprise, DST delivers strategically unified transactions and business processing, data management, and customer communications solutions to the asset management, brokerage, retirement, and healthcare markets. Headquartered in Kansas City, MO., DST is a publicly-traded company on the New York Stock Exchange. For more information, visit www.dstsystems.com.

Media Contact:

Laura M. Parsons
DST Global Public Relations
816.843.9087
[email protected]

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SOURCE DST Systems, Inc.

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