Pershing Study Shows that Avoidable Inefficiencies Threaten RIAs' Profits

JERSEY CITY, N.J., May 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Pershing, a BNY Mellon company, today released a new study highlighting the challenges registered investment advisors (RIAs) are facing to remain profitable. The report, Mission Possible III: Strategies to Sustain Growth in Challenging Times, reveals that workflow and operations management is a prevalent problem— particularly as businesses increase in complexity. Although some RIAs have been able to regain profitability in the challenging market environment, rising operational costs are a threat and greater emphasis needs to be put on properly managing expenses and improving productivity.

In recent years, total overhead spending by RIAs has increased 10 percent, and overhead expenses on a per-client basis rose 5.2 percent each year between 2008 and 2010, according to the study. Many RIAs are not making the operational changes to the way they do business to succeed in the current margin-compressed environment.

"The constraints of the financial crisis created a need for RIAs to streamline operations. Unfortunately, our study found that many have not adapted and are literally paying the price," said Kim Dellarocca, director and head of segment marketing and practice management at Pershing. "Firms can be better at managing operating costs, especially labor costs, which can be a serious drag on the bottom line."

This new Mission Possible study, the third in a series of issue-focused research efforts, was developed by Pershing Advisor Solutions and FA Insight, a leading research firm focused on providing analysis of financial services firms and their business environment. As expense management, achievement of efficiencies and overall productivity continue to be a business challenge, RIAs should consider three critical steps to help them run their business more efficiently:

• Identify the ideal client profile so that success can be replicated. Understanding the distinctive needs of a given market segment is the first step towards building an operational infrastructure that delivers superior client satisfaction and drives profitability. Targeting more homogenous clients enables greater operational efficiency because supporting processes can be more focused and easily copied. According to the research, those surveyed who focus on a well-defined market reported 2.4–3.5 times greater profitability per client than those who didn't.
• Design the workflow to deliver a unique and powerful client experience while creating maximum value for the firm. Workflow management can help control costs when a firm becomes more complex. In 2010, only 41% of RIAs reported that they document all major business-to- client processes. And, only 32% of firms are consistent in the implementation of their workflow processes.
• Align human capital needs with the business goals through effective organizational design. Poor application and alignment of people create challenges that even the best workflow systems cannot circumvent. About one in four professionals is over capacity. However, firm owners should resist the temptation to hire new team members or rush to invest in technology to resolve a capacity issue. It may be more appropriate and cost-effective to address an imbalance between professionals and their support staff, ineffective workflow or a lack of role clarity. Technology cannot relieve capacity without an accompanying investment in planning and training time.

To obtain a copy of Mission Possible III, visit www.pershing.com/ideas_without_limits.

Pershing LLC (member FINRA/NYSE/SIPC) is a leading global provider of financial business solutions to more than 1,500 institutional and retail financial organizations and independent registered investment RIAs who collectively represent approximately 5.5 million active investors. Located in 23 offices worldwide, Pershing and its affiliates are committed to delivering dependable operational support, robust trading services, flexible technology, an expansive array of investment solutions, practice management support and service excellence. Pershing is a member of every major U.S. securities exchange and its international affiliates are members of the Deutsche Borse, Irish Stock Exchange, the London Stock Exchange and the Australian Stock Exchange. Pershing LLC is a BNY Mellon company. Additional information is available at www.pershing.com.

BNY Mellon is a global financial services company focused on helping clients manage and service their financial assets, operating in 36 countries and serving more than 100 markets. BNY Mellon is a leading provider of financial services for institutions, corporations and high-net-worth individuals, offering superior investment management and investment services through a worldwide client-focused team. It has $26.6 trillion in assets under custody and administration and $1.3 trillion in assets under management, services $11.9 trillion in outstanding debt and processes global payments averaging $1.4 trillion per day. BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE: BK). Additional information is available on www.bnymellon.com or follow us on Twitter@BNYMellon.

SOURCE BNY Mellon