MI Talk

To close out the 2022 season of the MI Talk podcast, Mark Jeffries, Associate Director at ISS Market Intelligence, joins our host Goshka Folda, Global Head of Research at ISS Market Intelligence, to discuss the impact the current economic environment has had on the annuity industry. Mark draws on his role managing ISS MI’s insurance and annuity client relationships to provide insight into the annuity industry and how product preferences, advisor engagement, sales and distribution trends, and more are evolving in the wake of the pandemic and in the broader market environment.

In this special November episode of the MI Talk podcast, Jeff Duckworth, President of U.S Intermediary Distribution at John Hancock Investment Management, joins guest host Ashley Wood, Managing Director at ISS MI, to discuss current trends in advisor engagement, distribution structure, and wholesaler retention. Drawing on thirty years of experience in the asset management industry, Jeff shares key insights into how COVID has reshaped the way asset managers engage with advisors; navigating the continued evolution of distribution team structures; and much more.

Subscribe to MI Talk, the podcast brought to you by ISS Market Intelligence, for monthly episodes featuring in-depth discussions with thought leaders on timely and relevant topics in the asset and wealth management industries.

The U.S. advisor landscape has undergone a seismic shift over the past few decades, as advisors’ duties have evolved from facilitating transactions to holistic financial planning. Accompanying this shift towards advisor-as-financial-life-coach has been a broad move from transaction-based to fee-based compensation models, in which advisors increasingly levy a percentage fee on clients’ total assets under management (AUM).

The October episode of ISS Market Intelligence’s MI Talk podcast features Christopher Davis, Head of U.S. Fund Research, in discussion with host Goshka Folda on the changing advisor landscape and advisor preferences, and how asset managers can connect with advisors for success in the retail investment space.

This podcast draws on data and insights from ISS MI’s recently released State of the Market—Intermediary Distribution Report. Simfund Enterprise subscribers can access the report on the Simfund Research portal. Contact us to learn more: https://www.issgovernance.com/mi-universal-form/.

Model Portfolio Services (MPS), which allows advisers to outsource asset allocation and fund selection, seems well-positioned to capitalise on the ongoing shift away from the “adviser as portfolio manager” value proposition narrative. The dislocation of the investment process away from the adviser, however, will add complexity to the wholesaling equation and may necessitate a rethink of determining wholesalers’ number one target.

This latest episode of ISS Market Intelligence’s MI Talk podcast features Mark Hamper, Head of Client Data Strategy – Global Distribution Intelligence, and Benjamin Reed-Hurwitz, EMEA Research Lead, in discussion with host Goshka Folda on the growth of MPS in the U.K., its implications for the distribution of investment funds, and how data will be a fund manager’s best friend for understanding this trend.  

Has direct indexing outgrown its moniker?

Direct indexing originally emerged as an investment platform through which the investor can hold the underlying securities of an index directly as opposed to a packaged product like a mutual fund or ETF. More recently, advancements in technology are stretching the “indexing” part of the concept by offering investors and their advisors the opportunity for customization and opening routes to tax efficiency features.

The new episode of ISS Market Intelligence’s MI Talk podcast explores the different angles of direct indexing and the future outlook of the strategy with guest Dennis Gallant, Associate Director at ISS MI, in conversation with host Goshka Folda, Global Head of Research.

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In this month’s episode of the MI Talk podcast, Barry McInerney, former CEO of Mackenzie Investments who recently retired in June, spoke with host Goshka Folda, Global Head of Research at ISS Market Intelligence, to reveal valuable insights from his career in the asset management industry and predictions for the future of the sector. Barry shares experiences from his career and names five catalysts for growth in asset management.

Despite a pervasive Covid-induced sense of gloom within the industry, 2021 saw record profitability for asset managers operating primarily in the U.S. What explains the surge in profitability, and where is this momentum headed in 2022 and beyond? Tune into the latest episode of MI Talk, the podcast series brought to you by ISS Market Intelligence, to hear Goshka Folda, Global Head of Research, and Christopher Davis, Head of U.S. Fund Research, discuss asset manager profitability from all angles including trends in fee pressures, acquisitions, specialization, and more.  

Find more insights into the state of asset manager profitability in ISS Market Intelligence’s 2021 U.S. Asset Manager Profitability Report. Simfund Enterprise subscribers have direct platform access to the report, or contact [email protected] to learn more.

With the recent surge in interest in ESG investing, retail investors and advisors face new questions about how to adapt. What are the challenges – and solutions – for asset managers globally regarding ESG product development, distribution strategies, advisor adoption, and other topics relevant to ESG investing?

Tune in to the latest episode of the ISS Market Intelligence MI Talk podcast to hear Goshka Folda, Global Head of Research, and Carlos Cardone, Executive Director, discuss these topics and more. This episode stems from the inaugural issue of Investor Economics’ ESG Advisory Service report, a report produced with input from ISS ESG that provides fact-based research and evidence to assist asset managers in answering practical questions about ESG from the investment, product development, distribution, wholesaling, and marketing processes. Learn more about the report: https://www.investoreconomics.com/reports/esg-advisory-service-report-esg-investing-opportunities-and-challenges-2022/.

About the episode:

In this inaugural episode of ISS Market Intelligence’s MI Talk podcast series, Goshka Folda, Global Head of Research, and Christopher Davis, Head of U.S. Fund Research, discuss ISS MI’s recently released State of the ESG Fund Market report. What is ESG investing, and what kind of inroads has it made in the U.S. funds market? Listen to our experts discuss these questions and more.

About the series:

MI Talk, a podcast series brought to you by ISS Market Intelligence (MI), delivers global coverage of developments in the asset management, wealth management, insurance, and distribution industries. Each episode features ISS MI’s experts in conversation about topical issues, trends, and developments that are shaping the market intelligence landscape, specifically, and global financial services industry more broadly. Financial services professionals focused on funds, annuities, insurance, mortgages, and related areas will find MI Talk particularly helpful in staying abreast of what’s of import across the industry.