Dear David

I have attached more notes from last weeks' meeting organised in London by the Milken Institute. I found this session particularly interesting. The topic was 'The Evolution of Asset Management.' We all sense that change is coming so it was interesting to attend this panel comprising 3 constituencies: current asset managers, openly disillusioned customers, and new technology companies aiming to disrupt the status quo. It was all very polite but some strong messages came across which I have summarised in the pdf.

Asset managers are trying new markets, such as direct lending in place of banks, and investments in private equity including hi-tech startups (I wonder how many really understand what they're doing). And they are experimenting with big data and automated trading though there was disagreement about how successful this actual is. No evidence was given.

Other key messages that I took away were:

1. Customers are not particularly happy with performance or fees, saying there's much waste in unnecessary infrastructure.

2. The public availability of so much information that was previously available only to professionals is a game changer, as it reduces the 'added value' of asset managers.

3. The result is a growing trend for DIY investing. It started with HNWs setting up their own wealth funds and it is spreading to other private investors as they/we become more empowered by technology.

Also, corporations are starting to retake control of their defined benefit pension schemes by managing them in-house. To quote one panelist: "Corporations whose db plans failed to deliver will ask 'why would I delegate investment to those who are clearly the dumbest investors in the world.' Public and private pension funds need returns of 7-8% but they have been receiving much less than that from the AMs to whom they out-sourced. The pension asset managers always get their fees yet it's the corporate that has the liabilities on its book when there is under-performance. One panelist stated that several corporations in the US have already taken in-house control of their db plans and he expects this to become more widespread.

Of course, my impression of the discussion inevitably reflects my view of the topic.

Others may interpret it differently, so here is a link to a recording of the panel in case readers wish to check it out themselves.

Best wishes

David

David Fuller's view

Thanks, David, for sharing your thoughts on The Evolution of Asset Management, as discussed at the Milken Institute conference.  If you mention this during your presentation at the Markets Now seminar on 16^th January, I am sure it will generate further discussion. 

Here are David Brown's additional notes on this topic.