Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported record assets under management (AUM) of $829 billion, marking a post-financial crisis high [5][6] - Adjusted earnings for the second quarter were $0.76 per unit, a 7% increase year-over-year [38] - Net revenues reached $844 million, a 2% increase compared to the prior year, while base fees increased by 4% [39] - Total performance fees decreased by $12 million to $30 million, primarily due to lower public market performance fees [39] - The adjusted operating margin for the quarter was 32.3%, up 150 basis points year-over-year [48] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Private wealth represented 17% of AUM and 35% of base management fees [6] - Active strategies experienced net outflows of $4.8 billion, with active equity shedding $6 billion [7] - The private markets platform grew to $77 billion in fee-paying and net fee-eligible AUM, a 20% year-over-year increase [9] - Alternatives multi-asset inflows totaled $1.6 billion, driven by strong deployments into private placements and real estate debt [8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The firm observed a negative trend in retail flows, with active equity experiencing significant outflows [27] - The taxable fixed income segment generated $2.4 billion in outflows, while tax-exempt fixed income saw $1.2 billion in inflows [8][29] - The company reported strong organic growth in its retail municipal platform, growing at an annualized rate of 14% [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to grow private markets AUM to $90 billion to $100 billion by 2027, leveraging partnerships with Equitable [12][13] - The focus remains on delivering consistent and profitable growth supported by scale gains and improved operational leverage [9] - The company is expanding its distribution coverage by forming new partnerships and extending its addressable market [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that geopolitical tensions and policy uncertainty impacted investor sentiment, but conditions improved as trade tensions eased [5] - The company expects to maintain a 33% operating margin in 2025, assuming flat markets [9][48] - Management expressed optimism about the potential for margin expansion over time as the business scales [10] Other Important Information - The company has invested significantly in operational resources to enhance client service and unlock incremental revenue opportunities [10] - The firm is focused on maintaining expense discipline while investing in growth to generate long-term value for unitholders [49] Q&A Session Summary Question: How is the company thinking about scaling its retirement income business with Pacific Life joining? - Management highlighted the importance of the insurance segment and the ongoing expansion of engagement in lifetime income solutions, noting an uptick in interest due to demographic trends [51][52] Question: Can you clarify the likelihood of further exchanges into AllianceBernstein holding units? - Management explained that the conversion from private to public units is driven by tax treatment and does not affect daily trading volume [55][56] Question: What is the company's stance on potential M&A opportunities? - Management indicated that they are exploring various opportunities, particularly in insurance sidecars and partnerships, while maintaining a cautious approach to capital intensity [59][61] Question: How should the market think about the incremental margin and trajectory into 2026? - Management confirmed expectations of maintaining a 33% margin for both halves of the year, with future guidance for 2026 to be provided later [71][72] Question: What are the drivers of demand for American Income and the outlook for improvement? - Management noted that demand for American Income is cyclical and has seen signs of stabilization, with positive flow activity in fixed income and retail [84][87]