You can find original article here WealthManagement. Subscribe to our free daily WealthManagement newsletters. Asset manager Janus Henderson has agreed to acquire 100% of investment management firm Richard Bernstein Advisors for an undisclosed amount.  The deal will allow Janus Henderson to significantly grow its market share in the model portfolio and SMA provider space, in addition to strengthening its RIA distribution reach. After the deal’s completion, scheduled for the second quarter of 2026, t ...

You can find original article here WealthManagement. Subscribe to our free daily WealthManagement newsletters. Bringing Alternatives to DC Plan Participants Tops 2026 Regulatory Priorities “While much of year one of Trump 2.0 was spent getting key officials in place and navigating the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, experts expect year two to be busy at regulators like the Securities and Exchange Commission and Department of Labor, with the administration’s push to broaden access to private ma ...

Get ready to hit the runway. Despite the White House pushing for expanded access to private markets, many advisors view them as overly complex or unnecessary. SEC Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw went even further, calling broader retail access to all alternatives an “irresponsible departure from foundational pillars of the securities laws.” Customizable model portfolios, however, may offer a path around such skepticism, some asset managers believe. The products allow advisors to spend less time sifting t ...

Core Insights - Model portfolios utilizing exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are increasingly favored in the financial advisory sector, with a significant portion of assets allocated to these models [2][3]. Group 1: Market Trends - An estimated $36 trillion is allocated to model portfolios across financial intermediary channels, with 65% ($23 trillion) managed in-house by firms creating their own models [2]. - The trend towards model portfolios is expected to continue due to their cost-effectiveness, diversification, and ease of rebalancing, making them suitable for various life stages [2][3]. Group 2: Benefits for Financial Advisors - Model portfolios help financial advisors maintain consistency in investment strategies, reducing the temptation to time the market or pursue short-term trends [3]. - The ability to scale portfolio management processes is a key advantage for advisory firms, allowing them to leverage practice-level resources effectively [4]. Group 3: Outsourcing and Asset Management - For advisory firms that prefer not to manage their own models, outsourcing options are expanding, including broker-dealers, asset managers, and third-party strategists [5]. - Among the 35% of model portfolio assets that are outsourced, there is a mix of purely outsourced assets and those modified by advisors or clients [5]. Group 4: ETF Advantages - ETFs are appealing due to their low costs, comparable to the cheapest mutual funds, and their tax efficiency, which is a significant benefit for end users [6]. - While liquidity is often highlighted as a benefit of ETFs, it is less critical in model portfolios designed for long-term, buy-and-hold strategies [6].

Core Viewpoint - State Street Investment Management is in discussions to acquire a stake in an Indian mutual fund, aiming to enhance its presence in India's asset management industry valued at approximately $900 billion [1][2]. Group 1: Company Strategy - State Street plans to collaborate with the Indian mutual fund by sharing technology to develop quantitative investment strategies [1]. - The company is preparing to launch model portfolios that will include international equities and exchange-traded funds in partnership with Smallcase, a local investment platform [2]. Group 2: Market Positioning - State Street currently manages around $5 trillion in assets and seeks to strengthen its position in the Indian market [2]. - The partnership with the Indian mutual fund would provide State Street with improved access to Indian investors in the equities market [3]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Other international firms like BlackRock, Amundi, and Schroders have also formed partnerships with domestic firms to tap into India's retail investor base [4]. - BlackRock, in collaboration with Jio Financial Services, has recently launched mutual fund products in India, indicating significant growth potential in the market [4].

Core Insights - The company reported strong individual credit selection and no exposure to high-profile credit issues, with a robust pipeline of pending transactions in private credit deployment [1] - The strategic collaboration with Goldman Sachs aims to provide diversified public and private market solutions tailored for retirement and wealth investors, focusing on model portfolios, multi-asset offerings, and personalized advice solutions [1][5][6] Investment Performance - Fixed income performance was strong, with over 70% of fund assets outperforming peer groups across all reported time periods, while the target date franchise showed 81%, 71%, and 98% of fund assets beating peers over three, five, and ten years respectively [2] - On an asset-weighted basis, 64%, 57%, and 78% of fund assets outperformed peer groups over three, five, and ten years, with a notable improvement in one-year performance, where 53% of fund assets beat peers [3] Assets Under Management - The company reached a record high of $1.77 trillion in assets under management as of September 30, indicating strong growth and client interest [4] - The company introduced new retirement allocation funds in Asia, marking a significant expansion into retail markets in Hong Kong and Singapore [9] Strategic Initiatives - The collaboration with Goldman Sachs will include a co-branded series of model portfolios and multi-asset public-private market solutions, expected to launch by mid-2026 [5][6][7] - The company is developing a managed account platform for independent advisors, combining investment capabilities from T. Rowe Price and Goldman Sachs [7] Financial Results - The adjusted diluted EPS for Q3 2025 was $2.81, reflecting higher revenue driven by increased average AUM, despite experiencing $7.9 billion in net outflows [12] - Investment advisory fees increased to $1.7 billion, up over 4% from Q3 2024, while total adjusted revenues reached $1.9 billion, a 6% increase year-over-year [14] Expense Management - Adjusted operating expenses for Q3 2025 were $1.1 billion, up slightly from the previous year but down from the prior quarter, with a focus on managing costs effectively [15][16] - The company is implementing a broad expense management program to keep controllable expense growth in the low single digits for 2026 and 2027 [16][19] Capital Management - The company maintains a strong financial position with over $4.3 billion in cash and discretionary investments, and has repurchased $158 million worth of shares in Q3 2025 [18] - The company continues to buy back shares, surpassing $525 million year-to-date, indicating a commitment to returning value to shareholders [18]

Core Insights - Active management and stock picking may be making a comeback after nearly 30 years of passive investing dominance, driven by higher interest rates, increased stock dispersion, and heightened market volatility [2][4] - The shift towards active management is seen as essential for outperforming the market, with financial advisors recognizing the importance of investment management despite the rise of automated solutions [3][4] Group 1: Market Conditions - Current market conditions are favorable for active investors, with T. Rowe Price highlighting that the combination of higher interest rates and greater stock dispersion provides key ingredients for potential outperformance [2] - Active management is becoming increasingly relevant as passive investing can lead to "diworsification," where overly broad diversification negatively impacts returns [2] Group 2: Advisor Strategies - Financial advisors are beginning to realize that investment management remains crucial, even as many have shifted focus to financial planning and model portfolios [3][4] - Many advisors are now outsourcing portfolio construction, but some, like Kimberly Abmeyer, are achieving significant outperformance through targeted stock selection, with her clients' portfolios outperforming the S&P 500 by 10% this year [4] Group 3: Model Portfolios - Assets in model portfolios reached nearly $8 trillion in April 2023, indicating a strong trend towards this investment strategy [6] - Over 80% of fee-based advisors utilize model portfolios for at least some of their client assets, reflecting the growing acceptance of this approach in wealth management [6]

Core Insights - Voya Investment Management has appointed Scott Brady as managing director and head of Intermediary Business Development to enhance its presence in the intermediary channels [1][2] - Brady brings over 30 years of financial services experience, previously serving as head of U.S. Product Development and Strategy at Columbia Threadneedle [2] - Voya IM manages approximately $359 billion in assets as of April 30, 2025, across various investment strategies [3] Company Overview - Voya Investment Management is part of Voya Financial, Inc. and focuses on managing assets for institutions, financial intermediaries, and individual investors [3] - The firm has a legacy of 50 years in active investing and employs over 300 investment professionals [3] - Voya IM emphasizes understanding client needs, strong investment performance, and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion [3]

Core Insights - Franklin Templeton, Inc. (BEN) has formed a strategic partnership with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), DigitalBridge, and Actis to enhance its infrastructure investment offerings for private clients [1][9]. Group 1: Partnership Details - The collaboration aims to provide private wealth clients with access to high-growth infrastructure opportunities, focusing on energy security, electrification, digitalization, and sectors such as data centers, renewable energy, and digital power [2][4]. - The partnership combines the expertise of three institutional infrastructure investment firms to meet the rising demand for sustainable energy and digital infrastructure in the private market globally [3][5]. Group 2: Strategic Rationale - Global infrastructure needs are projected to exceed $94 trillion by 2040, presenting an estimated $15 trillion investment opportunity for private capital [5]. - The partnership is designed to leverage complementary strengths to capture this growth and provide compelling infrastructure opportunities for private wealth investors [5][6]. Group 3: Offerings and Market Position - The expanded private wealth offerings will provide institutional-quality access to private infrastructure, targeting stable, inflation-linked cash flows and long-term resilience across economic cycles [7][8]. - This strategic alliance positions Franklin Templeton to broaden its footprint in private infrastructure, gaining access to attractive deal flow and specialist expertise, while diversifying beyond traditional equity and bond markets [8][9]. Group 4: Market Performance - Shares of BEN have increased by 26.3% this year, outperforming the industry average rise of 15.6% [10].

Group 1 - Sensor Unlimited is part of the investing group Envision Early Retirement, which focuses on generating high income and growth through dynamic asset allocation [2] - The group offers two model portfolios: one for short-term survival and withdrawal, and another for aggressive long-term growth [2] - Monthly updates on holdings, tax discussions, and ticker critiques are provided to members [2] Group 2 - Sensor Unlimited has a PhD in financial economics and has spent the last decade covering the mortgage market, commercial market, and banking industry [3] - The focus areas include asset allocation and ETFs related to the overall market, bonds, banking and financial sectors, and housing markets [3]