Clarity. Perspective. Direction.
Spring 2009
Adding Value Where and When It Counts
John Meunier & Christy White
Cogent Principals
These are challenging times for all of us. In fact, every day, we hear from clients who tell us how they are trying to do more with less. Many of you have had your research budgets reduced, frozen, or worse. So, believe us when we say we feel your pain!
That's why we've dedicated this edition of Cogent Thoughts to providing critical market insights you need right now to navigate in the current environment.
In addition, we want you to have a complimentary copy of any one of the Cogent Insight Series reports on which our main articles are based. See articles for details.
We hope you'll find these articles and detailed reports useful, especially now at such an important time. So, please read on!As an evidence-based consultancy, Cogent Research is dedicated to delivering clarity, perspective, and direction to leading organizations in the wealth management industry. Through a unique blend of syndicated research, industry expertise, advanced analytics, and strategic consulting, we are redefining the role and function of marketing research in the areas of product development, brand equity, client experience, and revenue enhancement.
Wealth Management Cogent Insights™ extras
For Better or Worse
By Alan N. White, Project Director
Staying close to clients in tough times pays off.
For the moment, despite recent heavy losses, most investors are sticking with their current advisor. Satisfaction and reported loyalty are both way down, so it's not as if investors are especially "happy" with the way things are going. Instead, there appears to be somewhat of a bunker mentality impending widespread defections. Besides, where would they go?
.gif)
Read More
Meet the RIA Freshman Class
By Megan McGoldrick, Project Director
Fresh faces are changing the channel.
RIAs who have been registered for fewer than five years deviate significantly from what is considered the RIA norm. This freshman class is using a different product mix and has a unique perspective about the type of relationships they want to establish with both clients and providers.
Examining the attitudes and behaviors of the RIAs' mindset during the first five years reveals critical insights that are of significant value for those striving to develope relationships with the RIA channel.
Investing 2.0
By Eric Dolan, Project Director
Wake up! Social media is changing your world.
Think social media is just for kids or kicks? Think again. Nearly two-thirds of investors say that the information on social media sites has had a significant influence on their purchasing behaviors and decisions related to personal finance and investing. Financial services providers and advisors must acknowledge this phenomenon and determine how, if at all, to best adapt to this new variable in the investment descision-making process by anticipating and undertsanding investors' changing expectations, attitudes, and behaviors.
Biggest Risk for Young Investors; Being Too Conservative
By Meredith Lloyd Rice, Project Director
Recent market turmoil has had a huge impact on investors' portfolios, but, surprisingly, not all investors are experiencing the full brunt of the downturn. Most of the pain is hitting Generation X and Second Wave Boomers who as of last October had already lost over a third of the value of their portfolios compared to 2006. Conversely, on average, Silent Generation investors actually experienced a net gain in investable assets over the same period.
Syndicated Research 2009 product line-up
Click here for a complete listing and descriptions of our current and upcoming products.
• Investor Brandscape™ 2009
• Advisor Brandscape™ 2009
DISCOVERY SERIES
• ETF Investor Brandscape™
• Rollovers & Retirement Income™
• Advisor Touchpoints™
INSIGHT SERIES
• Investor Brandscape™ Company Report Cards - NEW
Subscription pricing and private label opportunities are available across all product categories.
For information on special offers that may apply to your firm, including bundled pricing, please contact info@cogentresearch.com
IN THIS ISSUE
NEWS FLASH!
SELF-DIRECTED INVESTORS ARE DEFINING THE ETF LANDSCAPE
In a recent news release, Cogent shared some important, new insights about a sometimes overlooked, yet critical, segment of the retail ETF marketplace — self-directed investors. Here's just some of what we found:
While equally likely as those who are advised to own ETFs, self-directed investors exhibit several important characteristics that A) set them apart from their advised counterparts, and B) make them an important constituency for providers in this rapidly growing market segment:
-
Self-directed investors allocate 20% more of their assets to ETFs
-
They are more loyal to the ETF provider they use, and
-
Self-directed ETF owners are twice as likely to increase their use of ETFs over the next year
Click here to see the full press release
Click here to learn more about Cogent's 2009 ETF Investor Brandscape™ Report
COMING IN MAY
2009 Advisor Brandscape™ Report
UPCOMING CONFERENCES
LIMRA
2009 LIMRA Retirement Industry Conference
Trends, Challenges, And Opportunities: The Outlook for Variable Annuities And GLWBs
Speaker:
Antonio Ferreira,
Managing Director
ICI GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
2009 ICI Mutual Fund Industry Meeting
125 CambridgePark Drive Cambridge, MA 02140 PH 617.441.9944
FX: 617.441.9966
www.cogentresearch.com