Fund selectors claim brand is unimportant, with the manager, investment process and anticipated returns all higher on the agenda

The preferred partner model, whereby private banks source their product menu from a small number of asset managers, is gaining traction 

Staying relevant in an ever-evolving and competitive market requires advisers to play several different roles 

A merger may enable asset managers to cut costs, but the most successful collaborations are those which bring together complementary capabilities

Private banks’ business models continue to evolve, with most focusing on their core home markets while looking to outsource back office functions to outlying financial centres. But the biggest changes in the way wealth managers do business will be driven by the changing needs, and profiles, of their clients 

To remain relevant to today’s entrepreneurs, wealth managers must move away from pushing products to offering customised advice. Digital platforms can help develop these deeper relationships

The asset management industry is guilty of looking for traditional solutions to its problems, while many of the answers actually lie in the digital realm 

With traditional wealth managers realising robo-advice is here to stay and launching their own platforms, is there any room left for smaller start-ups?