Sample Manager Projects

Global Asset Manager Illustrative Projects: Overall Objective: Enhance Manager Effectiveness in terms of:

  • Investor Needs and Expectations
  • Regulator Requirements
  • Industry “Best Practices”

Investment Manager Project Examples

Based on 29 Years of working with Long-only Managers (equity and fixed income) and Alternatives Asset Manager Firms (hedge funds, funds of hedge funds, private equity, real estate and commodities firms)

  • Assessments of Manager Preparation to Meet High Level Expectations of:
    • Foundations, Family Offices and Other Institutional Investors
    • Regulators: US, UK, Europe, Middle East, Asia and South America
  • Assessments: In Light of Mission, Scope, and Manager “Best Practices” + Investor and Regulator Expectations
    • Asset Management Firm and Fund/Account Governance Processes
      • Firm Governance
        • Board/Management Committee Roles and Responsibilities
      • Fund/Account  Governance
        • Establishing Fund Board/Advisory Board
        • Board Roles and Responsibilities
        • Fund Terms
        • Changes since 2009 Financial Crisis
  • Core Investment Process Workflows
    • Level of Skill, Workflow Process, Effectiveness, Efficiency, Transparency of
      • Research
      • Portfolio Construction and Portfolio Management
      • Risk Management
      • Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis
      • Trading
  • Investment Business Support Function Workflows
    • Individual Business Functions and Enterprise-wide Integrated Graphic Workflows
      • Legal, Compliance, Technology (investment and business support applications), Marketing and Client Service, Middle and Back Office, Human Resources, Communications (Firm and Investment)
    • Assess Individual Investment Business Functions, Create & Execute Plans to Enhance Functions
      • Upgrade Internally/Via 3rd Parties
      • Determine mix of Internal and Outsourced Functions
  • Third Party Providers
    • Assess/Revise Manager/Servicer Provider Business Function Workflows
      • Administrators, Custodians, etc. (NAV process, Subscription/Redemption processes, etc.
      • Prime Brokers
      • Equity and Fixed Income Trading Sell-Side Research and Trading
      • Legal, Compliance , Valuation Consultants
      • Third-Party Marketers, Wealth Management Platforms
  • Alignment/Integration Assessments & Implementation Projects
    • Investment Strategy (ies)
    • Investment Business Strategy
    • Firm and Fund Governance Policies and Practices
    • Compensation, Benefits and Performance Management Programs
      • Investment Teams
      • Investment Business Support Teams
    • Succession Planning, Development and Training Programs
      • Investment Teams
      • Investment Business Support Teams
  • Fund Capacity/ Closure Rationale and Criteria
    • Determine and Be Transparent Re: Fund Capacity
    • Determine and Be Transparent re: Fund Closure Criteria
  • Regulator Related Initiatives:
    • “Mock Audits” and Real Audits
    • Registration in New Geographic Territories
    • Registration and Re-registration Following Major Global Reorganizations
  •  “Lessons Learned”/Actions Taken in Light of Financial Crisis and Recent Fund Frauds and Failures
  • Liquidity/Illiquidity
  • Transparency
  • Private Placement Memorandum Terms
  • Portfolio Diversification
  • Low/No Correlation
  • Leverage
  • Valuation Issues
  • Enhancements of Risk Management
  • Alignment of Investor/Manager Interests
  • Credit Facility Issues
  • Portfolio “Downside Protection”
  • Firm and Fund Leadership, Management & Governance
  • True “Culture of Compliance”
  • Best Practices Initiatives
    • Research and Implement Asset Management “Best Practices”
      • Manager Specific Customization
      • All Types and Geography of Managers
      • Managers Undertaking New Strategies
    • Apply Findings, Recommendations and Best Practices for Alternatives Managers

See Abstract and Table of Contents for White Paper Published on “Family Offices and Alternative Investments”