This post is a summary of a session from the MMI 2011 Fall Solutions Conference that was held in NYC. It is part 2 of a 2 part series. Click here to read Part 1.
Moderator:
Marc Zeitoun, Managing Director, Head of Distribution, Rydex/SGI
Panelists:
Jay Link, Managing Director, Managed Solutions Group, Merrill Lynch
Peter Malafronte, Executive Director, Managed Accounts, UBS
George Raffa, National Sales Manager, Asset Management Division, SVP, Raymond James
How do Rep as PM and Rep as Advisor programs work together?
Peter agreed that the two platforms are complimentary and the decision as to which to choose is mainly a client preference issue. It depends on whether or not they want to be involved in the decision making process, he said.
Also, Rep as Advisor is sometimes considered to be a “farm league” for RPM clients, Peter joked. Once a client has worked with an advisor in a non-discretionary program, has developed trust and understands how the advisor thinks about investments, portfolio construction and managing risk, that client is more likely to feel comfortable moving into a Rep as PM program, he asserted.
Marc added that the conventional wisdom says that RPM assets are the stickiest and least litigious. Additionally, they have higher levels of client satisfaction.