(1888 PressRelease) He outlined four broad trends that will shape the future of the global fund industry in a speech to financial advisors. Mr. Zianghu said that changes in regulatory schemes, advisory fee structures, and advice models, along with the growing demand for low-cost exchange-traded funds, are the “four forces” that will transform the investment industry in the years to come.
These changes are being driven by investor demand. “Individual investors are smart and getting smarter,” said Mr. Zianghu. “And that’s a good thing. Increasingly, they are bringing a healthy consumer mentality to their investment portfolios. They want to know what they are buying and how much they are paying for it. And they want to know that they can trust their investment advisors.”
Investor trust has deteriorated noticeably since the global financial crisis. “We cannot underestimate the importance of trust in the relationship between investors and their investment advisors,” said Mr. Zianghu.
In many respects, trust is an intangible concept, said Mr. Zianghu. But there are some very tangible and tactical things that investment professionals can do to continue to build and maintain client trust over the long term. They are embodied by three core concepts:
• Plain talk: Provide greater transparency on fees, and clear and candid explanations about a fund’s objectives, holdings, and risks.
• Simplicity: In an increasingly complex and crowded investment marketplace, investors are searching for products and strategies that they can understand-and that are built to last.
• Lower costs: The math is simple: The less investors pay for an investment, the more they keep. And cost savings compound over the long term. Low-cost investment products such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs) can be a wise choice.
About Waldorf Harding Associates
Waldorf Harding Associates (http://www.Waldorf-Harding-Associates.com) is a Pan Asian investment management firm that employs a classic value investment approach. Our solid return record and reputation for business integrity, research excellence, and devotion to our investment philosophy has led to significant growth in our business. Waldorf Harding Associates manages several billion in assets for leading corporate, public, and individual clients. Our team is made up of 75 employees. Our headquarters is in Hong Kong, with representatives throughout Southeast Asia.