What does excellence look like?

The IMAP Managed Account Awards are settled for the year. The finalists have been shortlisted and the winners have been chosen.

The growth in managed account funds continues at a steady pace, with the latest IMAP/Milliman Managed Accounts FUM Census for the six months to 30 June 2018, showing funds under management (FUM) now standing at $62.43 billion – a 9 per cent or $5.39 billion increase on the previous six months.

The number of clients seeking advise from planners continues to decline, as the move by more planners to self-licence increases.

These were two of the key findings to emerge from the 2018 Planner Business Model Report, which is an annual study of Australia financial planners and their business models by research company, Investment Trends.

Funds under administration in SMAs on the Macquarie Wrap platform has exceeded $1.5 billion.

Increased demand in managed accounts has prompted Quilla Consulting to appoint Steven Jessop as National Business Development Manager and Michael Lange as an analyst within its investment team.

Vanguard has announced that its diversified portfolio strategies are now available through Macquarie’s SMAs on the Macquarie Wrap platform.

The new breed of companies, like Netflix, Uber, Amazon and Airbnb, might be the flavour of the month with investors, but to dismiss the incumbents is to do so at considerable risk.

The second session at the IMAP Investment Forum was a presentation on how managed accounts work in a goals based practice, by Matthew Walker CFP® - a director at WLM Financial.

On 1 August, the inaugural IMAP Managed Account Awards were presented across seven categories. Following is a review of the award methodology and the winners.

Sydney-based Stanford Brown was named the inaugural winner of the Licensee Managed Account category at the IMAP Managed Account Awards. Jonathan Hoyle talks to Jayson Forrest about the firm’s approach to managed accounts.

Boutique investment manager, SG Hiscock & Company has taken out the Australian Equities category at the IMAP Managed Account Awards.

At the IMAP Managed Account Awards, Macquarie Investment Management took out the Australian Equities Small Cap category.

DFS Portfolio Solutions took out the International Equities category at the IMAP Managed Account Awards.

The Lunar Group has taken out the Multi Asset category at the IMAP Managed Account Awards.

A relative newcomer to managed accounts, Real Asset Management took out the Other Asset Classes category at the IMAP Managed Account Awards.

The Innovation category was hotly contested at the IMAP Managed Account Awards, with Elston Asset Management taking out the award for its approach to stakeholder communications.

Over 220 delegates attended IMAP’s Portfolio Management Conference on 2 August. With 14 sessions on offer, there was a good selection of topics and presentations to whet the appetite of managed account professionals. Jayson Forrest reviews some of the highlights.

David Wright (Zenith Investment Partners) and Alex Donald (Ironbark Asset Management) provide their insights on the challenges and opportunities facing advisers considering going it alone.

Bala Shastri believes that for advice practices to better manage conflicts of interest, it may be worth looking into a managed accounts solution.