U.S. Asset Allocation Model Portfolios 2020
How Models Fit into a Broader Portfolio Construction Solution Set
Win advisor assets. Combat fee pressure.
- Learn how asset managers and third-party strategists can position themselves to define an efficient and scalable portfolio construction services offering
- Understand how firms can formulate and position an asset allocation model distribution strategy
- Review the model provider landscape with a top-50 leaderboard, model design specifications, and methods of compensation
- Gain insight into the types of model marketplaces and broker/dealer channel opportunities
- Explore advisor product use metrics, practice attributes, and model costs
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Summary
This report explains how asset allocation model portfolios fit into a broader set of portfolio construction solutions that asset managers can offer to financial advisors to help them create a more scalable portfolio construction process. It also takes a deep dive into asset allocation models, covering model marketplaces, distribution strategy, staffing resources, model design, and service/support initiatives.
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A Note from the Author
How to Define a Portfolio Construction Solutions Offering and Formulate an Asset Allocation Model Distribution Strategy?

Brendan Powers, CFA
Associate Director
Bio →

Brendan Powers, CFA
Associate Director
Brendan is a member of Cerulli’s Product Development practice, which focuses on trends related to asset managers’ product development and management functions. This broadly includes assessing the opportunity for product development, evaluating emerging product trends, and understanding distribution and product positioning for investment products across retail and institutional channels.
Prior to joining Cerulli, Brendan worked as a Senior Client Associate at Eaton Vance Management, focusing primarily on the firm’s exchange funds.
Full biography here.
Financial advisors currently spend an average of 17% of their time on investment management, while spending 9.5% on both financial planning and prospecting new clients. As they are asked to do more of the latter two activities, they will be channeled into realizing efficiencies within their investment management process. Reducing time spent on investment management can be achieved by creating a more scalable portfolio construction process, fueled by external resources made available to an advisor’s practice. By offering a range of portfolio construction solutions, asset managers and third-party strategists can position themselves to assist these practices.
To remain relevant in the future, asset management firms need to participate in asset allocation models by winning sleeves in other firms’ models or by offering their own models or suites of models. These will not be mutually exclusive options. Understand how to strategically deploy resources to build model portfolios, grow adoption among advisors, and create an ecosystem that helps retain advisors with Cerulli’s U.S. Asset Allocation Model Portfolios 2020.
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