Redefining the Role of Index Providers
March 6, 2025
Index providers play a foundational role in the index-based products and asset allocation model portfolios now widely used in retail wealth management, yet they remain underutilized.
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Index-based products are experiencing organic growth, with assets in index-based products (exchange-traded funds, mutual funds, and direct-indexing separately managed accounts) crossing $16 trillion, as of year-end 2024. Increasingly, index methodology is becoming an important differentiator along with cost, performance, and brand, according to new research issued by Cerulli Associates and sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices.
For asset and wealth manager executives building index-based products and asset allocation model portfolios, this white paper provides a roadmap for how investment professionals can better leverage the set of solutions, in support of the underlying indices, that index providers offer.
Key Takeaways
Go Beyond Index Data
Asset and wealth managers can take advantage of the index providers’ additional offerings, in support of the underlying indices, including consultation during the product development process, white label and custom index creation, thought leadership and educational content, and coordinated advisor engagement and educational meetings.
Leveraging Brand and Content Strength for Product Marketing and Distribution
The index provider brands, especially those built upon high-quality index design and methodology, are often additive and works in conjunction with the asset manager brand to strengthen the overall positioning of the product.
Enhancing Intelligence for Asset Allocation Model Portfolio Construction
While the data (e.g., index performance data, factor analyses) available has improved in recent years, there is still an opportunity for firms to improve the depth of coverage (incorporating fixed income, international equities, and alternatives) and improve access and delivery.
For S&P Dow Jones Indices' information, visit: www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/disclaimers/
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SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS
Meet Our Team
Matt Apkarian, CFA
Associate Director
Bio →
Matt Apkarian, CFA
Associate Director
Matt 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 retirement, retail, and institutional channels.
Prior to joining Cerulli, Matt held roles in
several business units at Fidelity Investments, including Workplace Investing,
Personal Investing, and Fund Operations. Most recently, he worked as an
Investment Data Analyst for Strategic Advisers, LLC.
Full biography here.
Brendan Powers, CFA
Director
Bio →
Brendan Powers, CFA
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.
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