Managed Accounts - Catching the "IT" Factor

Celent Communications predicts that spending on managed account technologies will grow from US$278 million in 2002 to US$576 million by 2006, as both old and new sponsors and money managers build their presences in the managed account marketplace.

Celent’s new 45-page report, "Managed Accounts— Catching the ‘IT’ Factor," discusses the overall market trends in managed accounts, examines how technology innovations are reshaping the market and improving operations, and evaluates current and future trends that will affect this burgeoning marketplace.

Technology Solutions and Providers in the Marketplace

Celent predicts that assets in managed accounts will double from US$500 billion to US$1 trillion in assets between 2002-2006, representing a 17% penetration among mass affluent and high net-worth households. At the same time, new and disruptive technologies will alter today’s landscape with mutual fund companies destined to play a bigger role in the near future. Managed account operations and profitability should also be boosted by new technologies to tackle the industry’s inherent operational challenges.

According to Pamela Brewster, senior analyst at Celent and author of the report, "The new technologies will provide a level of automation that will allow managed account operations to scale effectively and provide greater customization capabilities. They will also break five large wirehouses’ domination of the market: Salomon Smith Barney, Merrill Lynch, UBS PaineWebber, Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, and Prudential."

The report reviews four leading technologies in the managed account space including: portfolio accounting/management systems, portfolio customization tools, third-party managed account platforms, and back-office solutions. Within each category, the leading vendors are highlighted.