Based on a recent survey of affluent investors, nine mutual fund providers can expect to see not only positive, but stronger than average investment momentum from investors in 2012.
Topping the list of the biggest gainers are Vanguard and T Rowe Price; followed by Fidelity Advisor Funds, Fidelity Investments, American Funds, Wells Fargo Advantage Funds, Schwab/Laudus Funds, JP Morgan Funds, and ING Funds.
These and other findings are included in the 2012 Investor Brandscape, an annual report released earlier this month by Cogent Research. The 180 page report is based on a nationally representative survey of more than 4,000 affluent investors.
The study found that over the past year investors have significantly reduced the average number of fund families with which they work from 1.9 to 1.56. Furthermore, current investors are three times more likely to increase investments with current managers as they are to redeem investments – an indication of strengthened loyalty to their existing providers.
“A year ago, it was often the case that more clients were planning to give up on a manager than invest more money,” says Cogent Research Principal John Meunier (pictured). “Today the opposite is true. Investors who stuck it out with their current managers are prepared to grow these relationships.”
In the 2012 Investor Brandscape report, Cogent determined the Affluent Investor Investment Momentum (AIIM) score for 27 leading mutual fund providers. Ratings were determined by calculating the average net score for all clients who plan to either increase or redeem investments. These results were then indexed to 100 and plotted on a continuum ranging from the lowest to highest possible score. This year, the average AIIM score across all 27 providers was +23%, with results ranging from a low of -7% to a high of +34%.
“This year, only two firms we looked at had negative AIIM scores. Last year, there were seven negative and nine in the single digits. There’s no doubt things are improving for asset managers.”
