solutions that work

Apple posted the biggest quarterly profit for any public company ever last quarter. The milestone is no doubt a product of quality design, innovation and the strategic development of new markets. But it also underscores the importance of an Apple feature that few other companies share. Apple has aligned its world-class brand with a product/service

Eugene Fama and Kenneth French introduced the first multi-factor model to the investing world over 20 years ago. But it’s been only recently that “factor investing” has really come into vogue. This we believe to be due to a confluence of three developments: • Advances in technology and data collection that allow for more accurate

Pantone has announced a red wine hue as its color of the year. Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute® says: “This hearty, yet stylish tone is universally appealing and translates easily to fashion, beauty, industrial design, home furnishings and interiors.” Interesting that she failed to mention corporate communications in her list of

Having advised on the organic and inorganic growth strategies of a number of wealth and asset management firms in recent years, we are struck by the influence of corporate culture on the selection, implementation, and ultimate success of strategic options. A helpful guide in understanding corporate culture was developed by the Dutch, social psychologist and

Another year is coming to a close, with all of the accompanying fanfare and festivities, including our annual perspective on key themes and trends for the coming year. 1. Goals-based investing This seems to be one of the big buzz phrases of the past year. Many organizations are moving to an investment approach that considers

This time worn admonishment to would be professors is arguably even more applicable to the managers of today’s investment firms. Thought leadership, the business corollary of scholarly journal articles, has become a critical, even essential, element of these firms’ ongoing marketing efforts. We believe that the most effective thought leadership: • Reflects the core competency

A major theme of financial services institutions, especially those catering to the high-net-worth market, is a “holistic” approach. Firms typically emphasize their goal of getting to know their clients and building a deep understanding of all of their needs so that they can develop more effective strategies for them. This often includes looking at both

So often we hear clients say they want their brand to be like Nike, J.P. Morgan, or the hands down favorite, Apple. Let’s remember, the Apple brand, nor any other strong brand, was not born overnight. Or over a year. Or a decade. The Apple brand was nothing when Steve Jobs was working in his