SPAC Primer. Workings and Terminology.
SPACs, also known as blank check companies, are not a new concept; they have been around for more than 30 years. However, 2020 was a record year for SPACs in the U.S., and 2021 [...]
Fund M&A Activity is Booming. Things to Know Before You Go.
Savvy asset managers regularly re-evaluate their business and the market to identify acceleration or pivot strategies that will preserve or enhance their business model. Recently, we’ve seen an increase in asset manager consolidation as [...]
Mutual Fund Board Considerations for Insurance in 2021
With 2021 well underway, fund boards will inevitably meet to consider insurance renewals at some point in the near future. Here are a few items for fund boards to consider and ask about heading [...]
The Expansion of ‘Model Portfolios’: Gaining Ground & Providing Efficiencies
Modern portfolio theory was introduced in the early ’50s and until the financial crisis in 2008 it was widely regarded as the optimal way to manage risk in a client portfolio. Even prior to [...]
Chasing the ‘Active’ Trend in ETFs – Upfront Considerations
At the end of 2020, there were more than 2,390 ETFS listed in the U.S., with a record of nearly $5.5 trillion in assets. Actively managed ETFs set new records in 2020, as well. [...]
Interval Fund Proration – Turning Product Features into Functionality
Interval Funds have enjoyed a meteoric rise in recent years, and despite a challenging year, assets now top $35b as of December 31, 2020, according to Interval Fund Tracker¹. The COVID-19 pandemic fueled volatility [...]
Thinking about Expanding Your Investment Product Reach?
You’ve likely heard the expression: “Innovate or die” (often attributed to Peter Drucker, an influential thinker on business management). The saying holds true for investment advisers, as well. To stay relevant, firms must think [...]
TOP Blog Posts of 2020
During 2020 the financial industry experienced unforeseen challenges from remote work environments to market fluctuation, cyber security risks and much more. In response, Ultimus published a variety of informative blog posts to help investment [...]
Re-thinking Vendor Due Diligence in the “New Normal”
Introduction Performing due diligence on vendors is a critical risk mitigation measure. For fund sponsor and investment managers, vendors should act as an extension of your business, and as such, it’s important to gather [...]
Are we at an inflection point for sustainable investing?
Michael Jantzi, Founder of Sustainalytics, spoke at the Morningstar Virtual Conference and shared his insights on the current market and impact on sustainable investing. He believes we’re at an inflection point and change is ahead. The [...]