Educating people is the asset management industry's biggest challenge, according to ALFI polls

In the London poll, respondents believed that the other major challenges faced by the industry are new digital entrants (25%), regulatory changes brought on by geopolitical changes (23%), and fragmented distribution markets (17%). 61% of London respondents also believed that the regulatory framework could have the most significant impact on the shape of the asset management industry in five years’ time, whilst 27% thought that the level of investor education would have the most significant impact.

In terms of digital strategies for asset managers in the Luxembourg poll, 88% believe that social media is important to asset managers. In addition, 49% believed that the digital compliance issue is surmountable and said they are tackling it, while 11% believed that compliance is an insurmountable hurdle and 40% say that compliance is insurmountable and that there is no internal appetite to tackle this.

Polling at the conferences also showed:

• 53% of respondents in London believed that the core role of the asset management industry in 50 years’ time will be to provide long term savings vehicles directly to private investors, whilst 19% believed that the role will be as a manufacturer of fund products for digital distributers and 7% as a manufacturer for robo-advisers.  21% believed that the asset management industry’s key role will be as a driver of the economy.
• 94% of respondents in Luxembourg believed that there will be more consolidation in the funds industry.
• 67% of respondents in Luxembourg believed that regulation has improved investing for the end investor over the last 10 years.
• 94% believed that product availability has improved over the last ten years.

“The industry is going through considerable adaptation, not only as a result of the changing regulation but also changing technology, the developing environment of geopolitical change, demographic evolution and the need for people to take responsibility for their own long-term financial security,” said Denise Voss, Chairman of ALFI. “Attendees at our conferences are generally positive – 81% at our Luxembourg conference said they were optimistic about the fund industry – but recognise the challenges that lie ahead.”

- Ends -

Download the press release in English.

For further information:

Anna Příhodová

Senior Communications Manager

Tel: +352 22 30 26 - 1

anna.prihodova@alfi.lu

Notes to editors:

[1] At the ALFI European Asset Management Conference in March 2017 there were 650 attendees from the asset management industry, including service providers. See the conference report and the photo gallery.

[2] At the ALFI London Conference in May 2017 there were 800 attendees from the asset management industry, including service providers. See the photo gallery.

The Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry (ALFI) is the representative body of the Luxembourg investment fund community. Created in 1988, the Association today represents over 1500 Luxembourg domiciled investment funds, asset management companies and a wide range of service providers such as custodian banks, fund administrators, transfer agents, distributors, legal firms, consultants, tax experts, auditors and accountants, specialist IT providers and communication companies. The Luxembourg Fund industry is the largest fund domicile in Europe and a worldwide leader in crossborder distribution of funds. Luxembourg-domiciled investment structures are distributed on a global basis in more than 70 countries with a particular focus on Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. For further information, do not hesitate to consult our website at www.alfi.lu

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