Product & Distribution Committee Talks with Cerulli

A Guest Blog by Nicsa's Chairman and Chair of Product & Distribution Committee

If you’re like me, you strive to not only stay on top of industry trends, but anticipate them. Doing so allows for nimble and strategic business planning, and benefits me, my team, and my firm. It’s not an easy task, but it is made easier by leveraging a community of industry peers to gain transparency on the issues, build confidence in my preparation, and frankly have some great conversations with folks I respect and enjoy being around.

Nicsa’s Product & Distribution Committee represents many of the industry’s top asset and wealth managers and meets regularly to share perspectives on trends related to product development, wealth management platforms and initiatives, partner relationships, and many other current industry topics.  We recently met with executives from Cerulli for a private read-out of their industry research.

The takeaways were explored in a casual, collaborative roundtable, allowing decision makers from across the industry to contemplate and share their reactions. Topics covered included:

• Optimizing coverage models,
• Improving distribution partnerships,
• Effective data use / ROI measurement; and
• Creating digital differentiation

Our friends at Cerulli took us through an in-depth discussion around:

• The evolution of industry channels,
• The types of activities that promote effective engagement with partners,
• How to create actionable outcomes for our sales teams; and
• How distribution teams are using data and digital platforms to enhance client service.

To learn more about Cerulli research, reach out to Scott Smith at [email protected] or visit https://www.cerulli.com.

As a Nicsa member, I know that being an active and engaged member of the Product and Distribution Committee gives me unparalleled opportunity to discuss industry themes with peers, mentors, and mentees in a high-value way.  

With shifting investor preferences and a rapid expansion of the scale and scope of services in the industry, staying on the pulse of these trends is critical. Navigating evolving relationship models, expanding data analytics, and onboarding new technology are a challenge for every team. Being a part of a dynamic group of professionals allows me access to different perspectives and ultimately helps me to evaluate, plan, and lead more effectively.

If you are a product or distribution executive within the asset and wealth management industry, I’d ask you to consider taking advantage of opportunities like these at Nicsa. Our General Membership Meeting is coming up in November in Boston and we are welcoming prospects and members to join in on our line-up of great content. I look forward to welcoming new faces to our table in 2024 and beyond.

Scott Brady

Head of Product Development & Strategy, Columbia Threadneedle Investments

Chairman, Nicsa Board of Directors

Chair, Product & Distribution Committee at Nicsa