RJ and Makay

Last month Cerulli Associates announced the use of an “opportunity index” in one of its studies to help asset managers focus their distribution efforts.

The new rating tool, used in Cerrulli’s study “Managed Accounts: Asset Manager Distribution Roadmap,” evaluates specific sponsors according to characteristics that make them more or less attractive to managers looking for access or wanting to grow assets on their platforms. These characteristics include momentum, total asset growth and size, and growth of the advisor force.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney scored highest among sponsors across each best practices category, Cerulli said. Bank of America/Merrill Lynch, Wells Fargo Advisors, UBS and RBC Wealth Management followed.