Trends in the use of performance fees in the asset management industry
Performance fees for asset managers can be seen as a double-edged sword – driving revenue when markets are rising but slicing away profits in flat or falling markets. As with Hamilton’s bared sword, the debate over performance fees has threatened to disrupt the asset management industry.
The SEC has been on an examination streak, boosting the number of audits by an incredible 137%
Over the past six years, the SEC has been on an examination streak, boosting the number of audits by an incredible 137%, according to their 2018 fiscal year annual report. In 2018, the SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) audited 17% of RIAs (2,312 firms), which is more than double the 8% audit rate in 2012. One area that regulators have been paying special attention to is billing practices. The SEC has issued multiple letters stressing that billing operations must now be held to higher standards. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has also chimed in, demanding that industry participants focus on providing fee transparency to clients.
The industry’s first cloud-based billing solution also handles termination calculations.
BillFin was developed specifically for Registered Investment Advisors. In fact, since day one, we regularly receive feedback and constantly improve our solution. One such enhancement is termination calculations and rebates!
Being audited is stressful enough—don’t let your billing process add alarm.
BillFin is committed to helping advisors calculate and collect accurate management fees from their clients while helping you understand the fee billing process. This is a continuation of a six-part series discussing the risk alert issued by the SEC last April noting six common errors found in reviewing financial advisors’ fee billing and compliance. Continue reading for details on how BillFin helps with fee rates.
Advisors’ Billing Practices Inconsistent with their ADV or Advisory Agreement
The six part “improper practices” BillFin article series continues this month moving onto risk number two: Billing Fees in Advance or with Improper Frequency. Since the US Securities and Exchange Commission issued a risk alert on advisory fee billing and compliance back in April, Redi2 is committed to resolving these worries by explaining how BillFin handles such concerns. Issue: Advisors’ Billing Practices Inconsistent with their ADV or Advisory Agreement OCIE staff found that many advisors’ claim to bill on a quarterly basis; however, they actually ran their advisory fees on a monthly basis. They also found advisors’ billing in advance when their agreement states in arrears. BillFin Solution: Flexible Billing for Consistency While BillFin will not review your ADV before you bill, it will allow the flexibility advisors need to properly bill and maintain accuracy with their ADV and advisor agreement. Advisors can bill monthly or quarterly, forward and arrears, with override settings available for clients with different billing arrangements.
SEC issued a risk alert on advisory fee billing and compliance.
Back in April, the US Securities and Exchange Commission issued a risk alert on advisory fee billing and compliance. Of the six most frequent compliance issues they outlined, BillFin can help ensure the top five are not concerns for your fee billing (see our June article). Let’s start with issue number one: Fee Billing Based on Incorrect Account Valuations. BillFin is extremely flexible and simple to use. The workflow is as simple as calculating fees, exporting your invoices, and then exporting your debit files. Since the first step is critically important, you will need your management fees to be correct and for that, the account valuations must be correct.
At Redi2, we are passionate about making billing better for financial services firms. As we do so, our clients become more successful at servicing their clients. This outcome has earned Redi2 the confidence of many of the world’s leading financial institutions.