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Ignites Research: Data Packs: Bigger Bites for Smaller Managers?
Ignites and The SME Forum: May 27, 2025
An Ignites Research survey conducted in collaboration with the SME Forum found that asset managers are using more of data they acquire from distributors than they did five years ago. In 2024, 75% of respondents said they used most or all of the data, a notable increase from 2018. Smaller managers were more likely to use all the data, while larger firms tended to acquire more packs overall. Top uses include advisor segmentation, product matching and lead generation. Morgan Stanley, LPL, Merrill Lynch and UBS remained top providers, while Wells Fargo and Northwestern Mutual declined in popularity.
Even as usage grows, familiar challenges persist. Some 76% of managers cited cost as the top hurdle, followed by a lack of internal resources to analyze the data.
Melat Kassa
Research Analyst, Ignites - Financial Times Specialist
Melat is a research analyst at Ignites, an online daily from the Financial Times. In her role, she designs topical surveys for various demographics within the asset management industry and distills the results into comprehensive reports. Based in NYC, Melat joined Ignites in 2023. Before this, she worked as a market research consultant at Known Media and as a research analyst at The Vision Council. She earned a BS degree in Economics and a BA degree in Philosophy from Virginia Commonwealth University.
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