Charles Ellis, the best-selling author, consultant and Ivy League professor who founded Greenwich Associates, has some simple advice for advisors who want to grow strong firms that should be obvious but frequently isn't: Be a good leader and serve your mission well.
Might sound easier said than done, but Ellis explains how to put that into action in this month's cover story.
Mark Tibergien uncovers a serious issue that could knock the wind out of a firm that isn't paying attention: wire fraud. It's a big problem and one advisors need to take seriously. Tibergien, with comments from resident compliance expert Tom Giachetti, explains how advisors can protect themselves.
For our Overlooked Managers feature, we talked to Pioneer Investment's Charles Melchreit about growth in the ultra-short fund space. Investors have shied away from it since 2008, but now the space is turning around.
We also present the final installment of the 2012 Growth by Design series from FA Insight. What do firms need to grow at each stage of their life cycle? Eliza De Pardo and Dan Inveen explain.
Mission to Serve: How Great Leaders Take a Firm to the Next LevelA word of advice if you ever plan on speaking professionally with Charles Ellis: Be prepared.
The best-selling author, consultant and Ivy League professor swatted away a number of our carefully crafted questions, and it was only after his explanation of why that we understood our mistaken premise. Ellis (who goes by Charley) had something to say and, alternating between genial and intense, he was going to say it. It was a refreshing change from so many interview subjects who fear to contradict in the belief it will make them "look good" in the eyes of the interviewer, and by extension, the reader.
Ellis spoke with Editor-in-Chief John Sullivan to explain what it takes for advisory firms to be great.
Risky Business: How to Protect Your Firm From Wire Fraud
An Ultra-Strong Case for Ultra-Short Funds
Growing Strong: The 2012 Growth by Design Study
