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I think you’re overestimating the revenue an asset manager makes with $11b assets under management (AUM). They aren’t a hedge fund (no profit sharing) and take
by randomacct3847 7y ago
I think you’re overestimating the revenue an asset manager makes with $11b assets under management (AUM).
They aren’t a hedge fund (no profit sharing) and take .25% in fees a year. $11b *.25% is only $27.5m. Hardly a unicorn scale business IMO unless they are pitching investors they’ll get to Blackrock scale (trillion in AUM). Personally I don’t see it. Switching cost is big for existing clients but new clients have a bunch of Robo options now including free ones offered by Schwab, big banks, etc.
For some perspective, after college I worked for an investment fund with around $3b AUM with around 7-8 full time staff with a similar fee structure...it was basically a nice lifestyle company for the two founders.
- dangero 7y agohttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-23/wealthfront-valuation-said-to-drop-about-a-third-in-new-funding https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-23/wealthfro... This article says 500 Million valuation last year, so halfway to a unicorn.
- randomacct3847 7y agoI’m saying I don’t believe whatever private valuation they have. Wealth management is a lifestyle biz at best unless you get to Blackrock scale. I believe that is what they are pitching investors to get whatever valuation they have now but I am extremely bearish on these companies. Robo investing has been largely commoditized and AUM will inevitably tank with the next recession.
- danielecook 7y agoWhat is a lifestyle business?
- derp_dee_derp 7y ago"lifestyle business" is a phrase made up by silicon valley wannabes to describe businesses that "only" generate a large enough profit for the owners to be millionaires instead of billionaires.