Through FIS's manager database portal, we have unlimited capacity to collect data in order to objectively evaluate entrepreneurial investment firms and their products. Through this portal, managers can introduce new products in a range of asset classes, update FIS on the returns on their current products and/or update FIS on any changes in personnel or their business model. These updates assist FIS's analysts in identifying the best prospective managers that could serve our various clients' needs.

Launch the FIS Investment Manager Database

Our due diligence process entails a thorough quantitative, qualitative, and operational review of the entrepreneurial asset management firm and its investment process. A summary of this process is shown below.

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• Know your investment process.  Be able to clearly articulate the strengths and, just as important, the weaknesses of your process.  
• Know how you create value.  What are your portfolio attributions saying about your process? Better at stock selection?  Allocation?  Both?  FIS often shares its analysis with managers so they can get a better sense of what’s going on within their portfolio.
• Know your business plan.  Be able to clearly articulate where you see your business within the next 5 years.  This should include not only the assets, but the people and infrastructure needed as well.
• Never underestimate the importance of your back-office/operations area.  This is the one area where many entrepreneurial managers fall short.  Understand how having a sound infrastructure combined with knowledgeable people can alleviate a lot of headaches.
• Knowing your benchmark will help you better explain your alpha.  Often, managers choose either a very broad index or an index that makes them look better on paper.  By defining the most appropriate benchmark, managers are empowered to better understand their alpha and risk as well.
• Know your edge.  In a highly competitive world, the ability to stand out from the crowd by highlighting one’s competitive edge is very important. For instance, some managers can emphasize technology and innovation, while others can highlight the quality and experience of their people.