Asset management in finance is the process of directing assets of an investor's portfolio, usually by a financial services company. It is a practice meant to improve wealth over time by acquiring, maintaining, and trading investments that can potentially grow in value. Central to its service is identifying the financial goals of clients and then working to achieve those goals through portfolio management, that is, increasing the portfolio’s value while carefully mitigating risks. Asset management for business is a way to help companies keep track of all their assets, such as equipment, vehicles, and investments. Keeping tabs on every asset helps streamline operations, especially when the company is ready to sell or dispose of an asset. Asset management services are provided by large corporate entities, independent financial advisors, and portfolio managers that specialize in working with high network individuals, corporations, governments, or other institutions with substantial investment portfolios. The main services that asset management firms offer include: Portfolio management is the process of choosing the appropriate group of investments to be held in a portfolio and the allocated percentage of those investments. It also entails overseeing these investments to ensure they will meet the long-term financial goals and risk tolerance of an investor. Estate planning determines how the assets of an individual will be maintained, managed, and distributed after their death or if they become incapacitated. It involves creating a will, setting up trusts or making charitable donations to minimize estate taxes, naming an executor and beneficiaries, and making funeral arrangements. Mortgage planning is a process of carefully evaluating individuals’ mortgage options and choosing the appropriate mortgage strategies. The goal is to develop and implement a personal mortgage plan and monitor them through an annual mortgage and housing review by giving updates on the interest rate and housing market. Asset protection is adapting strategies to guard the wealth of individuals and business entities. It also protects assets from creditor claims by utilizing asset protection techniques to limit the access of creditors to specific valuable assets without violating the debtor-creditor law. For businesses, strategies utilized in planning for asset protection include using separate legal structures or arrangements, such as partnerships, corporations, and trusts. Structures that will work best for businesses depend largely on the kinds of assets the business owns and the type of creditors that would most likely pursue claims against the business. Tax management involves compliance with income tax rules and regulations. It includes matters relating to the prosecution, penalties, tax revision, appeal, and settlement of tax cases. Tax management ensures that individuals and businesses comply with tax laws at the specified time and manner to minimize tax costs. Asset management firms also offer other financial services that are not directly related to managing assets. These services include financial planning, retirement planning, insurance planning, and risk management. Asset management companies serve the investment needs of high-net-worth individuals and institutions. They often handle credit cards, check-writing privileges, debit cards, brokerage services, and margin loans. Deposited money of individuals is typically placed into money market funds that offer greater returns than a regular savings account. Account holders can either choose between Federal Deposit Insurance Company-backed (FDIC) funds or non-FDIC funds. Financial institutions can also meet the banking and investing needs of account holders. The asset management process usually consists of the following steps: This is the first step in managing assets, where the manager needs to identify what assets are available and what needs to be done with them. After identifying the assets, the manager will then evaluate each asset to determine its value and conditions. This is done by analyzing financial statements and other relevant information. The next step is classifying the assets according to their risk level, liquidity, and return potential. This will help the manager formulate the best investment strategy for each asset. After classifying the assets, the manager will then select the appropriate asset to be included in the portfolio. This is done by considering the objectives, risk tolerance, and time horizon of the investor. Once the assets are selected, the manager will then monitor and review the performance of the assets on a regular basis. Asset managers also analyze asset lifecycle and efficiency to determine maintenance costs. Depreciation rates of assets and their overall impact are also evaluated, and the potential risk associated with each asset is quantified. This is done to ensure that the assets perform according to expectations and necessary adjustments are made when needed. This is the final step in managing assets, where the manager will anticipate to the best of their ability the future value of the assets. This is done by analyzing trends in the market, economic indicators, and other relevant information. Asset managers also predict the lifespan and salvage value of assets, and establish a disposal strategy when the assets reach the end of their useful life. Because there are different types of assets and different investment objectives, there are various ways of managing assets. Financial asset management is a type of asset management that refers to the investment of money into financial assets such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. It requires knowledge in both finance and accounting in order to make sound investment decisions. This type of asset management is concerned with the tracking and maintenance of physical assets such as land, buildings, and machinery. It is important to have a good fixed asset management system in place to avoid losses due to theft, damage, or obsolescence. Information technology asset management is the process of tracking and managing information technology assets such as software, hardware, and electronic data. This type of asset management is important to avoid problems such as data loss or theft and to ensure that critical systems are always up and running. Infrastructure asset management is the process of managing the physical assets that make up a country's infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and airports. This maintains the safety and efficiency of a country's infrastructure. Maximizing the value of real estate assets is the main goal of real estate asset management. This type of asset management includes activities such as property development, renovations, and leasing. Real estate asset managers must have a good understanding of the real estate market in order to make sound decisions. Digital asset management is the process of tracking and managing digital assets such as images, videos, and documents. This type of asset management is important to preserve the quality of these assets and prevent them from being lost or stolen. Physical and financial assets are important to the operation of any business. Enterprise asset management is the process of managing these assets in a way that maximizes their value and benefits to the business. This type of asset management includes both proactive and reactive measures to ensure that assets are properly maintained and utilized. Here are some of the best asset management companies (AMCs) in the United States that are handling the assets of high network individuals, governments, corporations, or other institutions with substantial investment portfolios: BlackRock is one of the largest global financial institutions and the world's largest asset manager. The company has influenced the growth of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) through its iShares products. BlackRock recorded an asset under management (AUM) of $9.10 trillion as of October 13, 2023. The company offers a wide variety of investing, risk management, and consulting services for intermediaries, institutions, foundations, and people worldwide. It is a major publicly traded company with a market capitalization of about $114.99 billion as of January 31, 2024. BlackRock offers investment and technology services to both retail and institutional clients globally. Vanguard is the second largest AMC in the world, with an AUM of $8.1 trillion as of 2022. They offer low-cost mutual funds, brokerage and trust services, exchange-traded funds, asset and wealth management, financial planning, variable and fixed annuities, and educational account services. The shareholders own the different funds of Vanguard, and the company is owned by its funds. Therefore, the true owners of Vanguard are its shareholders. Fidelity Investments is a privately held investment company with assets under management worth $4.24 trillion. Fidelity has 35.6 million active brokerage accounts and 200 investor centers across the U.S. It has offices in Germany, Canada, Belgium, France, Italy, Ireland, United Kingdom, Spain, and Switzerland and provides services to about 40 million individual investors. For businesses, asset management allows organizations to maximize the value of their assets throughout the various stages of the asset lifecycle. The benefits do not just consist in reducing the risk, streamlining the process, and improving the bottom line, but also include the following: Asset management allows firms to account for all of their existing assets, whether fixed or liquid. They will know where assets are placed, how they are being utilized, and whether there have been changes made to them. This leads to higher returns because the recovery and tracking of assets can be made more efficiently. Asset management ensures that financial statements record the assets properly since they are checked regularly. This also provides the company with an accurate assessment of the value of its assets. Asset management identifies and manages risks that could arise from using and owning certain assets. This means that a business will always be prepared to manage risks that come its way. There are cases where assets that are lost, damaged, or stolen are mistakenly recorded on the books. Strategic asset management allows business owners to recognize assets that have been lost and will be able to eliminate them in the books for a more accurate handling of the accounting. As should always be the case for anyone getting involved in your finances, any individual or entity offering asset management services should be researched extensively to make sure they are trustworthy professionals who are excellent at their jobs. These are some common pitfalls that can be encountered while working with asset managers: Asset managers may not understand some important expenses of a company that keeps it afloat. These expenses should not be overlooked or disregarded, as these can impact the company in the future. Asset managers may have difficulty communicating with clients. They should ensure that they keep their clients updated on the status of their assets and the changes made to them. In cases where several individuals are working on a problem, such as future spending patterns, a lack of input from one team member could jeopardize the end goal or the solution. Trying to manage too many assets can be detrimental to a company. This can lead to a lack of focus and attention on the most important assets. As a result, this could lead to the mismanagement of assets and the potential loss of value. Business owners must make sure that there are no hidden charges when it comes to asset managers. Incentives should also be aligned with the goals of the business. Cost for asset managers and asset management strategies differ. For instance, the cost of an active investing model is greater than the passive, index-based investing model. This is because active investing requires more research, analysis, and time to generate higher returns. Whereas, passive investing is a more hands-off approach that tracks a market index. To understand better, here are the breakdown costs of the most common asset management. Active investment management fees differ depending on the asset manager and the number of assets in an investment portfolio. Usually, asset managers charge an annual fee of 1%, which means that a $100,000 investment portfolio would cost an advisory fee of $1,000 annually. The passive investment model used by asset managers costs less on an annual basis. Thus, this means that they put client money index funds that reflect major benchmarks, the same as the S&P 500. Fees for common passive management on an annual basis range between 0.20% and 0.50% annually, that equals to $200 to $500 each year for a $100,000 portfolio. Asset managers in robo-advisor investment firms use specific algorithms to manage portfolios instead of humans. Robo-advisor management fees typically range between 0.25% and 0.50% of managed assets annually. This is calculated to be $250 to $500 per year for a $100,000 portfolio. Brokers who make trades on behalf of a financial client may charge a per-trade transaction fee, which can be as low as zero and as high as $50 per trade, which depends on the broker and the kind of service provided. There are asset managers that may also charge annual account fees, which could range from $25 to $100 on an annual basis. Asset managers may also charge a closing fee ranging between $25 and $150 per account when a client closes an account. Asset management is the process of handling and supervising assets throughout their life cycles. This includes identifying, acquiring, allocating, maintaining, and disposing of assets to maximize their value to the business. Asset management services can be provided by asset managers, who are usually part of financial institutions or specialized firms. The cost of asset management varies depending on the type of services provided. Overall, asset management is a beneficial process that can lead to higher returns and more efficient utilization of assets.What Is Asset Management?
Asset Management Services
Portfolio Management
Estate Planning
Mortgage Planning
Asset Protection
Tax Management
Other Financial Services
Asset Management Process
Step 1: Identification of Assets
Step 2: Evaluation of Assets
Step 3: Classification of Assets
Step 4: Selection of Assets
Step 5: Maintenance of Assets
Step 6: Predicting Asset Value
Types of Asset Management
Financial Asset Management
Fixed Asset Management
Information Technology Asset Management
Infrastructure Asset Management
Real Estate Asset Management
Digital Asset Management
Enterprise Asset Management
Examples of Asset Management
BlackRock Inc.
The Vanguard Group
Fidelity Investments
Benefits of Asset Management
Tracking of All Assets
Accurate Amortization Rates
Identification and Management of Risks
Elimination of Ghost Assets
Potential Limitations of Asset Management
Lack of Understanding
Poor Communication
Too Much Management
Fees and Incentives
How Much Does Asset Management Cost?
Active Investment Management Fees
Passive Management Fees
Robo-Advisor Management Fees
Brokerage Fees
Additional Fees
The Bottom Line
Asset Management FAQs
Asset management is a prestigious, lucrative, and selective career. However, it requires a specific set of skills. Professionals who are more quantitatively inclined but not natural-born salespeople and prioritize a healthy work-life balance can probably excel as asset managers.
Asset management companies (AMC) invest pooled funds of clients and put the capital to work through various investments, including bonds, stocks, real estate, and master limited partnerships.
An asset manager focuses on specific asset investments, such as exchange-traded funds, real estate, fixed-income securities, or stock. The goal of asset managers is to improve returns from investments of clients and restructure them when needed to gain more profit for their clients. An investment manager focuses on estate planning, tax planning, and retirement planning. Its goal is to create a steady flow of profit by adopting various investment strategies for its clients.
Asset management is important because it helps businesses get the most value out of their assets. Asset management can also help to improve returns and save money by avoiding unnecessary costs associated with assets.
Types of asset managers include financial asset managers, fixed asset managers, infrastructure asset managers, real estate asset managers, IT asset managers, digital asset managers, and enterprise asset managers.
True Tamplin is a published author, public speaker, CEO of UpDigital, and founder of Finance Strategists.
True is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF®), author of The Handy Financial Ratios Guide, a member of the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing, contributes to his financial education site, Finance Strategists, and has spoken to various financial communities such as the CFA Institute, as well as university students like his Alma mater, Biola University, where he received a bachelor of science in business and data analytics.
To learn more about True, visit his personal website or view his author profiles on Amazon, Nasdaq and Forbes.
