Mutual Fund Industry Supply Chain Model
Figure 1 (click to enlarge) The mutual fund industry consists of a complex web of connections, many to many relationships, wherein information is exchanged for value. Dissecting each class of member in this diagram, you can imagine what type of information trades for what types of value. Value is created at the source, where mutual funds are generated and managed. Better fund cosntruction results in better value. Skilled fund managers tend to attract more assets under management (AUM). Even unskilled fund managers can too, if they have really good marketing, and good distribution via the channels. Skilled and unskilled investors gain access to that value thru a variety of channels, and are willing to pay management fees for that value. Some call this value "alpha", that is, the amount of return gained above what the market would otherwise bear. We can't forget risk, so investors are also 'buying' a certain degree of mitigation of risk which is another form of v...
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