In a financial landscape where personalization is no longer a luxury but an expectation, financial advisors are constantly seeking more diverse and sophisticated tools to construct portfolios that can weather market volatility and meet unique client objectives. SMArtX Advisory Solutions, a prominent innovator in managed accounts technology, has decisively addressed this need by announcing a significant expansion of its Manager Marketplace. The platform has successfully onboarded a diverse group of 22 new asset management firms, enriching its ecosystem with a broad array of new investment strategies and in-depth research profiles. This strategic enhancement pushes the platform’s offerings to an impressive new scale, now featuring a total of 2,668 distinct investment strategies from 388 leading asset management partners. The expansion also bolsters its research capabilities, incorporating 39 individually listed mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and various ticker-traded alternatives, signaling a strong start to the year for the managed accounts technology sector.
Broadening Horizons for Advisors
The recent expansion represents more than just a numerical increase in options; it signifies a strategic deepening of the resources available to financial professionals. By integrating a wider spectrum of investment philosophies and asset classes, the platform empowers advisors to move beyond one-size-fits-all solutions and deliver truly customized financial plans. Hunter Hager, the Head of Asset Manager Solutions at SMArtX, noted that this move provides advisors with a marketplace that is both more comprehensive and varied, ultimately equipping them to address the specific, nuanced needs of their clients with greater precision. This enhancement is designed to streamline the process of discovering, researching, and implementing sophisticated investment strategies, reducing friction and allowing advisors to focus more on client relationships and holistic financial planning. The timing of the announcement underscores a proactive approach to the evolving demands of the wealth management industry, positioning the platform as an indispensable partner for forward-thinking advisory firms aiming to maintain a competitive edge.
The influx of new managers brings a host of direct investment strategies that cater to a wide range of portfolio objectives and risk appetites. Among the notable additions are offerings from EFG Asset Management, which has introduced its “US Large Cap Growth” and “Concentrated Mid Cap Growth” strategies, providing advisors with focused exposure to specific segments of the U.S. equity market. Similarly, Ninety One has added its “Global Franchise ADR” and “International Franchise ADR” strategies, offering avenues for international diversification through high-quality, established companies. PGIM Custom Harvest contributes its “U.S. Equity Plus” strategies, which are designed to offer enhanced equity exposure. Furthermore, Zacks Investment Management has joined the platform with its “+ All Equity” offering, expanding the toolkit for advisors seeking comprehensive equity solutions. These new strategies collectively enrich the marketplace, providing the building blocks for constructing highly tailored and resilient client portfolios that can adapt to changing economic conditions and long-term financial goals.
Diversification into New Asset Classes
A key feature of this marketplace expansion is the deliberate inclusion of both traditional and alternative asset classes, reflecting a broader industry trend toward greater portfolio diversification. The platform has significantly expanded its research capabilities, adding an extensive list of new fund profiles that give advisors deeper insights into a variety of investment vehicles. Highlighting this push into modern asset categories, the marketplace now features crypto-focused ETFs from Bitwise Asset Management, including the widely recognized Bitcoin ETF (BITB). This addition acknowledges the growing institutional and retail interest in digital assets as a potential portfolio component. The roster of new firms also includes Advisors Asset Management, ARS Investment Partners, Direxion, Kensington Asset Management, Main Management, Overlay Shares ETFs, Third Avenue Management, and Waycross Partners. This diverse group of managers brings specialized expertise across a wide range of investment styles and sectors, further enhancing the platform’s utility as a central hub for investment research and selection.
The newly available research profiles cover a vast spectrum of investment solutions designed to meet highly specific client needs and market outlooks. Advisors can now explore strategies such as low-duration income funds, which are critical for managing interest rate risk in fixed-income allocations. Thematic innovation ETFs provide exposure to disruptive trends and long-term growth sectors, allowing for more tactical and forward-looking portfolio tilts. For those seeking to mitigate downside risk, new hedged equity strategies offer a potential solution. The expansion also includes real estate value funds, which provide access to an important alternative asset class, and sustainable beta strategies, catering to the increasing client demand for investments that align with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. This curated yet comprehensive selection underscores a commitment to providing advisors with not just more choices, but more relevant and sophisticated tools to navigate the complexities of modern wealth management and deliver superior outcomes for their clients.
A Strategic Leap Forward
The successful integration of these 22 asset managers marked a pivotal moment for the platform and the advisors it served. This development was not merely an incremental update but a strategic enhancement that fundamentally broadened the scope and utility of the marketplace. It provided financial advisors with a vastly more powerful toolkit, enabling them to craft highly differentiated and resilient portfolios capable of navigating increasingly complex global markets. The move by SMArtX signaled a deep understanding of the industry’s trajectory, recognizing that access to a diverse range of traditional, alternative, and thematic strategies is now essential for delivering exceptional client value. This expansion solidified the platform’s position as a critical infrastructure partner for advisory practices that prioritize innovation, customization, and sophisticated investment management, setting a new benchmark for what a managed accounts platform could offer.
