IMS

Fees on the firm's open-end and exchange-traded funds are a weakness, contributing negatively to the rating and creating a larger performance hurdle on funds. On average, IMS charges fees on its funds that are in the most expensive quintile of similarly distributed funds. With the current market environment of fee compression, this is cause for concern, as investors may flock over time to alternate asset managers to get a better deal. A detractor from the firm's rating is its lower-than-average portfolio management retention over the past five years, as elevated turnover bears watching. A sign of strength at IMS is its longest-tenured management, which boasts an average asset-weighted tenure of 26 years at the firm. This accumulation of experience builds confidence that the group can navigate a variety of market environments adeptly.