Finance (10 Recent Studies)

Setting Service Standards for a Trade Services Organization
Category: Treasury Services, Consulting-Organizational Support 

Thousands of pages have been written on what matters to trade clients but most is just a re-hash of well-known principles from industrial psychology.  There is little proof of what aspects of service make the most difference to client loyalty and spending.  In addition to interviewing benchmark competitors, our work reviewed existing research (including our own) to identify what changes client behaviour for better or worse.  In cooperation with our client, we then developed a framework for comprehensive service standards for the very few things that really matter to clients.  The standards are tested with clients for appropriateness and impact.  A strategy for implementation is the final element of the project.

Adding Value to Advisor Service 
Category: Retail Investment 

In the mutual fund industry, recent efforts to stimulate growth and loyalty have often focused on providing added value to advisors.  To gauge the impact of these efforts, we surveyed a targeted group of advisors and gathered their views on how effectively top fund companies provide service to advisors that adds value.

Appetite for Foreign Investment
Category: Pensions

Discussions with half of all mid-sized Defined Benefit plans in Canada looked at current investment inside and outside of Canada, including investment in alternative asset classes.  Looking to the future, the study assessed the likely changes in US and international investment over the next two years.  Countries and regions with specific investment appeal were identified. 

Helping Advisors to Help Top Clients
Category: Retail Investment

Using methods akin to a therapeutic interview, a select group of top mutual fund clients were interviewed about their advisor relationships.  The aim was learning what our client could do to help good advisors improve their sales and service.  The in-depth personal discussions identified what key investors wanted from their advisors but didn’t get, as well as identifying the ‘secrets’ they were reluctant to share with their advisors.  The selection of clients for the interview was based on an extensive analysis of unitholders and their buying patterns based on data drawn from several unitholder databases.

Global Assessment of Credit Default Insurance
Category: Insurance, Treasury Services

This study began with a detailed review of the websites of major competitors in the business including both ECA and private trade insurers.  This was combined with interviews with suppliers and senior bankers to develop a clear view of future trends in the market, as well as identifying gaps in needed products. 

Future of the Public Sector in Canada (5 Studies)
Category: Lending & Other Services; Education & Regulation; Treasury Services

How will the public sector build the capacity it needs?  How does economic sustainability relate to the environment?  What new types of integrated services will we see?  How will urbanization, immigration and an aging population change the future?  These topics and more are addressed in this opinion leader study based on in-depth personal interviews with the most influential people shaping the future of the public sector, as nominated by their peers. Participants include deputy ministers, mayors, executives, association heads, think tank leaders, academics, and other selected experts. The study identifies how the public sector will develop over the next 5-10 years and why this will happen. Royal Bank of Canada is the sponsor for the work. The study includes a special section on funding & payment transactions that identifies key services that a bank can provide to help its public sector clients prepare for the future. A very brief overview of each sector is available by clicking the link below.

      Federal & Provincial Government
Municipalities
Healthcare
Public Education (K-12)
Post-Secondary Education (PSE)

Trade Satisfaction, Loyalty & New Product Development
Category: Treasury Services

On behalf of a major bank, we evaluated client satisfaction and use of trade products, as well as client loyalty. We also identified how well current trade products meet underlying needs and what new products should be developed to meet future needs.

Global Trade Outsourcing
Category: Treasury Services

The study deals with the current state of outsourcing, changes over the past two years and likely changes over the next two years.  Topics covered include: services outsourced, market size and volume, impact of outsourcing, service delivery and the image of major insourcing banks.  Link to previous Overview of Findings. 

Future of Healthcare in Canada – Funding, Finance, Insurance & Benefits
Category: Lending & Other Services

Why is integration of healthcare the biggest issue for the next decade?  How will demand and capacity management improve the patient experience?  How will emerging labour shortages force our healthcare system to change?  How will technology change healthcare in the years to come? These topics and more are addressed in this opinion leader study based on in-depth personal interviews with the most influential people shaping the future of the public sector, as nominated by their peers. The study identifies how healthcare will develop over the next 5-10 years and why this will happen. Royal Bank of Canada and Manulife Financial sponsored the work. The study includes a special report on funding & financing issues, as well as a special report on insurance & benefits. For a brief Overview of Findings, click here.  For a copy of the full report, please contact lori.bottrell@brondesbury.com .

Financing Transportation-for-Hire in the US
Category: Lending & Other Services

This study evaluates current methods of financing transportation-for-hire in the US, as seen from the viewpoint of service providers, equipment owners, and equipment vendors. We assess buyer motivation and decision-making, as well as the competitive position of major providers. Recommendations for desirable new services are provided.

Impact of Financial Institution Mergers
Category: Insurance & Pensions

As governments scrutinize financial institution mergers, they wonder what is best for their country. The two key questions seem to be “What types of mergers most benefit domestic consumers?” and “What types of mergers help build the country’s ability to compete internationally?” Since politicians are often guided by a mix of national opinion leaders and informed local public opinion, we set out to understand what these groups think about FI mergers. Link to Overview of Findings. Version Français

Strategy for a Financial Protection Company
Category: Education & Regulation

Problem:  Develop a long-term strategy and tracking plan within 3 months
We developed a strategy for increasing general awareness of a financial industry protection company and specific awareness of its coverage. This included identification of target groups based on several criteria that indicate a "need to know" about its coverage, as well as a long-term strategy for better communicating with these target groups.  The strategy development began with the identification of target groups based on group size, awareness patterns, product understanding, financial need and risk of financial losses.  Specific communication strategies were identified for each target group based on their preferred means of communication and the key messages that would be effective for reaching them.                                             
Method: Identification and synthesis of existing information including client surveys, government statistical sources, published research studies & articles and a few additional purchased studies. In several cases, the databases for studies and statistics were re-analyzed to extract more information.