SMArtX Announces 2024 X Award Winners, Featuring Elite Investment Strategies From Top Asset Managers on the SMArtX Platform

Congratulations to the 30 leading investment strategies earning this year’s accolades.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., May 29 — SMArtX Advisory Solutions (“SMArtX”), a leading innovator in unified managed accounts (UMA) technology, today announced the winners of the SMArtX 2024 X Awards. This annual recognition program, now in its fourth year, honors top-performing strategies within the SMArtX platform’s model marketplace.

“The annual X Awards have become a signature SMArtX tradition,” said Jonathan Pincus, CEO of SMArtX Advisory Solutions. “Our asset manager partners are some of the best in the industry and the X Awards recognize their efforts in achieving excellence.”

Candidates for the Awards are derived from the SMArtX Select List, which ranks asset managers using a proprietary quantitative screening based on a robust four-step methodology:

  1. Ability to generate alpha compared to the strategy peer group benchmark
  2. Favorable risk-adjusted returns that emphasize positive skew
  3. Effective downside and tail-risk management
  4. Consistent return generation

The Awards calculations add an additional metric to this existing quantitative screening, namely performance exclusive to the full previous year. This year, 30 eligible strategies competed with winners ultimately chosen across 10 categories. These categories are grouped by market capitalization, geographic focus, and investment type.

The 2024 X Awards Winners by Category & Strategy:

For a complete list of winners and nominees, contact the SMArtX Manager Solutions team here.

“We congratulate all of our nominees and winners,” said Brad Haag, Executive Vice President of SMArtX. “We are proud to feature these exceptional managers and their strategies on our platform, showcasing their unparalleled expertise and dedication to success.”

About SMArtX Advisory Solutions

SMArtX Advisory Solutions is an award-winning managed accounts technology provider and manages SMArtX, a turnkey asset management platform (‘TAMP’). SMArtX’s API-first, cloud-native technology operates within a modular, microservices architecture, providing clients with a tailored solution catered to their unique specifications. SMArtX is available as an off-the-shelf TAMP for advisors seeking a wider selection of investment products and ease of use while automating the investment processes and simplifying the everyday tasks of managing client accounts. SMArtX also licenses its proprietary technology to enterprise firms looking to create, customize, or upgrade their existing managed accounts technology as a standalone or fully integrated solution. SMArtX is the managed account technology and TAMP platform of choice for multiple RIAs, broker-dealers, asset managers, custodians, and FinTech firms. Learn more at www.smartxadvisory.com.

SMArtX Makes Major Expansion, Adding 86 New Strategies From 12 Leading Asset Management Firms

ALLSPRING GLOBAL INVESTMENTS, APERIO GROUP, FIRST TRUST INVESTMENT SOLUTIONS, AND NATIXIS INVESTMENT MANAGERS JOIN THE SMARTX PLATFORM

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., May 9, 2024 — SMArtX Advisory Solutions (“SMArtX”), a leading innovator in unified managed accounts (UMA) technology, announced it has added 86 strategies offered by 12 leading asset management firms to its rapidly expanding platform. The firm’s cutting-edge platform now offers 1,447 strategies from over 300 distinguished asset management firms.

Brad Haag, Executive Vice President of SMArtX, stated, “This expansion is a milestone for SMArtX, underlining our dedication to continuously adapt to the evolving needs of our clients. We are excited to launch a broad spectrum of new strategies, including additional direct indexing solutions and active ETF model portfolios, which will greatly benefit advisors and their clients.”

Newcomers Allspring Global Investments, Aperio Group, First Trust Investment Solutions, and Natixis Investment Managers are now offering equity, fixed income, and direct indexing solutions. Meanwhile, existing partners Chilton Capital Management, Fidelity Institutional, Franklin Templeton., Principal Global Investors, Sterling Capital Management, Syntax, T. Rowe Price Associates, and Zacks Investment Management added strategies focused on a range of themes including equity, allocation, fixed income, and indexing.

The full list of new strategies includes:

For more information, download our latest Manager Profiles to explore the 1,447 strategies offered by our 300 distinguished asset management firms.

Wormus on WealthTech: Is SMArtX a FinTech or a TAMP?

SMArtX CTO Aaron Wormus recently joined Craig Iskowkitz, the founder of Ezra Group and a well-known fintech expert, on his podcast WealthTech Today. Centered around examining the inner workings of the SMArtX technology, the conversation gets to the heart of what makes SMArtX different from other TAMPs and technology solutions in the advisory industry.

But first, let’s answer the question that Craig wanted to clarify right off the bat: What exactly is SMArtX?FinTech or TAMP?

FinTech or TAMP?

SMArtX is, in fact, a FinTech solution first and foremost. While SMArtX does offer an out-of-the-box solution that most closely resembles a TAMP, identifying as a FinTech is a key part of the firm’s identity that most closely aligns with how to support advisors, managers, and other users.

The SMArtX superpower is strong engineering around core competencies. That means a direct focus on providing a one-of-a-kind experience for advisors and managers that fits in easily with the rest of the existing technology stack—without pigeonholing users into every component of SMArtX’s full-service offering.

The differentiation is both a single sign-on experience and a beautiful user interface with integrations through core components via APIs or web components. But what does that actually mean?

Integration & the Value of Open Architecture

On the podcast, Aaron and Craig went on to discuss SMArtX’s core component integration, allowing users to pick and choose which parts of SMArtX’s technology they need, and to integrate it into their existing infrastructure. Unlike other FinTech firms that are vying to be the sole platform for advisors and managers, SMArtX recognizes the value in providing users with choice.

This open architecture model allows SMArtX to remain unbiased about other technology platforms that advisors and managers may want to leverage in their practices.

While the term “open architecture” has become a buzzword in FinTech today, Aaron explains that SMArtX sees it as an opportunity to hone in on a highly specialized service: UMAs and managed account trading.

Providing users with a choice to integrate into their platforms affords the opportunity to fully own the client experience. It also uniquely separates them in the managed account technology arena.

Powered by Incredible Technologies

Of course, it wouldn’t be possible to provide users with the experience they’ve come to know and love without technologies that move the needle. A technology expert, Craig was interested in learning about some of the efforts SMArtX uses to deliver to trades, integrate more seamlessly with other platforms, and provide an amazing client experience. Aaron highlighted several platforms, including AWS, Flyer Technologies, Serverless, QuickSight, and Redshift.

These technologies empower better management of data from several sources and provide users with actionable views no matter which integrations they use. AWS, QuickSight, and Redshift power the visualization engine that provides ready-to-use analytics to customers.

Data is the heart and soul of SMArtX. Clients should always have the data they need at their fingertips so they can make confident decisions quickly and efficiently. And without the technology solutions that Aaron discussed in detail on the podcast, that would not be possible.

Listen to Aaron Wormus & Craig Iskowitz at WealthTech Today

This recap just scratches the surface of the full conversation between Aaron and Craig.

If you’d like to learn more about SMArtX and its technology infrastructure, check out the full episode. Head over to WealthTech Today or download the episode wherever you listen to your podcasts.

SMArtX Advisory Solutions Expands Manager Marketplace With 31 New Strategies from Top Asset Managers

First Trust Advisors forges partnership and joins the SMArtX Platform

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., April 4, 2024 — SMArtX Advisory Solutions (“SMArtX”), a leading innovator in unified managed accounts (UMA) technology, announced it has added 31 strategies offered by four leading asset management firms to its rapidly expanding platform. The firm’s cutting-edge platform now offers 1,375 strategies from over 300 distinguished asset management firms.

Notably, First Trust Advisors now offers 23 of their equity and fixed-income ETF strategies. Meanwhile, long-standing partners BlackRock, Lord, Abbett & Co., and OneAscent Investment Solutions collectively added eight strategies. These strategies encompass themes across taxable and municipal fixed income, alongside large and SMID cap equities.

“This expansion empowers advisors to address a wider range of client needs — from tax-efficient, fixed-income options that can help reduce clients’ tax burdens, to thematic equity strategies aligned with current market trends,” said Jonathan Pincus, CEO of SMArtX Advisory Solutions. “Our goal is to deliver diverse strategies to give advisors the flexibility to craft portfolios that cater to each client’s unique risk tolerance, investment goals, and tax considerations.”

The full list of new strategies includes:

“SMArtX has experienced significant growth over the past year. Our continuous expansion demonstrates our commitment to providing advisors with the most comprehensive manager marketplace available,” said Brad Haag, Executive Vice President, SMArtX Advisory Solutions. “With this ever-growing universe of investment options, advisors can ensure they have the flexibility and resources to deliver a wide array of solutions to their clients by building personalized portfolios that meet their specific needs and goals.”

About SMArtX Advisory Solutions

SMArtX Advisory Solutions is an award-winning managed accounts technology provider and manages SMArtX, a turnkey asset management platform (‘TAMP’). SMArtX’s API-first, cloud-native technology operates within a modular, microservices architecture, providing clients with a tailored solution catered to their unique specifications. SMArtX is available as an off-the-shelf TAMP for advisors seeking a wider selection of investment products and ease of use while automating the investment processes and simplifying the everyday tasks of managing client accounts. SMArtX also licenses its proprietary technology to enterprise firms looking to create, customize, or upgrade their existing managed accounts technology as a standalone or fully integrated solution. SMArtX is the managed account technology and TAMP platform of choice for multiple RIAs, broker-dealers, asset managers, custodians, and FinTech firms. Learn more at www.smartxadvisory.com.

SMArtX Announces New Managers Added to the Select List for Q1 2024

March 7, 2024 – SMArtX Advisory Solutions (“SMArtX”), a leading innovator in unified managed accounts (UMA) technology, is excited to announce the latest additions to the Manager Select List for the period ending December 31, 2023.
Explore the newest strategies in each category by filling out the form below. If you have any questions or would like more information about these new strategies or any existing ones on the Select List, please contact us.

SMArtX Advisory Solutions Adds 23 Strategies to Its Manager Marketplace

Richard Bernstein Advisors joins the SMArtX Platform.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., March 7, 2024 — SMArtX Advisory Solutions (“SMArtX”), a
leading innovator in unified managed accounts (UMA) technology, announced it has
added 23 strategies offered by seven leading asset management firms to its
platform. The platform currently features 1,350 strategies from over 300 asset
management firms.

Richard Bernstein Advisors is now offering a global risk-balanced moderate strategy
from their ETF product suite. Several existing firms, including BlackRock, Capital
Research and Management Company, Franklin Advisers, iSectors, Stansberry Asset
Management, and WCM Investment Management, collectively added 22 strategies
to the platform. These strategies demonstrate themes across international and U.S.
equity, fixed income, and cryptocurrency.

The full list of new strategies includes:

“SMArtX continues to broaden the investment choices available to advisors,
empowering them to build customized portfolios for their clients,” said
Jonathan Pincus, CEO of SMArtX Advisory Solutions. “By welcoming respected
firms like Richard Bernstein Advisors and expanding offerings from existing
partners, we provide advisors with a comprehensive and diverse marketplace
to meet their specific needs.”

SMArtX’s continued growth is driven by two main applications of its technology: the off-the-shelf TAMP offering, which is built using SMArtX Advisory Solutions’ proprietary UMA technology, and the ability to further deploy that tailored UMA technology through APIs to meet the mandates of large enterprises, RIA platforms, and hybrid broker-dealers.

About SMArtX Advisory Solutions

SMArtX Advisory Solutions is an award-winning managed accounts technology provider and manages SMArtX, a turnkey asset management platform (‘TAMP’). SMArtX’s API-first, cloud-native technology operates within a modular, micro-services architecture, providing clients a tailored solution catered to their unique specifications. SMArtX is available as an off-the-shelf TAMP for advisors seeking a wider selection of investment products and ease of use, while automating the investment processes and simplifying the everyday tasks of managing client accounts. SMArtX also licenses its proprietary technology to enterprise firms looking to create, customize, or upgrade their existing managed accounts technology as a standalone or fully integrated solution. SMArtX is the managed account technology and TAMP platform of choice for multiple RIAs, broker-dealers, and asset managers. Learn more at www.smartxadvisory.com.

SMArtX Advisory Solutions Adds 13 Strategies to Its Manager Marketplace

Bahl & Gaynor and Cantor Fitzgerald join the SMArtX Platform.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., February 8, 2024 — SMArtX Advisory Solutions (“SMArtX”), a leading innovator in unified managed accounts (UMA) technology, announced it has added 13 strategies offered by six leading asset management firms to its platform. Bahl & Gaynor and Cantor Fitzgerald are now offering strategies across growth and equity. The platform currently features 1327 strategies from over 300 asset management firms.

Several existing firms, including Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management, Piton Investment Management, Schafer Cullen Capital Management, and TAMP Advisory Solutions, added 6 strategies to the platform. These strategies encompass a wide range of portfolios across small and mid cap, fixed income, and water impact themes.

The full list of new strategies includes:

“This expansion underscores our dedication to providing clients access to diverse investment solutions, while helping asset managers reach a wider audience and accelerate their growth,” said Jonathan Pincus, CEO of SMArtX Advisory Solutions. “With the addition of Bahl & Gaynor and Cantor Fitzgerald, alongside expanded offerings from existing partners, SMArtX continues to evolve as the go-to platform for innovative and sophisticated managed account solutions.”

SMArtX’s continued growth is driven by two main applications of its technology: the off-the-shelf TAMP offering, which is built using SMArtX Advisory Solutions’ proprietary UMA technology, and the ability to further deploy that tailored UMA technology through APIs to meet the mandates of large enterprises, RIA platforms, and hybrid broker-dealers.

About SMArtX Advisory Solutions

SMArtX Advisory Solutions is an award-winning managed accounts technology provider and manages SMArtX, a turnkey asset management platform (‘TAMP’). SMArtX’s API-first, cloud-native technology operates within a modular, micro-services architecture, providing clients a tailored solution catered to their unique specifications. SMArtX is available as an off-the-shelf TAMP for advisors seeking a wider selection of investment products and ease of use, while automating the investment processes and simplifying the everyday tasks of managing client accounts. SMArtX also licenses its proprietary technology to enterprise firms looking to create, customize, or upgrade their existing managed accounts technology as a standalone or fully integrated solution. SMArtX is the managed account technology and TAMP platform of choice for multiple RIAs, broker-dealers, and asset managers. Learn more at www.smartxadvisory.com.

SMArtX Advisory Solutions Unveils Q4 Select List Highlighting Elite Investment Strategies

SMARTX’S SELECT LIST EMPOWERS ADVISORS WITH TOP-TIER INVESTMENT CHOICES

SMArtX Advisory Solutions (“SMArtX”), a leading innovator in managed accounts technology, proudly announces the latest update to its Select List. This meticulously curated list represents the pinnacle of investment strategies currently available on the SMArtX platform, identified through an extensive screening process overseen by Chief Investment Officer, Dan Phillips, and Chief Investment Strategist Pascal Roduit.

The Select Manager List, a distinguished offering from the recently established SMArtX Investment Solutions team, caters to clients seeking a refined pool of high-performing strategies. The Q4 2024 edition of the SMArtX Select List recognizes 43 Gold and
94 Silver strategies across the 1,509 strategies broadly distributed via
the SMArtX platform.

The four-step screening process emphasizes outperformance over a peer group benchmark, a positively skewed risk and return profile distribution, downside and tail-risk management, and consistency of returns.

Explore the latest additions to the SMArtX Select List

About SMArtX Advisory Solutions

SMArtX Advisory Solutions is an award-winning managed accounts technology provider. SMArtX’s API-first, cloud-native technology operates within a modular, microservices architecture, providing clients with a tailored solution catered to their unique specifications. SMArtX is available as an off-the-shelf platform for advisors seeking a wider selection of investment products and ease of use while automating the investment processes and simplifying the everyday tasks of managing client accounts. SMArtX also licenses its proprietary technology to enterprise firms looking to create, customize, or upgrade their existing managed accounts technology as a standalone or fully integrated solution. SMArtX is the managed account technology platform of choice for multiple RIAs, broker-dealers, asset managers, custodians, and fintech firms.

SMArtX Advisory Solutions Releases 2025 Annual Outlook

“EVERYTHING’S CHANGED” HAS BEEN A COMMON POST-ELECTION REFRAIN FROM INVESTORS. SMARTX INVESTMENT SOLUTIONS DIGS INTO THE “HOW” IN ITS LATEST REPORT.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.–The SMArtX Investment Solutions team today published the 2025 edition of its annual outlook. The team expects equity gains to continue, albeit at a slower pace than the torrid 26.4% return the Russell 3000 has realized thus far this year. Meanwhile, credit markets are also expected to carry the momentum into the new year – offering a less-risky alternative to equity markets. Finally, the team expects longer-dated interest rates to creep modestly higher, building on the notable late-2024 increase – putting modest price pressure on returns that will otherwise benefit from higher starting-point yields.

Beyond the 2025 forecasts for key market segments, the new report also attempts to answer the key macro questions faced by investors heading into 2025 – including on AI, geopolitics and, potentially, the biggest shake up to global trade since the 1944 Bretton Woods agreement – while also providing some potential portfolio ideas in response.

The full report can be accessed here.

Dan Phillips, CFA, SMArtX Chief Investment Officer, commented,

“We leave the business-as-usual market outlook to our monthly Market Stance publication. In the Annual Outlook – beyond putting a marker on high-level 2025 return forecasts – we really want to dive into the key questions facing investors heading into the New Year and offer some potential, and more specific, ways to play our views. We hope the audience finds it to be a thought-provoking and entertaining read.”

The 2025 edition of the SMArtX Annual Market Outlook is the latest publication produced for the SMArtX Investment Insights offering – providing a broad array of strategy, research and communication materials to support the entire investment process, from strategic asset allocation to tactical overlays to manager selection.

Other regularly-produced reports include the annual SMArtX Long-Term Market Outlook (released each September), the quarterly Market Review report (exploring the key market themes of the previous quarter) and the monthly Market Stance report (detailing the SMArtX market outlook and tactical calls over the next 12 months). Private labeling options are also offered to aid in advisor communications with clients.

About SMArtX Investment Solutions

SMArtX Investment Solutions provides comprehensive investment support under four key services: Market Strategy, Portfolio Strategy, Market Communications and Portfolio Management – all underpinned by the SMArtX Investment Insights web portal. Market Strategy offers advisors support in running their investment committee (including market commentary and asset allocation templates) as well as strategy reports in the form of the annual Capital Market Assumptions, the quarterly Market Review, the monthly Market Stance and ad hoc Market Brief reports covering important market developments. Portfolio Strategy guides the selection and combination of the over 1,500 strategies found on the SMArtX platform. Market Communications allows for SMArtX strategy report private labeling and speakers for client events. Finally, Portfolio Management comes in the form of SMArtX BASE Portfolios and other bespoke portfolio management offerings.

About SMArtX Advisory Solutions

Founded in 2017 and built in-house from the ground up, SMArtX’s award-winning technology provides a platform for firms across the financial services and wealth management industries to run a highly scalable, modular infrastructure catered to their specific operational requirements. SMArtX Advisory Solutions provides a complete solution or supplements existing technologies to provide firms with a modern, streamlined middle and back office operations application.

SMArtX Advisory Solutions Expands Manager Marketplace With 12 New Strategies From Seven Leading Asset Management Firms

Clinton Investment Management, Macquarie, Pictet Asset Management, Rockefeller Asset Management, and Verity Investment Management Join the SMArtX Platform

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.–SMArtX Advisory Solutions (“SMArtX”), a leading innovator in managed accounts technology, has announced the addition of 12 new strategies from seven leading asset management firms to its Manager Marketplace. SMArtX’s continuously growing platform now offers 1,514 strategies from 315 distinguished asset management firms.

Newcomers Clinton Investment Management, Macquarie, Pictet Asset Management, Rockefeller Asset Management, and Verity Investment Management respectively added municipal, large cap growth, global environmental, US equity, and income growth strategies to the platform. Existing managers ARS Investment Partners and Thompson Capital Management have also expanded their offerings to include small cap and tactical large cap growth.

The full list of new strategies includes:

Dan Phillips, CFA, Chief Investment Officer of SMArtX, stated,

“With this most recent set of new strategies added to the SMArtX manager marketplace, we continue our efforts to both broaden and deepen the opportunity set of fulfillment options for our advisors to meet their clients’ specific needs.”

For more information, visit SMArtX Manager Profiles to download our latest Manager Profiles to explore the 1,514 strategies offered by our 315 distinguished asset management firms.

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