ALPS , a DST Company

“ Gcellent is an area where ALPS consistently performs well , with even the 2017 decrease in the score for relationship management and client service proving no more than a blip . It has rebounded strongly this year , with one respondent singling out their ALPS contacts for their “ responsiveness .” A second adds that the relationship management has “ done an excellent job of providing support and responding to our needs .” Feedback of this kind matters to ALPs . With all but a tiny fraction of the clients serviced by the firm , managing no more than $ 5 billion , the human touch is at least as important as the level of automation . It is an approach that wins as well as retains business . One respondent appreciates a “ willingness to spend time educating new clients on entering the mutual fund business .” Another says that staff are “ very pro-active . We are a very small shop and ALPS makes us feel like an important client .” While enthusiasm for the friendliness , responsiveness and understanding of ALPS ’ client contacts is near-universal , at least one respondent has noticed that these qualities do not always result in a rapid turnaround of queries . While acknowledging that ALPS staff are “ friendly and helpful ,” and that the firm has “ good depth of coverage on most issues ,” he finds that it “ can sometimes be hard to reach and / or get a quick response .” Yet no one could accuse ALPS of failing to keep abreast of a changing marketplace and regulatory environment . The Securities and Exchange Commission ( SEC ) launched its liquidity-risk-management-and-fund-reporiting modernisation initiative in October 2016 , with the aim of enhancing investor protection . Since then , ALPS has used the opportunity to invest time and money in developing new procedures and services to help asset managers comply by a string of deadlines set by the regulator , which stretch out to 1 March 2020 . The firm earns its reward in robust scores for compliance in general , and a handsome one for responsiveness to regulatory changes in particular . Even value , inevitably under pressure as compliance services translate into new and rising fees for clients , has recovered from the sharp fall of last year . In fact , there are only two service areas where ALPS secures returns that are less than excellent , and all fields that saw scores dip last year have recovered in 2018 , with two exceptions . One is transfer agency . “ TA may be overworked or under trained ,” writes one respondent . But there is nothing negative in client perceptions of the capabilities of the firm in the adjacent field of distribution support . “ ALPS does a great job at reviewing intermediary agreements and explaining distribution-related topics to clients ,” writes a respondent . Reporting is the other service area that failed to rise . And if ALPS has an area in discernible need of investment it lies here . One respondent avers that a “ more-enhanced direct shareholder portal ” is needed . ALPS needs no encouragement to invest in technology . As befits an administration business owned by a technology vendor ( reinforced by the SS & C acquisition of DST this spring ), it expects to increase its levels of automation through robotics . By lowering costs , automation will certainly help ALPS and its clients cope with the mounting downward pressure on fees in the asset management industry . And if those gains can be purchased without imperilling a strong reputation for being client focused , the firm will own an unbeatable combination of efficiency and service . “ ALPS is very transparent and honest in all dealings ,” concludes one respondent . “ Staff has a high degree of integrity and responsiveness . Their infrastructure is strong and cross communications are good .”