After four decades of working in the investment management industry together, my partner, Christine Rostvold, shared with me that she would like to retire after we completed an assignment for a $4 trillion plus firm. Her decision raised a lot of questions for me. Was I ready to retire? Did I want to work on my own with clients? Did I still have much to offer the investment community? My answers were NO, I PREFER A TEAM APPROACH TO ACHIEVING BEST SOLUTIONS and YES.
In our new virtual world, I have learned we can all be productive without sitting next to one another. So what would be the best for my clients, me and my team going forward? To align with some of the best and brightest talent wherever they may be to solve for the challenges facing the asset management firm world. What do asset management firms need to overcome? Challenges in starting up new asset management firms, reaching different distribution channels, merging cultures of distinct firms (large, small, metropolitan, global, local), succession, product development, ever new technologies, communications, training (or in some cases, retraining) professionals. Social media, compliance, SEC rules, ESG debates. Diversity, inclusiveness. All are challenges. Why not put together experienced professionals and insights with innovative minds and research, and solve these challenges together?
Thus, the vision for The Charnley Collective.
What can you expect from us? Initially, we have joined together experts across a broad range of resources relevant to asset management firms. Our commitment is to build a platform of expertise that will enable your asset management firm to leverage internal resources with external skills across a host of areas. You will see us grow, because we will listen to our clients, convene together, and continually explore – what’s a priority, what’s in the future, how can our clients succeed?
We don’t want to be all things to all people. We want to be a valuable resource for our asset management clients, no matter the size, the distribution channel, the products, the location. We want to listen, learn from you and from each other, and solve problems working as a team with you and with each other.
Multiple heads, all with diverse backgrounds, experiences in the financial industry and skills, will be better than one.
That’s our vision.