Three Reasons Winning Firms Are Turning to OCIOs

Modern clients want sophisticated investment strategies, personalized solutions, and proactive guidance through market volatility. Meanwhile, advisors are stretched thin trying to manage portfolios, grow their practices, and maintain strong client relationships by meeting those evolving expectations - all while keeping up with an increasingly complex market environment.

Faced with the choice between focusing on clients and focusing on asset management, more advisors are making the strategic choice to partner with an Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO). Recent research shows advisors currently outsource investment management for an average of 25% of their client assets, with wirehouse and IBD advisors outsourcing nearly one-third. Even more telling: 40% of advisors plan to increase their outsourcing in the coming years.

So what's driving this shift, and how can partnering with an OCIO transform your practice? Let's examine the key benefits:

1. Market Expertise When You Need It Most

Navigating today's markets requires institutional-grade expertise and real-time decision-making capabilities. A sophisticated OCIO brings:

• Dedicated investment professionals monitoring market conditions
• Proactive risk management strategies
• Quantitative analysis that goes beyond traditional metrics
• Research-driven insights that help you communicate value to clients

2. The Efficiency Advantage

The data is clear: outsourcing creates significant operational leverage. According to industry research, advisors who outsource investment management report:

• More time for client relationships and business development
• Reduced operating costs, with over 40% seeing cost reductions of 5% or more
• Streamlined back-office operations
• Enhanced ability to scale their practice

As one Helios client notes: "From an efficiency standpoint, my practice is so lean and mean. It's everything I'd ever envisioned without hiring five people."

3. Sophisticated Solutions, Simplified Delivery

Modern clients demand personalized investment solutions. Working with an OCIO enables firms to implement more sophisticated strategies they might not otherwise have access to, including direct indexing and ESG solutions. An OCIO partner also makes it easier to customize portfolios at scale while providing advanced analytics and reporting capabilities.

"By utilizing Helios, we have been able to double our firm's revenue, enhance returns for our clients and save tons of time in the back office," reports another advisor.

Staying Competitive in an Evolving Landscape

With 40% of advisors planning to increase their outsourcing, the trend is clear: partnership with an OCIO is becoming a competitive necessity. The most successful firms are using this approach to enhance their investment capabilities while creating more time for what matters most – serving clients and growing their business.

Learn more about how Helios can help you leverage sophisticated trading capabilities, investment management strategies, and technology solutions to stay ahead of the markets and your competition.