Study Identifies Current e-Business Trends
NEW YORK CITY, (December 16, 2002) – kasina, a strategic consulting firm for the financial services industry, today announced the release of findings from its annual study on the leading retail mutual fund Web sites – “Top 20 Web sites—Mutual Funds.”
The annual kasina study is widely recognized as the industry’s most authoritative study of the e-business initiatives of asset management companies. For this year’s review, kasina evaluated 481 mutual fund company Web sites based on five categories: branding, content, online services, usability, and Web technology. Along with naming the Top 20, kasina also identified the “Top 10 Web sites – Small Fund Firms” (top sites from firms with $10 billion or less in U.S. mutual fund assets under management).
“While many firms have focused on the intermediary channel in 2002, the Top 20 and Top 10 firms have effectively developed an online presence for their prospects and shareholders” said Steven Miyao, CEO of kasina. “Regardless of a firm’s distribution model, investors have come to expect a superior level of online service from their asset management companies, and this year’s top sites are meeting that expectation.”
Trends from “Top 20 Web sites—Mutual Funds”
- Nearly half (47%) of mutual fund company Web sites allow shareholders to view their account statements online, up from 23% in 2001.
- Only 68% of industry sites consistently update their fund prices on a daily basis.
- Over two-thirds (80%) of the “Top 20” sites offer shareholders an electronic delivery option for prospectuses, statements, and other materials, up from only 35% in 2001.
More trends are available in a free summary of findings available at www.kasina.com/whitepapers/top20.
2002 “Top 20 Web sites – Mutual Funds” (Alphabetically)
- AIM Management Group — www.aimfunds.com
- American Century Investments — www.americancentury.com
- Ariel Mutual Funds — www.arielmutualfunds.com
- Charles Schwab & Co. — www.schwab.com
- E*TRADE Financial — www.etrade.com
- Fidelity Investments — www.fidelity.com
- Franklin Templeton Investments — www.franklintempleton.com
- Gabelli Asset Management — www.gabelli.com
- INVESCO Funds Group — www.invescofunds.com
- Liberty Funds — www.libertyfunds.com
- Mainstay Funds — www.mainstayfunds.com
- MFS Investment Management — www.mfs.com
- Oppenheimer Funds — www.oppenheimerfunds.com
- Salomon Smith Barney — www.smithbarney.com
- Strong Investments — www.strong.com
- TD Waterhouse Group — www.waterhouse.com
- TIAA-CREF — www.tiaacref.com
- T. Rowe Price — www.troweprice.com
- The Vanguard Group — www.vanguard.com
- Wells Fargo Funds — www.wellsfargofunds.com
2002 “Top 10 Web sites – Small Fund Firms”
- ABN AMRO Asset Management — www.abnamrofunds-usa.com
- Ariel Mutual Funds — www.arielmutualfunds.com
- Calvert — www.calvert.com
- Founders Asset Management — www.founders.com
- Gabelli Asset Management — www.gabelli.com
- Munder Capital Management — www.munder.com
- Pax World Funds — www.paxworld.com
- PBHG Funds — www.pbhgfunds.com
- RS Investments — www.rsinvestments.com
- Westcore Funds — www.westcore.com
