Investment fees are a major expense for family offices and high-net-worth individuals, yet these costs are often opaque and confusing. This lack of transparency stems from the complex and fragmented nature of the investment industry, where no single financial intermediary has the incentives to clarify the fee structure. In this article, we will discuss the impact of investment fees, the complexity of fee structures, and how family offices can reduce their investment costs.
What is the real impact of investment fees on family office returns?
Charges, including management fees, performance fees, transaction costs, and other expenses, can accumulate to a significant amount over time. The total true investment cost can amount to as much as 2-3% per year, based on case studies from our clients. These costs can have a substantial impact on long-term investment returns, as illustrated in the following example:
Imagine you have $10 million to invest over 10 years, aiming for a net average annual return of 10%. If you can save just 1% in annual costs, your investment could compound at 11% instead of 10%. That seemingly small difference can add up to big gains – approximately $2.4 million more in returns (i.e., $29.4M at 11% compounding – $27M at 10% compounding), or about 25% of your initial investment. It’s a significant amount that’s worth considering, and with the right investment strategy and fee structure, a resolution is within reach.
Let’s delve deeper into the problem. Some costs are visible and can be seen on your quarterly bank account statements, such as custody and advisory fees. Others are hidden and deducted from the instrument price or NAV, such as Forex bid-ask spreads and charges imposed by mutual fund managers. In some cases, hidden expenses can even reach up to 100% of visible costs, effectively doubling them. The complexity of fee structures can make it difficult for investors to compare the cost of different investment products and to understand the true cost of their investments.
So, what can you do to navigate these costs?
We suggest a structured approach focusing on capturing, benchmarking, and reducing investment expenses. Firstly, by capturing all relevant data, one can identify areas where costs can be lowered. Secondly, benchmarking against industry standards and peers allows for better negotiation with advisors and custodians. Lastly, by implementing a comprehensive cost monitoring system, expenses can be reduced and savings can be passed on to the client. This approach is designed to be iterative and ongoing, allowing for continuous cost reduction over time.
To navigate these costs, it’s best to take a structured approach that focuses on capturing, benchmarking, and reducing investment expenses.
To navigate these costs, it’s best to take a structured approach that focuses on capturing, benchmarking, and reducing investment expenses.
Based on client case studies, there are typically three major sources of investment cost optimisation:
- Recovering incorrectly-charged expenses by intermediaries. Think of unexpected additional brokerage costs in what is supposed to be an ‘all-in’ discretionary mandate.
- Aligning your costs with industry benchmarks and best practices. Do other investors with similar AUM pay much lower fees for the same services?
- Learning and using industry best practices to avoid hidden expenses. Did you negotiate the outrageous 1.5% of FX fees that all private banks apply by default on smaller amounts or, as commonly seen in early 2023, forget to put idle USD cash on a 5% deposit?
While it’s not impossible to analyse fees internally, the task does require a significant amount of manual work, specialised knowledge, and additional analyst staff.
While it’s not impossible to analyse fees internally, the task does require a significant amount of manual work, specialised knowledge, and additional analyst staff.
Investors have two options when it comes to optimising their investment costs. They can choose to tackle the task internally, which requires a significant amount of manual work, specialised knowledge, and additional analyst staff. The investor would need to conduct detailed cost benchmarking, engage in continuous cost negotiation with multiple intermediaries, and monitor industry trends to ensure they are not being overcharged. However, with the right kind of expertise, investors can rely on a trusted partner to handle the entire process for them, delivering cost savings and freeing up their time to focus on other aspects of their investments.
GreenLock is an all-in-one platform that allows family offices to analyse, manage and monitor investment fees and associated costs. Learn more about GreenLock here.
