Advisors ranked BlackRock number one for innovation, while its ETF unit iShares snagged the number three spot on the list. The ranking was based on FA Vision's second quarter Innovation Index. PIMCO came in second behind BlackRock, while Ivy and Fidelity took the fourth and fifth rankings.
The results don't surprise me given advisor and investor demand for funds with flexible mandates, which many of these fund families in the top offer. BlackRock offers its Global Allocation Fund, while Ivy has its Asset Strategy Fund. PIMCO's Unconstrained Bond Fund has also been getting a lot of traction.
“Firm’s that have shown the ability to innovate successfully have often been able to grab market share when market cycles shift,” says Hari Krishnaswami, FA Vision Product Manager.
Here's the list of the top 10:
1. BlackRock
2. PIMCO
3. iShares
4. Ivy
5. Fidelity
6. Powershares
7. American Funds
8. Franklin Templeton Investments
9. Dimensional Fund Advisors
10. Rydex/SGI