The client´s assets are held in the name of the client, in an account at a reliable and stable bank, broker or insurance company.
Yes, but this is usually decided after dialogue with your ISGAM relationship manager, to make sure it suits your future financial requirements. ISGAM has several custodian relationships that have been in place for many years, including in Switzerland, the UK and the Channel Islands.
No. The client can retain the portfolio in full. Once ISGAM has been appointed as the investment manager, the client’s advisor and portfolio manager will have a discussion with the client about the timing over which to bring the portfolio into line with the agreed strategy or strategies outlined in the Portfolio Management Agreement.
ISGAM can work with any custodian bank, broker or insurance company. It is however time consuming for ISGAM to negotiate and manage an additional custodian relationship so a satisfactory business case will be needed before this can proceed.
Clients always have the option of online access to their accounts with the custodian. In addition, a client can also access details of their accounts via their ISGAM relationship manager.
Clients receive from ISGAM quarterly portfolio management reports by e-mail as well as quarterly valuations by e-mail or by post. In addition, the custodian will offer valuations online and/or send regular account statements including in most cases a tax report at year end, either by post or e-mail.
Only the client. ISGAM cannot. ISGAM only has the authority to buy and sell investments on behalf of the client. This is usually established via the joint signing by the client and ISGAM of the custodian’s ‘Limited Power of Attorney’ or equivalent. ISGAM has the authority only to be paid its management fees from the account as per the signed.
At the beginning of a new relationship a Portfolio Management Agreement and Investor Profile are completed and signed by the client and ISGAM. This is a contract between the client and ISGAM and determines how the assets are to be managed and what fees ISGAM can charge for doing so.
Yes. As it says in the portfolio management agreement, either party can terminate its relationship with the other with a month’s notice.
IGSAM is an independent asset manager and only receives income by way of client management fees and where applicable initial fees. These fees are clearly outlined in the Portfolio Management Agreement, which represents a contract between ISGAM and the client. ISGAM AG also provides multi family office services (MFOS), with separate fees which are clearly outlined in the respective MFOS agreement
Only via the chosen custodian banks. ISGAM has negotiated preferential borrowing rates with most of its custodians at low to zero cost to the client. This can involve borrowing against the account as well as credit cards. ISGAM alone cannot lend as it does not hold client assets
No. Any fee paid by a client of ISGAM AG is fully transparent and explicitly agreed to by the client.
In many cases you will pay less. Private bank charging strategies vary enormously. ISGAM’s fees are completely transparent, wherever they exist ISGAM uses the less expensive classes of fund investment and we have negotiated very competitive all-in-fee arrangements with our key European and Asian custodians.
There is no charge for a first meeting, which can be in person, by video conferencing or phone. The purpose of the initial meeting is to help the client´s advisor determine if ISGAM can assist and then how and if it makes sense for the client to enter into a relationship.
Each of the model portfolios or building blocks that ISGAM have developed over the past 30 years can also be made available to clients as a single-strategy solution. For example, if a current provider has a subpar alternative strategy offering, then it is possible to utilise ISGAM´s alternative portfolio.
