Press Release
FUSE Research Network and Mast Hill Consulting to Partner on New Research Study
of the Retirement Income Needs of Retirees - October 1, 2008
October 1, 2008, Boston, MA – FUSE Research Network and Mast Hill Consulting announce a partnership on a new research study which will focus on how investors make retirement income planning, advisory, and product choices. The partnership represents the first such arrangement for the newly formed FUSE.
FUSE president Michael Evans stated, “I am thrilled to reunite with Laura Varas given her reputation as an industry expert and thought leader in the retirement income arena.”
Mast Hill president Varas comments, “The FUSE leadership team of Neil Bathon and Mike Evans are visionary thinkers who have been the first to predict and understand how to navigate many of the major trends in asset management. I am delighted to continue our partnership to produce forward-looking research, which will allow our clients to improve their offerings and reach more customers.”
The management team at FUSE Research Network has worked with Varas for nearly five years dating back to Bathon’s and Evans’ days with Financial Research Corporation. Both groups are pleased to be working together on what they agree is one of the critical challenges facing asset managers, distributors, and insurance firms.
“Constructing solutions for retirees is one of the primary goals of investment managers, distributors, and financial advisors,” said Neil Bathon, founder of FUSE Research Network.
The study will approach this critical industry issue from a new perspective that is designed to provide practical insights to asset managers, distributors, and insurance firms with regard to the design and positioning of their products and services. The research represents a continued progression of the widely read and followed work done by Varas in the past. The research will:
• Design a modern approach to retirement terminology and segmentation
• Drive the positioning and construction of the next generation of retiree solutions for asset managers, distributors, and insurance firms
• Guide organizations as to how and where their firms should participate in the retirement income arena
• Deliver tactical guidance on client acquisition and segmentation through a survey of consumers. The survey will gain an understanding of their key needs, reasons for seeking help, actions they are likely to take, and gather their feedback on different product solutions.
• Identify best practices within the retirement income space and direct organizations on how to best implement these practices within their business
“In order to effectively service the needs of consumers, we believe that proper segmentation is required. The old segmentation of ‘pre-retirees’ and ‘retirees’ is no longer helpful because it does not describe consumers as they describe themselves,” noted Varas.
FUSE Research plans to release the study in December. “We believe Mast Hill’s expertise and ability to deliver high quality, tangible research fits perfectly into the value-proposition we are committed to delivering to FUSE clients,” said Evans
About FUSE Research Network LLC
FUSE is a research organization focused on sales and marketing issues facing both distributors and manufacturers of investment products. As an organization FUSE Research adheres to the following principals:
• Ardent Client Advocacy
• Absolute Candor & Objectivity
• Incisive & Tangible Guidance
Among the goals of our organization are to provide both strategic and tactical guidance and to become an invaluable business partner. We deliver highly informed and forward-looking opinions that are critical inputs for clients as they evolve the strategies and tactics to meet the ever changing needs of the marketplace. In addition, FUSE provides its clients access to an unparalleled network on industry contacts. FUSE is one of the premier research organizations within the asset management space. FUSE is a subsidiary of PMR Associates LLC.
About Mast Hill Consulting, Inc.
Mast Hill Consulting, Inc. specializes in research and consulting in the financial services industry, with an emphasis on retirement and investments. MHC develops proprietary research of its own, collaborates with other research and consulting firms, and produces custom work for clients. MHC is especially known for its expertise in the retirement income marketplace, and speaks frequently with senior management, sales forces, and at industry conferences on consumer needs, competitive landscape and best practices in the retirement income market and related topics.
MHC collaborated with FRC since 2004 as the Research Partner responsible for FRC’s acclaimed retirement income practice, authoring 6 advanced research studies, including:
• IRA Rollover Dynamics 2008: Market Sizing, Benchmarks & Best Practices (2008)
• Building & Positioning Retirement Income Solutions: Innovation from 2005 to 2007 & Beyond (2007)
• Engaging PowerBoomers (2006)
• Converting Retirement Income into Practice (2006)