Most times, if you are hiring a money manager, it is to run something
called a "separate account." It is "separate" from other pooled monies,
such as mutual funds and hedge funds, and is instead managed to the
owner's general specifications.
Separate accounts differ from
traditional funds because you, the investor, will own the securities
yourself, rather than having a share in a big investment pool. Say the
XYZ Fund has big stakes in Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, and you believe after a
taste-test that Coke is finally going to wipe out Pepsi.
The fund would not allow you to reduce your exposure to
Pepsi, since the manager can't make decisions based on the preferences
of one investor. In a managed account, however, the money manager could
dump the Pepsi and double down on Coke, if the strategy is in keeping
with your goals.
Separately Managed Accounts Offer:
Direct ownership of individual securities such as stocks and bonds.
The
ability to eliminate certain types of securities -- think tobacco
stocks or companies that pollute -- based on the investor's preferences.
Tax-management
strategies, including tax-loss harvesting and offsetting of gains.
Unlike mutual funds, separate accounts offer individual tax lots,
meaning you're not going to suffer the tariff on someone else's gains
when you buy in.
Monitoring of the individual investor's other securities, which may be able to be transferred into the separate account.
In
reality, money managers probably don't want that kind of input from
customers, but the point is that the portfolio is customized to you,
rather than to a mass of somewhat like-minded shareholders.
As a
general rule, separate accounts require a minimum initial investment of
$100,000 or more, but there are now some brokers and planners looking to
get into the business by accept small accounts, so that you may be
offered the service by someone trying to build a practice and willing to
oversee your $25,000 or $50,000 account.