A Seat at the Table

Fund, board in place for new US Bank CEF series trust-like offering

By Hillary Jackson

U.S. Bank Global Fund Services has added a new multiple-series trust-like offering to its suite of products, this one designed for investment managers to more easily launch alternative investment products through registered closed-end funds—primarily tender-offer and interval funds. The CEF Accelerator Platform provides legal, audit, distribution, and governance services to ... >> CONTINUE READING <<<

Intentional Change: Lord Abbett Funds' approach to leadership, oversight

By Hillary Jackson

The Lord Abbett Funds board has done a lot of heavy lifting in the past few years, hiring new members, overhauling governance practices, and installing new leadership. The result, according to independent Chair Eve Guernsey, is a diverse group of professionals who are well positioned to take on whatever challenges ... >> CONTINUE READING <<<

Guinness Atkinson Funds board repopulates, adds flexibility

By Hillary Jackson

Guinness Atkinson Funds has added two new independent directors to bump the size of the board back up to six members following the year-end retirement of Susan Penry-Williams and a 2019 retirement. The larger size allows for flexibility in the case of an unplanned retirement or resignation, but Vice Chairman ... >> CONTINUE READING <<<

VAT board evolves in 2024, preps for additional remit in '25

By Hillary Jackson

The Valued Advisers Trust board was enlarged earlier this year and transitioned to an all-independent membership, and now the four directors are poised to take on oversight of a mutual fund trust that will run side-by-side to their series trust responsibilities, according to Chair Andi Mullins. CRM Mutual Fund Trust ... >> CONTINUE READING <<<

RBC Funds tackles generational shift, aims to preserve culture

By Hillary Jackson

Maintaining boardroom culture while facing large-scale generational shift is a challenge, but it's one the RBC Funds Trust board is up to meeting with careful planning and intentional decision making, according to James Seward, independent chair. "We have a bunch [of directors] approaching retirement age, so we've tried to be ... >> CONTINUE READING <<<

MFDF's McPhillips: 'It was time' to jump into the present

By Hillary Jackson

It's been 22 years since Mutual Fund Directors Forum was formed to answer a call from Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Arthur Levitt for improved mutual fund governance and better education of fund directors. In that time, assets under management in funds have grown from about $6.4 trillion to $25.5 ... >> CONTINUE READING <<<