High touch

"Our separate accounts will combine a history of strong performance with unprecedented access to the professionals who are making the investment decisions on all our funds," says Golub's president Colin Higgins. "We focus on world-class, large-capitalization businesses, pay strict attention to valuation, diversify and exercise patience."

Schwab's "Managed Account Marketplace" is an open-architecture, dual-contract platform with access to hundreds of participating managers. The San Francisco-based company's other SMA platforms include "Managed Account Select," which features a roster of managers, researched and reviewed by Oak Brook, Ill.-based Callan Associates, "Managed Account Access," which provides single-contract access to an array of SMA managers.

Golub's SMA program includes core equity, equity income and balanced investment strategies. Four-year-old Golub manages about $500 million, mainly for high-net-worth individuals, and plans to maintain its boutique approach to clients.

"Investment professionals are looking for a direct relationship with their SMA manager -- not with the sales rep," says Higgins. "Our business model allows us to provide that access, competing on both investment performance and client service." -FWR

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