Flying below the radar

With industry funds, banks, dealer groups and many of the largest fund managers subscribing to her research, the influence of Vanessa McMahon, founder and managing director of market research firm Wealth Insights, extends widely throughout the financial services industry.

While Money Management’s annual list of influential people tends to focus on personalities, sometimes these assessments are as much a reflection of the organisation as the person themselves.

The Wealth Insights research reports and, in particular, the annual Service Level and Adviser Market Trends Report are widely subscribed to in the industry and greatly influence the strategies and product development processes of many leading companies.

At times challenging commonly-held perceptions, such as those surrounding the commissions versus fees debate, McMahon’s research often sparks new conversations within the industry.

As a result, many product providers take note of what is uncovered by the research when formulating new product and marketing strategies.

As testimony to the quality of her research, many executives in financial services have their key performance indicators and bonuses linked to the findings detailed within Wealth Insights’ annual research reports.

McMahon is a strong advocate of financial planners, often sharing her research with government and industry bodies, particularly when she perceives they have been unfairly treated on an issue in the public eye.

An example of this occurred recently, with planners revealing the reasons for their limited use of industry superannuation funds, which Wealth Insights’ research exposed as primarily due to a lack of independent research reports and inadequate administration.

While McMahon’s reach and influence within the industry is significant, you would nevertheless be excused for not knowing who she is if you are not a client of Wealth Insights as she chooses not to appear at conferences, nor does she pursue a role as an industry commentator.

Nonetheless, as a supporter of the industry and its participants, she will continue to shape it for some time to come.