With dozens of distributors set up in the exhibit hall at the 2014 ICI GMM and vying for the attention of mutual fund executives, you know they had to "bring it." And by "it," we mean the best toys, tools and gadgets they could think of. Sure there was lots of interactive data displays from the likes of Morningstar, Lipper, Bloomberg and others, and there were the usual fancy ball point pens, notepads and multi-colored post-it notes, but here, we wanted to share the swag that impressed MFWire staffers the most.

Swag from ICI Investment Company Institute GMM 2014

State Street and Ultimus Fund Services both brought the chocolate (make note, MFWire staffers love chocolate!), with State Street offering a round box labeled with the firm's logo, of M&M chocolates. If you've already eaten them, which you probably have, you can always use the box and refill it. Ultimus, though, came with some fancy dark and milk chocolate, imported from Graeter's--a high-end chocolate shop in Cincinnati, OH, that has been around since 1870. Longevity and yum!

BrightScope came with "Data Excites Me" stickers, which we happily took home and thought were rather appropriate for a large crowd of, what were mostly, "nerds 'r' us."

Class action services provider, Battea, had their flower shaped and double-sided USB charger to offer guests. Useful and aesthetically pleasing!

But the ultimate award for best swag would have to go to R.R. Donnelly, who brought their talking, encouraging green-haired stress ball to the conference. If you squeeze the cute, fuzzy haired creature, he enthusiastically tells you, "that's brilliant, what a phenomenal idea!" And if you squeeze him even harder, and in the right place, a light bulb pops out of his head. Now, doesn't everyone wish they had a friend like that around? Well, we at MFWire now have this mascot and are glad to keep him for those occasional low story count days! And thank you, R.R. Donnelly! 

Stay ahead of the news ... Sign up for our email alerts now
CLICK HERE