MutualFundWire.com: MFEA Lists the Top Game Changers at its 40th B-Day Bash

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Wednesday, April 27, 2011

MFEA Lists the Top Game Changers at its 40th B-Day Bash

The Mutual Fund Education Alliance held its 40th birthday bash during its Strategic Summit at the Hilton New York yesterday. The Strategic Summit attracted more than 100 attendees.

Today, MFEA is hosting an e-Commerce Summit, also at the Hilton in midtown Manhattan.

After MFEA director Brian Smith and executive committee chairman John Cammack kicked off the Strategic Summit yesterday, Morningstar founder and CEO Joe Mansueto, president of fund research Don Phillips, former Schwab EVP of asset management products and services John McGonigle, T. Rowe Price vice president Jerome Clark and Sean Belka, director of Fidelity Center for Applied Technology, took to the stage for the opening panel titled Changing the Game: Vision, Innovation and Thought Leadership. CNBC's Tyler Mathisen served as moderator.

Later, Ben Phillips of Casey Quirk & Associates gave a presentation on the future of mutual fund companies. His talk was followed by Steve Ellis, executive vice president and group head of Wells Fargo Wholesale Services Group, who spoke about the customer of the future.

As part of its 40th anniversary celebration, MFEA unveiled a list, put together by the group's current and former leaders, of the top 10 game changers of the past 40 years. Here's full list, in no particular order:

Development of money market funds

Landmark legislation, including IRAs and 401(k)s

Emergence of credible third-party evaluation services

Role of the financial media

Growth of passive investing, including indexing and ETFs

Development of mutual fund supermarkets and NTF programs

The creation of target-date funds

The role of innovation, technology and the internet in the investment process

12b-1 fees and the growth of share classes