WEST CHESTER, PA — Investment managers facing higher costs, tighter margins, and greater regulatory scrutiny are rethinking how they structure their operations. A growing number are consolidating vendors and shifting toward unified platforms that merge technology and managed services into a single operating ecosystem, aiming to improve agility and reduce complexity.
For years, firms relied on a patchwork of front-, middle-, and back-office providers. While functional, the model introduced integration challenges, data silos, and oversight burdens. Now, industry research suggests expectations are changing. KPMG reports that asset managers increasingly want managed service providers to act as strategic partners, while Boston Consulting Group notes accelerating modernization efforts across wealth and asset management platforms.
“We’re hearing it from nearly every client: managed services are no longer just about cost savings, they’re about agility and being future-ready,” said Emmy Bernard, president of STP Investment Services. “The platform you picked five years ago might not meet your needs today. That’s why your operations partner needs to know more than one system because your strategy will evolve.”
STP Investment Services is positioning itself to meet this shift with a Managed Services Platform designed to operate seamlessly across technology environments. The company’s open-architecture approach supports data integration, system consolidation, and operational continuity — even as clients migrate from one platform to another.
The offering delivers three core layers: integration, transition support, and long-term operational partnership. By connecting with clients’ preferred systems, STP aims to unify workflows and oversight. During migrations, the firm maintains operational stability and reduces dual-run risk. Over time, STP provides ongoing services that adapt as business needs change.
Bernard said this model aligns with broader industry trends, including the rise of “Wealth as a Service” and growing advisor fatigue with fragmented technology stacks. As firms seek turnkey solutions that consolidate infrastructure and operations, providers capable of supporting multiple platforms are becoming increasingly valuable.
“This is exactly what the industry is doing — modernizing platforms, consolidating vendors, and reducing tech fragmentation,” Bernard said. “Behind all of it is the need for an agile operations partner that can adapt to any system and keep the client experience seamless.”
STP expects demand for flexible, integrated operating partnerships to continue rising as investment managers focus more on growth and less on infrastructure.
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