What managers are considering emerging? At UIM, we consider a manager "emerging" if they have less than $2 billion in assets under management. Our database includes managers with short-track records, many of who may be left out of other manager databases due to their lack of performance history. We realize the need to look beyond the history and focus on the actual portfolio manager themselves. These managers have been successful portfolio managers at larger firms in many instances, and then decided to embrace an entrepreneurial spirit and start their own firms. Other emerging firms may consists of "niche" players, or firms with very little resources devoted to marketing in order to control cost. There are many reasons that these firms have been unidentified by the larger consultant databases but we are sure to include all emerging firms in our database.

UIM's multi-manager approach which incorporates emerging managers offers an optimal combination of complimentary investment styles to help our clients meet their risk adjusted investment objectives. Often, emerging managers are seen as specialty managers and their specific focus tends to have an advantage over managers who are generalists trying to be all things to all clients. Another benefit of using emerging investment management firms is these firms tend to be smaller, more entrepreneurial and are likely more adaptable to changing investment markets. Lastly, by "leveling the playing field" (minority and majority manager inclusion) so to speak, UIM gives its clients the tools necessary to take advantage of emerging investment manager benefits. UIM recognizes these benefits of emerging firms and has developed its proprietary database and specialized portfolio design techniques to take advantage of these benefits.