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2015 GLOBAL SURVEY OF FINANCIAL ADVISORS BEYOND ALLOCATION Changing roles for financial advisors and their value to clients INVESTOR INSIGHTS SERIES

INVESTOR INSIGHTS SERIES BEYOND ALLOCATION Financial...PROGRAM OVERVIEW Investor Insights Series 5 8 13 16 21 24 As advisors look to demonstrate how they add value beyond asset allocation,

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Page 1: INVESTOR INSIGHTS SERIES BEYOND ALLOCATION Financial...PROGRAM OVERVIEW Investor Insights Series 5 8 13 16 21 24 As advisors look to demonstrate how they add value beyond asset allocation,

2015 GLOBAL SURVEY OF FINANCIAL ADVISORS

BEYOND ALLOCATIONChanging roles for financial advisorsand their value to clients

INVESTOR INSIGHTS SERIES

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Our fourth annual Global Survey of Financial Advisors comes at a time of significant

change in the advice business. Increased fee pressures, tightening regulations, and

growing competition from automated advice platforms, coupled with continued

market volatility, all pose challenges to business growth for advisors around the globe.

To succeed, many advisors will need to reconsider their value proposition and look at

how they add value to client relationships above and beyond asset allocation. In this

new frontier, we see three key roles that advisors will need to assume as they look to

gain new clients and win a larger share of assets from their current clients.

• Client Therapist: More than eight in ten advisors say their biggest challenge to

business success is the emotional decisions clients make in times of stress.

Unfortunately, large numbers of investors fail to see rash reactionary decisions

as detrimental to achieving their goals. In this role, advisors become educators,

helping investors overcome fear with knowledge of how the markets and

investing work.

• Investment Pragmatist: More than three-quarters of advisors believe that a

traditional stock and bond portfolio is no longer enough to effectively manage

risk and pursue returns. Fortunately, continual innovation has provided access

to new asset classes, new pricing structure and new portfolio tools, allowing

advisors to make practical decisions about which tool will best fit client goals

and investment objectives.

• Marketing Strategist: Baby Boomer clients are retiring in large numbers,

and the tactics that have helped them accumulate wealth need to be

reconsidered as these clients now need to generate income. On the other

end of the spectrum, the Millennial generation is coming of age, bringing

with them digital service preferences and a clear preference for alternative

investments.1 Smart advisors are adapting their practice to service these two

distinct client bases.

In the end business success may be determined by advisors’ ability to adapt their

practices to these changing roles, even as volatile markets make the essential role

of managing client assets harder.

1 An alternative is an investment that is not one of the three traditional asset types (stocks, bonds and cash). Alternative investments include hedge funds, managed futures, real estate, commodities and derivatives contracts. Alternative investments involve specific risks that may be greater than those associated with traditional investments, and there is no assurance that any investment will meet its performance objectives or that losses will be avoided.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS2015 Global Survey of Financial Advisors

INTRODUCTION Beyond allocation

SECTION ONE Client Therapist

SECTION TWO Investment Pragmatist

SECTION THREE Marketing Strategist

CONCLUSION Getting down to business

PROGRAM OVERVIEW Investor Insights Series

5

8

13

16

21

24

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As advisors look to demonstrate how they add value beyond asset allocation, they will need to play three critical roles.

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52015 GLOBAL SURVEY OF FINANCIAL ADVISORS

Despite ever-present waves of market events, financial crisis, and the looming specter of tightening regulations, financial advisors have a positive outlook on their business prospects at the midpoint of 2015. The 2,400 advisors we spoke with across the Americas, Asia and Europe believe their business will grow by an average of 12.3% over the next 12 months.

Advisors place the responsibility for achieving this growth projection on their own

abilities. Lacking the tailwind that bull markets have provided in recent years, three-

quarters of advisors say growth will come from acquiring new clients, while seven in ten

say it will also hinge on gaining a larger share of assets from current clients. However,

there are forces at play that could derail advisors from achieving these results.

intro

INTRODUCTION

Beyond allocationChanging roles for financial advisors and their value to clients

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2015 Global Survey of Financial Advisors

PROJECT BACKGROUND AND METHODOLOGY

2015 marks the fourth year in which Natixis Global Asset Management has conducted its Financial Advisor Survey. CoreData Research was commissioned by Natixis to conduct the study of 2,400 advisors in 14 countries and territories in order to better understand the attitudes and needs of this key collective of individuals to the financial services industry.

ABOUT THE SURVEY

Natixis Global Asset Management surveyed 2,400 advisors globally in June and July 2015 with the goal of understanding the roles and responsibilities of today’s financial advisor in a continually changing market landscape. Advisors from the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East are represented in the survey.

6 2015 GLOBAL SURVEY OF FINANCIAL ADVISORS

intro

300U.S.

300U.K.

150Hong Kong

150France

150Spain

150Germany

150Switzerland

150Italy

150Singapore

2,400total

respondents

150UAE

150Chile

150Uruguay

150Panama

150Canada

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Macro barriers and emotional challengesAdvisors see both market forces and client behavior as potential barriers to their

success. On the market side, volatility tops advisor concerns with two-thirds worried

about its impact on their business growth. Many advisors also see increased

regulation (54%) and mounting fee pressures (34%) as significant challenges. More

telling, though, may be their concerns about client behavior, particularly in periods

of volatility. Eight in ten advisors believe their ability to keep clients from making

emotional decisions is a critical success factor.

These challenges can translate into a powerful opportunity for financial advisors to

show just how much of a difference they make in helping to deliver a better quality

financial life for clients if they are equipped with the right skills. Some advisors will

require enhancing soft skills in the areas of client management and education; others

will require new technical skills in the areas of investment management.

As advisors look to demonstrate how they add value beyond asset allocation,

they will need to play three critical roles:

• Client Therapist: After 15 years of boom and bust, it’s no longer enough

to ask clients to stay invested for the long term. Advisors now need to help

clients work through their emotions, educate them on the markets and

investing, and help them develop a rational perspective that’s focused on

achieving goals rather than responding to market events.

• Investment Pragmatist: Traditional investment models may not hold up

in today’s complex markets, forcing advisors to rethink both the role of

alternatives and the mix of active and passive investments they implement

in portfolio strategies.

• Marketing Strategist: With Boomers aging and Millennials massing on

the horizon, advisors will need to learn how to best tailor their offerings to

the unique needs of these powerful demographic groups in order to build a

business that can endure.

Today’s markets present significant changes for advisors. A spate of new

regulations in markets around the world could challenge not just how advisors

will deliver advice, but whom they can advise. The rise of new automated advice

platforms presents a whole new source of competition, and advisors will need

to continuously demonstrate their value above and beyond asset allocation. In

addition, changing demographics will challenge the foundations upon which they

have established their practices, and advisors will need to channel efforts in order

to service clients with very different needs. Ultimately, continued volatility and

high correlations will challenge advisors to reconsider their assumptions about

portfolio construction.

We think the ability of advisors to adapt to changes and adopt new roles into their

practice will be a key measure of their long-term success around the globe.

72015 GLOBAL SURVEY OF FINANCIAL ADVISORS

INTRODUCTION

intro

TOP ADVISOR CONCERNS

67%Market performance/volatility

54%Heightened regulation/

disclosure requirements

34% Downward fee pressure

THE INFLUENCE OF EMOTIONS

83% believe their ability to keep clients from making emotional decisions

is a critical success factor.

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8 2015 GLOBAL SURVEY OF FINANCIAL ADVISORS

Money and investing are among the most emotionally charged issues for individuals and families. Where an investment professional’s objective view might see figures on a statement, clients may see assets through a more personal lens: their investments represent lifetime achievements, personal empowerment, and the legacy they will leave to their family.

As a result of these associations, sudden and severe drops in value often lead to

equally severe, emotionally driven decisions. It’s this kind of visceral reaction that

often leads investors to buy high and sell low. Advisors see this response as a

threat to both their business and the financial success of their clients.

In fact, 83% of advisors surveyed globally believe that preventing clients from

making emotional decisions is important to their business success. Unfortunately,

investors may not see the connection between emotional decision making and

achieving financial goals. Of the 7,000 people who participated in our 2015 Global

Survey of Individual Investors, less than half believe that avoiding emotional

decisions will better enable them to meet their financial goals.2

Compounding the problem are investors’ inconsistent views on risk and return.

Globally, individuals told us they believe they will need average annual returns of

9.7% above inflation to meet their goals, a level of return that normally requires

taking considerable risk. But they are not willing to take additional risk, and 84%

of those surveyed say they prioritize the safety of their assets over investment

performance.2

SECTION ONE

Client Therapist

section three

section two

section one

one

Advisor view Client view

6.6% above inflation

9.7% above inflation

DIFFERENT VIEWS ON RETURNS

Advisors and clients have very different views on the average returns

needed to meet long-term goals

2 Natixis Global Asset Management, Global Survey of Individual Investors conducted by CoreData Research, February 2015. Survey included 7,000 investors from 17 countries.

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92015 GLOBAL SURVEY OF FINANCIAL ADVISORS

one

TOP FIVE MISTAKES ADVISORS SAY INVESTORS MAKE

1Making emotional

decisionsShort-term

focus

2 3No financial plan

in place

4No clear goals Not staying

the course

5

Grounding clients with goalsOne reason behind this irrational view may be that individuals are lacking the grounding

needed to make sound investment decisions. Among those we surveyed, 57% said

they have no financial goals and 67% said they had no financial plan. When it comes

to investing, 77% said they go on instinct alone when making financial decisions.

According to the advisors we spoke with, each of these factors ranks among the

top five mistakes investors can make. Independently, each represents a significant

problem for investors. Together, they form a perfect storm that can leave clients

without clear direction on how to handle the ups and downs that are an inevitable

part of the investment experience.

At a time when 90% of advisors worldwide say their ability to demonstrate value

beyond portfolio construction is an increasingly important factor in their business,

the time is right to counsel clients through these financial planning basics to ensure

they are better equipped emotionally to handle volatile and uncertain markets.

Emotion is a two-sided coinEven after witnessing client reactions to a ten-year period of volatility, advisors are

aware that emotion is not merely a downside variable. Emotion can be a powerful

force on the upside too. Our survey findings show that even in regions where

we find the highest risk tolerances, advisors are acutely aware of the sway that

client emotions can hold. For example, in Hong Kong, investors demonstrate a risk

tolerance that is almost twice as high as in other countries, yet the percentage

of advisors there who say client emotions pose business risks is on par with our

global average.

One might suppose that tempering the exuberance of an aggressive investor poses

as many challenges as assuaging the fear and anxiety that risk-averse investors feel

in down markets.

Perhaps what is most important to advisors in managing emotions is getting to

know clients more completely. More than nine in ten advisors in our survey group

said getting a complete view on client goals and risks is the most important factor

in their own business success.

Even after witnessing client reactions to a ten-year period of volatility, advisors are aware that emotion is not merely a downside variable.

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10 2015 GLOBAL SURVEY OF FINANCIAL ADVISORS

one

Hong

Kon

g

Mex

ico

Colo

mbi

a

Spai

n

US

Ger

man

y

Italy

Glo

bal

Chile

Sing

apor

eAu

stra

lia

Japa

n

UAE UK

Fran

ceAr

gent

ina

Cana

daSw

itzer

land

RISK AVERSION ACROSS COUNTRIES

Source: MIT/Natixis project, 2015; based on findings from the Natixis 2015 Global Survey of Individual Investors. The risk aversion coefficient measures investor appetite for risk. Investors with higher risk aversion are generally less willing to take risk and prefer safer investments.

1.20

1.15

1.10

1.05

1.00

0.95

0.90

0.85

0.80

Ris

k A

vers

ion

Co

effi

cien

t

ADVISORS SEE SOME LIMITATIONS WITH

AUTOMATED ADVICE

83% point to the lack of personal support during volatile times as a significant

drawback for robo-advisors

72% agree that automated advice cannot deliver

the tactical asset allocation needed, especially during down markets

SECTION ONE

Risk: an ever-present forceRisk continues to be an important part of the client conversation, with six in ten

advisors saying clients are more interested in discussing risk than in previous years.

What’s more telling are the large numbers of advisors in Germany (76%), Italy (75%)

and Spain (75%) who report clients want to discuss risk. Our survey was conducted

at the height of the Greek debt crisis, which presented unique risks for the region

and could explain the extra attention given to this issue in recent months.

The real value of adviceAt a time when it would appear that investors could benefit from more personal

advice, there are a number of measures at play globally that could have unintended

consequences for their ability to access it.

The Uniform Fiduciary Standard currently under consideration by the U.S.

Department of Labor and Retail Distribution Review (RDR) measures enacted two

years ago by the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) both strive to afford greater

protection to investors. While advisors see the regulations as something they can

take in stride, some believe these provisions may not provide the best results for

those they were intended to protect – clients.

In the U.S., advisors demonstrated mixed concerns about the regulation’s potential

impact on their practice, with about half saying it will be beneficial for advisors and

clients alike and close to the same number saying it will be good for business. But in

its efforts to redefine what constitutes a fiduciary relationship, advisors believe the

regulation could shut out smaller investors. Three-quarters (74%) of U.S. advisors say

it will limit access to professional advice, and seven in ten say it will limit investment

opportunities for individuals.

In the U.K., advisors have been operating under RDR regulations for more than a

year. Prior to implementation, there was much speculation on the impact it would

have on financial advisors in terms of ending commission payments, regulating fees

and tightening standards for what can be considered independent advice.

one

ADVISORS WHO SAY CLIENTS ARE MORE INTERESTED IN DISCUSSING

RISK OVER THE PAST YEAR

60%UAE

62%Uruguay

58%U.K.

58%Chile

55%Panama

75%Italy

69%France

60%Switzerland

61%Singapore

62%U.S.

58%Hong Kong

56%Canada

76%Germany

75%Spain

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112015 GLOBAL SURVEY OF FINANCIAL ADVISORS

one

Hong

Kon

g

Mex

ico

Colo

mbi

a

Spai

n

US

Ger

man

y

Italy

Glo

bal

Chile

Sing

apor

eAu

stra

lia

Japa

n

UAE UK

Fran

ceAr

gent

ina

Cana

daSw

itzer

land

RISK AVERSION ACROSS COUNTRIES

Source: MIT/Natixis project, 2015; based on findings from the Natixis 2015 Global Survey of Individual Investors. The risk aversion coefficient measures investor appetite for risk. Investors with higher risk aversion are generally less willing to take risk and prefer safer investments.

1.20

1.15

1.10

1.05

1.00

0.95

0.90

0.85

0.80

Ris

k A

vers

ion

Co

effi

cien

t

ADVISORS SEE SOME LIMITATIONS WITH

AUTOMATED ADVICE

83% point to the lack of personal support during volatile times as a significant

drawback for robo-advisors

72% agree that automated advice cannot deliver

the tactical asset allocation needed, especially during down markets

Fifteen months later, advisors say that RDR has had some impact on their business:

20% of U.K. advisors say they have had to end a significant number of client

relationships because of RDR, and another third report they are seeking to join a

larger network to reduce the regulatory demands on their practice.

While advisors suggest that the direct effect of new regulations on their business

has been limited, they express concern that regulations have impacted clients.

Seven in ten report the new regulations have made it more difficult to deliver advice

to clients, and 73% report that RDR has actually limited investors’ ability to seek

financial advice. Recent regulatory moves would appear to back advisor opinion, as

the FCA has introduced measures to address the unintended consequences of RDR.

Advice automation presents growing threatAlongside regulatory reforms, technological advances could disrupt established

advice models in coming years. As automated advice platforms, or “robo-advisors,”

grow market share, advisors are showing concerns about their potential impact

on business. Nearly four in ten see automated advice models as a threat to their

business success, and two-thirds of those surveyed believe that automated

solutions will make advisors work harder to demonstrate their value to clients.

The simplified and streamlined framework for delivering advice is attractive in a

market where some question the benefits of active management and the fees

charged for professional advice. Robos appeal to investors who hold these concerns

by deploying algorithms to manage allocations within a portfolio composed largely of

exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and index stocks that are offered at a lower fee.

Nonetheless, advisors recognize a key limitation of robos that differentiates their own

service offering: one-on-one human interaction. More than eight in ten advisors point

to the lack of personal support during volatile times as a significant drawback for

the robo-advisors. Recognizing that those interactions can often lead to investment

moves, advisors also believe that these automated services cannot deliver the

tactical asset allocation to help address market movements.

This personal attention cannot be overestimated. Modern markets present a

continual set of challenges that can take investors off track. Advisors, in their role as

client therapists, are well suited to talk clients though the short-term turbulence and

help them stay on track with their long-term investment goals.

While advisors suggest that the direct effect of new regulations on their businesshas been limited, they express concern that regulations have impacted clients.

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14 2015 GLOBAL SURVEY OF FINANCIAL ADVISORS

Identifying and quantifying risk is a complex process where many advisors appreciate a deeper look at portfolio performance.

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132015 GLOBAL SURVEY OF FINANCIAL ADVISORS

If advisor therapy puts clients on the path to becoming better investors, then their investment portfolio is where the rubber meets the road. But portfolio construction is no longer just a matter of picking an appropriate mix of stocks and bonds to meet clients’ goals, risk profiles and time horizons.

Continual innovation in the asset management industry has given advisors access to

new asset classes, a broader array of investment strategies and new pricing structures,

all of which have become important considerations in building client portfolios. Couple

these factors with an investment environment in which market action half a world

away can drive losses at home and advisors know something has to change.

Advisors question traditional investment models and measuresFor many, it starts with the basic notion of what investments belong in client

portfolios. More than three-quarters of advisors say a traditional stock and bond

portfolio may no longer be enough to meet return goals and balance risk. This

represents a 27% increase over our 2014 survey.3

As they look to find the right solution, advisors are discovering that the fundamental

measures of diversification that have been in place for decades are not helping

to address these concerns. Nearly seven in ten advisors say traditional style box

analysis is no longer enough to ensure adequate diversification. Another 63%

say advisors need to replace traditional portfolio construction and diversification

techniques to achieve results – a 13% increase over our 2014 findings.

SECTION TWO

Investment Pragmatist

section three

section two

section one

50%

77%

two

SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE

Advisors who say a traditional stock and bond portfolio is no longer the best way

to pursue return and manage risk

49%

2013 2014 2015

50%

77%

SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE

Advisors who say a traditional stock and bond portfolio is no longer the best way

to pursue return and manage risk

49%

2013 2014 2015

3 Natixis Global Asset Management, Global Survey of Financial Advisors conducted by CoreData Research, September 2014. Survey included 1,800 financial advisors in 10 countries.

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14 2015 GLOBAL SURVEY OF FINANCIAL ADVISORS

SECTION TWO

Risk analysis gaining favorWhere returns-based analysis has long been a key consideration in portfolio

construction, risk also plays a prominent role. Nine in ten advisors globally say that

risk analysis plays an important role in their investment selection. It is interesting to

note that in Hong Kong, where we have found the highest risk tolerances globally,

slightly more advisors (93%) report applying risk analysis to the process. Given the

state of markets around the world and the ever-growing set of risks to be considered,

this kind of analysis can be a formidable challenge.

While 87% of advisors say they have an accurate understanding of the risk in

client portfolios, extensive analysis on advisor model portfolios conducted by our

Portfolio Research and Consulting Group has found that identifying and quantifying

risk can be a complex process where many advisors appreciate a deeper look at

portfolio performance.

After analyzing thousands of advisor models globally, the Portfolio Research

and Consulting Group has found that advisors can find it difficult to accurately

measure without the right tools. There is no one measure or one point in time

that accurately measures portfolio risk. Along with standard deviation, advisors

could consider value at risk, max drawdown or beta-to-benchmark as risk measures.

Which approach is right depends on what advisors are looking for.

Advisors exploring the alternativesOne area where the industry has looked to enhance risk management has been

the use of alternative investments. About seven in ten advisors say they implement

these alternatives in client portfolios, most frequently for those clients with $1 million

to $4.9 million in investable assets.

Those strategies that are outside the traditional realm of long-only equity and

fixed-income may offer better diversification potential and the potential for enhanced

risk-adjusted returns. Yet, they may also present an added level of complexity to

explain to clients who have been unnerved by the performance of traditional assets.

Compounding the problem are the misconceptions that clients hold about these

strategies. Our own research shows many clients believe alternatives are riskier,

have higher fees and are not available to individual investors.

Advisors recognize the communications challenge this presents. A majority of

advisors (64%) say clients have little or no understanding of alternative investments,

and fewer than four in ten believe clients understand non-correlated asset classes.

While 92% of advisors report they understand the role of non-correlated asset

classes in a portfolio, more than a third also say they need to learn more about

alternatives before implementing them in client portfolios.

We have also found that – without saying it directly – investors are stating the need

for implementing alternatives: 76% say they are looking for better diversification,

80% say they are seeking ways of better managing the balance between risk and

return, and 76% say they want strategies that can help insulate them from volatility.4

Educating clients on alternatives and their place in portfolio construction will be a

critical mission for advisors as they look to address client risk concerns.

INVESTOR PORTFOLIO CONCERNS LEAD TO A DISCUSSION OF

ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS

say they are looking for better diversification

say they are seeking ways of better managing

the balance between risk and return

say they want strategies that can help insulate them from volatility

4 Natixis Global Asset Management, Global Survey of Individual Investors conducted by CoreData Research, February 2015. Survey included 7,000 investors from 17 countries.

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15 2015 GLOBAL SURVEY OF FINANCIAL ADVISORS

Active vs. passiveGiven the prolonged bull market run between 2011 and 2015, passive investments

such as index funds and ETFs have become attractive choices for many investors

based on their ability to deliver benchmark returns at a low cost. Add to this the

problems some active managers have had in outperforming on the upside and there

is plenty of fodder to fuel a heated debate on which is the right way to invest.

Our survey results indicate that from the advisor’s view, both passive and active

approaches play a specific role within client portfolios. Globally, advisors report their

portfolios are composed of 65% active investments and 35% passive. Among the

countries included in our study, we find only one outlier – Spain. Here advisors

report a mix of 54% active and 46% passive.

Globally, advisors say they implement passive investments because they provide

simplified access to efficient asset classes (59%) and present clients with a lower-

fee investment option (58%). Client preferences also factor into the equation for 34%

of respondents, with larger numbers in Germany (48%), the U.K. (48%) and Hong

Kong (45%). Regardless of why advisors implement passive investments, they have

a clear opinion on their role and the role of active investments in client portfolios.

Portfolio rolesOut of the seven factors we tested for, passive investments outrank active strategies

in only one category: fees. When it comes to generating alpha and taking advantage of

short-term market movements, advisors believe active investments are the stronger

choice. Recognizing that passive strategies can expose investors to both the upside

and the downside of market returns, advisors also give the edge to active strategies

for generating risk-adjusted returns. Active also gets the nod for providing access to

non-correlated asset classes and emerging markets and for generating a stable income.

In the role of investment pragmatist, advisors will continue to focus on client

investment needs but will consider which strategies will be most effective in helping

clients to meet their goals across a wider range of variables.

two

THE ACTIVE ADVANTAGE

Advisors say they would choose active investments when looking to achieve the majority of the following benefits.

ActiveBenefit Passive

THE AVERAGE MIX

Active and passive investments used in client portfolios

35%Passive

65%Active

Generating stable income

Minimizing fees

Taking advantage of short-term market movements

Exposure to non-correlated asset classes

Generating alpha

Accessing emerging market opportunities

Providing risk-adjusted returns

two

THE ACTIVE ADVANTAGE

Advisors say they would choose active investments when looking to achieve the majority of the following benefits.

ActiveBenefit Passive

THE AVERAGE MIX

Active and passive investments used in client portfolios

35%Passive

65%Active

Generating stable income

Minimizing fees

Taking advantage of short-term market movements

Exposure to non-correlated asset classes

Generating alpha

Accessing emerging market opportunities

Providing risk-adjusted returns

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16 2015 GLOBAL SURVEY OF FINANCIAL ADVISORS

A wave of powerful demographic change is under way, creating two large pools of clients and prospects with two very different sets of goals, objectives and preferences for managing their investments. One is Baby Boomers, who are transitioning from building wealth to generating retirement income. The other is tech-savvy Millennials, who may be more willing to trust algorithmic investment models than face-to-face interactions with an advisor. Each group presents advisors with opportunities to tailor their service models.

At an average age of 46, the advisors we surveyed find themselves directly in the

middle of these two powerful demographic forces. But it would appear that advisors

are not yet ready to focus their offerings on the needs of these two very different

generations. Six in ten say they do not believe they need specialized niche or

segment strategies to focus on Millennials, women or entrepreneurs.

From building wealth to spending itClients from the Baby Boom generation (born between 1946 and 1964) have been

the backbone of growth for advisors and the financial industry worldwide for a long

time. As their goals shift from building wealth to generating stable income, advisors

will need to adapt to new investment concerns and implement new portfolio

strategies. As much as things change for retiring clients, advisors see that a lack of

fundamental financial planning will continue to dog these investors.

SECTION THREE

Marketing Strategist

As Baby Boomers’ goals shift from building wealth to generating stable income, advisors will need to adapt to new investment concerns and implement new portfolio strategies.

section three

section two

section one

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172015 GLOBAL SURVEY OF FINANCIAL ADVISORS

In building retirement income portfolios, advisors see their greatest challenge in generating income above and beyond their clients’ most basic needs.

According to financial advisors, the overall lack of planning identified in our investor

survey carries through from saving for retirement to living in retirement. When asked,

only 13% of advisors said their clients understand retirement savings goals very well.

Similarly, only 12% of advisors believe clients understand their retirement income

goals very well and 16% of advisors believe their clients understand their retirement

lifestyle goals very well. This planning gap leaves many investors to operate under

rough estimates of what they will need as replacement income in retirement.

Client estimates come up shortOur investor survey showed clients expect they will need to replace 63% of

their current income, despite the fact that experts most frequently cite a figure

of 75%–80% as more realistic.5 Consider the impact of that difference for an

individual making $100,000 per year. That miscalculation of $17,000 per year

translates into a $500,000 shortfall in retirement funding. Here is where assuming

the role of income expert can be expected to help advisors better service this

still-influential client base.

Income generates new portfolio concernsIncome portfolios require a different approach from what may have been in place

for a client’s accumulation phase. Drawdowns are the single biggest factor in

determining how long client assets will last in retirement. It is important to remember

that the rate at which funds are spent down has a ripple effect on decisions about

risk management, return generation and which sources of income are tapped when.

In building retirement income portfolios, advisors see their greatest challenge in

generating income above and beyond their clients’ most basic needs. A lack of

definition in client lifestyle goals can only compound this problem. Generating stable

income is the next highest ranked concern, as fickle markets challenge advisors’

ability to deliver income streams that are critical to retirees. The next set of concerns

is focused not on producing income but on generating returns that beat inflation,

followed by minimizing risk and generating returns simultaneously.

three

ADVISORS IDENTIFY THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES TO BUILDING RETIREMENT INCOME PORTFOLIOS

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40%35% 32% 29%

5 Natixis Global Asset Management, Global Survey of Individual Investors conducted by CoreData Research, February 2015. Survey included 7,000 investors from 17 countries.

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SECTION THREE

18 2015 GLOBAL SURVEY OF FINANCIAL ADVISORS

An institutional look at income neededThe answers to retirement income challenges here may be to look at retirement

income from a more institutional perspective. Liability-Driven Investing (LDI) has

been a critical strategy within the pension world for years. In essence, LDI looks to

establish the long-term liabilities facing the organization – the payouts it will need

to make to pensioners over time – and then invest in a way that shores up its ability

to meet those obligations. Advisors looking to serve a retiree base may want to

adopt this approach, not just in portfolio construction, but in helping clients to better

understand their income needs from a financial planning perspective.

Our recent Retirement Income Survey of U.S. Advisors illustrates the need to adapt

practices to meet the needs of an aging client base as it enters retirement. The 400

U.S.-based advisors we spoke with in this survey reported that more than two-thirds

of their clients are over age 50. This aging client base already has advisors in the

U.S. thinking of strategies similar to LDI, with half of those surveyed deploying the

strategy of laddered bond portfolios that spread durations to ensure a continual

income stream over time.6

The echo boom offers new opportunityWhether they are called Gen Y, Millennials or the Echo Boom, the (2.5 billion globally)

children of Baby Boomers born between 1980 and 2000 represent a significant

growth opportunity for advisory practices. While it is tempting to think of these as

younger investors fresh out of school and just getting started, the oldest Millennials

turn 35 this year. Getting it right with a new generation of investors is a critical

success factor for advisors.

More than three-quarters of advisors say they believe the transfer of wealth to

younger generations is their greatest growth opportunity. In addition, 63% of

advisors believe attracting investors under 35 is an important part of their growth

plans. Securing the business of Millennials will depend on understanding their unique

needs, which may run counter to what advisors have grown accustomed to in

servicing older, more experienced clients.

Risk-on for younger investorsMillennial investors demonstrate an appetite for risk, with 69% saying they are

willing to take more risk now than one year ago. Comparatively, 51% of investors

overall agree with that statement. Advisors may want to watch risk tolerances

carefully, however, as 75% of Millennials say they would change their allocations if

the market declined 10%–20% and 78% would do the same if markets increased by

10%–20%. This compares to just 52% of Baby Boomer investors who would make

allocation changes in either scenario.7

Our findings in the area of Millennial investor sentiment run counter to some

recent studies of this demographic group that suggest they are highly conservative

investors. Our survey concentrates on active investors with $200,000 in investable

assets or more.7 Perhaps we are seeing that, as investors gain assets, they are

becoming more comfortable with investing and the vagaries of the market and are

therefore more willing to participate.

6 Natixis Global Asset Management Retirement Income Survey conducted by CoreData Research, December 2014. Survey included 400 financial advisors in the U.S.7 Natixis Global Asset Management, Global Survey of Individual Investors conducted by CoreData Research, February 2015. Survey included 7,000 investors from 17 countries. Of the 7,000, 2,247 are Millennials and 1,968 are Baby Boomers.

three

12% understand retirement income

goals very well

13% understand retirement savings

goals very well

16% understand retirement lifestyle

goals very well

INVESTORS ARE UNCLEAR ON RETIREMENT GOALS

Advisors say few clients have a solid understanding of key goals

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192015 GLOBAL SURVEY OF FINANCIAL ADVISORS

Open to alternativesMillennials also tell us they are more comfortable with new investment approaches.

Seven in ten say traditional stock and bond portfolios are no longer enough to manage

risk and pursue returns, which is on par with our broader investor base. Six in ten (61%)

of the Millennials we spoke with say they invest in alternatives, significantly higher than

the 35% of Baby Boomers and the 50% of overall investors who say they do.7

It is safe to assume that portfolios constructed for Millennial clients will look a lot

different from those constructed for their parents. Advisors may want to consider new

allocation models that incorporate a broader set of asset classes in Millennial portfolios.

Ready for personal adviceIt is widely understood that Millennials are tech-savvy children of the Internet age who

are comfortable using an app to run virtually any part of their life. Financial services

industry pundits often point to this tendency to illustrate the potentially disruptive force

of robo-advisors. But these one-size-fits-all solutions may not be enough.

We know that 84% of Millennials say it’s important to get professional advice when

making financial decisions and another 77% say professional advice is necessary to

manage investments and meet retirement goals. While many Millennials may find

automated advice to be a simple solution, other Millennials are just now coming of

age. The oldest wave of the generation has been in the workforce for ten years.

They’re getting married and starting families. Their financial lives are beginning to get

more complicated, and this is likely to increase their need for personal advice from a

skilled professional who can address their specific planning needs. That may be the

real opportunity with this generation.

three

69% 51% 61% 35% 50%

Source: 2015 Global Survey of Individual Investors

75% 52% 78% 52%

say they are willing to take more risk

say they invest in alternatives

say they would change their allocations if the market declined 10-20%

say they would change their allocations if the market increased 10-20%

A NEW GENERATION WITH NEW PREFERENCES

Millennials age 18–33

Baby Boomersage 50–68

Investorsoverall

It is safe to assume that portfolios constructed for Millennial clients will look a lot different from those constructed for their parents.

7 Natixis Global Asset Management, Global Survey of Individual Investors conducted by CoreData Research, February 2015. Survey included 7,000 investors from 17 countries. Of the 7,000, 2,247 are Millennials and 1,968 are Baby Boomers.

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Navigating the change under way in the market is a challenge to which advisors are well suited.

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Change is ever-present in the financial markets and the lives of financial advisors. Even as they adapt to new opportunities by assuming wide and varied roles beyond portfolio construction, the investment acumen of advisors will continue to be put to the test as they look to manage portfolios that can help clients achieve long-term investment goals.

The challenges here are many: volatility continues to spike globally in response to

events like the Greek crisis and the Chinese market meltdown. Interest rates remain

at historic lows, and movements in one country’s economy have the potential to spur

a response half a world away. Advisors must be prepared to adapt their investment

strategies to this dynamic environment.

New strategies for fixed-incomePotential action on interest rate increases in the U.S. and other markets is prompting

advisors to plan out an equal reaction for positioning client portfolios. Those we

spoke with are considering a range of strategies in advance of any rate movements.

212015 GLOBAL SURVEY OF FINANCIAL ADVISORS

CONCLUSION

Getting down to business

Whatever their plans, advisors will continue to be tested in their ability to deliver on multiple fronts.

conclusion

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22 2015 GLOBAL SURVEY OF FINANCIAL ADVISORS

CONCLUSION

Six in ten plan to shorten durations in client bond portfolios, while almost half plan to

reduce bond holdings altogether. In response, the same number of advisors (46%)

plan to increase stock allocations, although given the turmoil that has sprung up in

markets since we fielded our survey in June, fewer may take action in this direction.

Fewer advisors (37%) say they will increase allocations to alternatives in response to an

increase in interest rates. That number could increase as advisors look to mitigate equity

risk in portfolios. Still, a fairly large number of advisors – 38% – say they will do nothing.

Beyond allocationWhatever their plans, advisors will continue to be tested in their ability to deliver on

multiple fronts.

As Client Therapists, they will need to lead clients through periods of uncertainty

such as the recent shock waves from China that have been felt in markets around

the world. It starts by getting clients focused on their goals and returning to their

financial plan – these are the touchstones advisors can use to talk clients through

difficult times.

As Investment Pragmatists, advisors will need to reconsider how they construct

client portfolios. They will need to look at portfolios with a closer eye toward risk

and look at how they can deliver the right level of performance for clients while also

managing costs. Liquid alternatives and other alternative investments are beginning

to make non-correlated strategies more accessible, and advisors will want to

consider their role in client portfolios.

As Marketing Strategists, advisors will need to consider how to best tailor the

servicing offering which has driven their success to date to meet the rapidly

changing needs of clients young and old.

Navigating the change under way in the market is a challenge to which advisors are well

suited. Perhaps the best advice for advisors is that which they offer to clients: focus

on goals for business growth, establish a plan for achieving success and continually

measure the opportunity at hand against what you are trying to achieve in the long term.conclusion

ADVISOR MOVES IN RESPONSE TO RISING RATES

60% plan to shorten

durations in client bond portfolios 37%

say they will increase allocations to alternatives

46% plan to increase stock allocations

46% plan to reduce bond holdings

38% say they will do nothing

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232015 GLOBAL SURVEY OF FINANCIAL ADVISORS

Toward more durable portfoliosIn markets across the globe we have seen investors of all types challenged to meet

the competing priorities of generating returns through short-term market cycles and

funding long-term financial liabilities. In our view, meeting these modern market

challenges demands a more consistent investment framework.

We believe Durable Portfolio Construction® can make a difference to individuals,

advisors and institutions as they look to build portfolios that can help address

risk concerns while also pursuing long-term asset growth. Our tenets for Durable

Portfolio Construction include:

Put risk first – Risk profiles for some indexes have been relatively stable in recent

years, while returns have been widely varied. Targeting a consistent range of risk,

rather than a potential range of returns, may lead to more predictable results.

Maximize diversification – Considering the broadest possible range of asset

classes and investment strategies such as long and short exposures to equities,

fixed-income and commodities is one way to manage portfolio volatility.

Use alternatives – Alternative investments may help lower correlations, temper

volatility and offer new sources of return.

Make smarter use of traditional asset classes – Applying new, efficient ways

to capitalize on the long-term return potential of stocks and bonds can potentially

enhance long-term returns or reduce short-term risks.

Be consistent – Following a consistent investment philosophy is a critical first step

to ensuring portfolio durability, but equally important is establishing a consistent,

personal measure of investment performance to guide decisions and gauge progress.

conclusion

Put risk first Maximize diversification

Be consistentMake smarter use of traditional asset classes

Use alternative investments

FIVE TENETS OF DURABLE PORTFOLIO CONSTRUCTION®

232015 GLOBAL SURVEY OF FINANCIAL ADVISORS

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24 2015 GLOBAL SURVEY OF FINANCIAL ADVISORS

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

About the Durable Portfolio Construction Research Center

Investing can be complicated: Event risk is greater and more frequent. Volatility is

persistent despite market gains. And investment products are more complex. These

factors and others weigh on the psyche of investors and shape their attitudes and

perceptions, which ultimately influence their investment decisions. Through the

Durable Portfolio Construction Research Center, Natixis Global Asset Management

conducts research with investors around the globe to gain an understanding of their

feelings about risk, their attitudes toward the markets, and their perceptions of investing.

Research agenda

Our annual research program offers insights into the perceptions and motivations of

individuals, institutions and financial advisors around the globe and looks at financial,

economic and public policy factors that shape retirement globally with:

• Global Survey of Individual Investors – reaches out to 7,000 investors

in 17 countries.

• Global Survey of Financial Advisors – reaches out to 2,400 advisors,

consultants and decision-makers in 14 countries.

• Global Survey of Institutional Investors – reaches out to more than 600

investors, consultants and decision-makers in 27 countries.

• Natixis Global Retirement Index – provides insight into the environment for

retirees in 150 countries based on 20 economic, regulatory and health factors.

The end result is a comprehensive look into the minds of investors – and the

challenges they face as they pursue long-term investment goals.

2014 INVESTOR INSIGHT SERIES

NOT FDIC INSURED • MAY LOSE VALUE • NO BANK GUARANTEE

This communication is for information only. Analyses of the survey referenced herein are as of September 2014. There can be no assurance that developments will transpire as may be forecasted in this material. This material may not be distrib-uted, published, or reproduced, in whole or in part. Although Natixis Global Asset Management believes the information provided in this material to be reliable, it does not guarantee the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of such information. In the EU (ex UK)Distributed by NGAM S.A., a Luxembourg management company authorized by the CSSF, or one of its branch offices. NGAM S.A., 2 rue Jean Monnet, L-2180 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. In SwitzerlandProvided to Qualified Investors by NGAM, Switzerland Sàrl. In the UKApproved for use by NGAM UK Limited, authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. In the DIFCDistributed in and from the DIFC financial district to Professional Clients only by NGAM Middle East, a branch of NGAM UK Limited, which is regulated by the DFSA. Registered office: Office 603 - Level 6, Currency House Tower 2, PO Box 118257, DIFC, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. In SingaporeProvided by NGAM Singapore (name registration no. 5310272FD), a division of Absolute Asia Asset Management Limited, to Institutional Investors and Accredited Investors for information only. Absolute Asia Asset Management Limited is au-thorized by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (Company registration No. 199801044D) and holds a Capital Markets Services License to provide investment management services in Singapore. Address of NGAM Singapore: 10 Collyer Quay, #14- 07/08 Ocean Financial Centre, Singapore 049315. In TaiwanThis material is provided by NGAM Securities Investment Consulting (Taipei) Co., Ltd., a Securities Investment Consulting Enterprise, regulated by the Taiwan Financial Supervisory Commission. Registered address: 16F-1, No. 76, Section 2, Tun Hwa South Road, Taipei, Taiwan, Da-An District, 106 (Ruentex Financial Building I), R.O.C., license number 2012 FSC SICE No. 039, Tel. +886 2 2784 5777. In JapanProvided by Natixis Asset Management Japan Co., Registration No.: Director-General of the Kanto Local Financial Bureau (kinsho) No. 425. Content of Business: The Company conducts discretionary asset management business and investment advisory and agency business as a Financial Instruments Business Operator. Registered address: 2-2-3 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda- ku, Tokyo. In Hong KongThis document is issued by NGAM Hong Kong Limited and is provided solely for general information only and does not constitute a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell any financial products or services. Certain information included in this material is based on information obtained from other sources considered reliable. However, NGAM Hong Kong Limited does not guarantee the accuracy of such information.

In Latin America This material is provided by NGAM S.A.

The above referenced entities are business development units of Natixis Global Asset Management, the holding company of a diverse line-up of specialized investment management and distribution entities worldwide. The investment manage-ment subsidiaries of Natixis Global Asset Management conduct any regulated activities only in and from the jurisdictions in which they are licensed or authorized. Their services and the products they manage are not available to all investors in all jurisdictions.

In MexicoThis material is provided by NGAM Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V., which is not a regulated financial entity or an investment advisor and is not regulated by the Comisión Nacional Bancaria y de Valores or any other Mexican authority. Registered address: NGAM México, S. de R.L. de C.V., Torre Magenta, Piso 17, Paseo de la Reforma 284, Colonia Juárez 06600, México D.F., México. This material should not be considered investment advice of any type and does not represent the performance of any regulated financial activities. Any products, services or investments referred to herein are rendered or offered in a jurisdiction other than Mexico. In order to request the products or services mentioned in these materials it will be necessary to contact Natixis Global Asset Management outside Mexican territory. NGAM Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V. is a business development unit of Natixis Global Asset Management, a subsidiary of Natixis that is the holding company of a diverse line-up of specialized investment management and distribution entities worldwide.

In CanadaNGAM Distribution, L.P. (“NGAM Distribution”), with its principal office located in Boston, MA, is not registered in Canada and any dealings with prospective clients or clients in Canada are in reliance upon an exemption from the dealer registration requirement in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. There may be difficulty enforcing legal rights against NGAM Distribution because it is resident outside of Canada and all or substantially all of its assets may be situated outside of Canada. The agent for service of process in Alberta is Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (Jonathan Doll), located at Centennial Place, East Tower, 1900, 520 - 3rd Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta T2P 0R3. The agent for service of process in British Columbia is Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (Jason Brooks), located at 1200 Waterfront Centre, 200 Burrard Street, P.O. Box 48600, Vancouver, BC V7X 1T2. The agent for service of process in Ontario is Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (John E. Hall), located at Scotia Plaza, 40 King St. W, Toronto, ON M5H 3Y4. The agent for service of process in Quebec is Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (Christian Faribault), located at 1000 de La Gauchetiere St. W, Suite 900, Montreal, QC H3B 5H4.

In the United StatesFurnished by NGAM Distribution, L.P., 399 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116.

Natixis Global Asset Management consists of Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A., NGAM Distribution, L.P., NGAM Advisors, L.P., NGAM S.A., and NGAM S.A.’s business development units across the globe, each of which is an affiliate of Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A. The affiliated investment managers and distribution companies are each an affiliate of Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A.

ngam.natixis.com This material should not be considered investment advice nor a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell any product or service to any person in any jurisdiction where such activity would be unlawful. Copyright © 2014 NGAM Advisors, L.P. – All rights reserved.

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UNDER PRESSUREFacing up to the challenge of balancing short-term performance needs with long-term liabilities

2015 GLOBAL SURVEY OF FINANCIAL ADVISORS

BEYOND ALLOCATIONChanging roles for financial advisorsand their value to clients

2015 GLOBAL SURVEY OF INDIVIDUAL INVESTORS

CLOSE ENOUGHISN’T GOOD ENOUGHInvestor expectations and the need for concrete financial plans

2015GLOBAL RETIREMENT INDEXAn in-depth assessment of welfare in retirement around the world

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About the surveys referenced in this paper

2015 Global Survey of Individual Investors – Natixis Global Asset Management

commissioned CoreData Research to conduct a global study of individual investors,

with the goal of understanding their views on the markets, investing and measuring

their progress toward financial goals.

Data was gathered throughout January and February 2015. The study included

7,000 investors in 17 countries.

2014 Global Survey of Financial Advisors – Natixis Global Asset Management

commissioned CoreData Research to conduct an international study of financial

advisors, with the aim of better understanding the contemporary attitudes and needs

of this key collective of individuals to the financial services industry.

Data was gathered over a five-week period spanning June and July 2014. The survey

was delivered through an online quantitative survey of approximately 40 questions.

Globally, the study involved 1,800 financial advisors in ten countries and across four

continents.

2014 Retirement Income Survey – Natixis Global Asset Management commissioned

CoreData Research to conduct a study of U.S. financial advisors, with the aim of

understanding their thoughts and needs around retirement income planning.

Data was gathered in December 2014, and included 400 U.S. advisors.

Helping to build more durable portfolios

Natixis Global Asset Management is committed to helping advisors build better

portfolios that stand up to the challenges of modern markets. To learn more about

our Durable Portfolio Construction® philosophy, visit

durableportfolios.com.

Glossary of terms

Standard Deviation: uses historical

returns (i.e. monthly) and measures the

total risk of an investment or market.

Standard deviation accounts for both

market risk and specific risk by measuring

the variation of dispersion of returns over

time. The higher the standard deviation,

the more volatility (risk) experienced.

Value at Risk: calculation that uses

historical returns (i.e. monthly) in order to

derive an estimated confidence level for

future losses. The calculation assumes

either a 95% or 99% confidence interval.

The VaR metric can be interpreted as

“a 10% VaR at 95% confidence indicates

the performance should not experience

losses in excess of 10% in 95% of months.”

Maximum Drawdown: uses historical

returns (i.e. monthly) to calculate the worst

period of “peak to valley” performance for

the return series, regardless of whether or

not the drawdown consisted of consecutive

months of negative performance.

Beta-to-benchmark: uses historical returns

(i.e. monthly) to measure an investment’s

volatility in relation to a benchmark where the

benchmark Beta equals one. A Beta greater

than one indicates that the investment has

historically been more riskier (more volatile)

than the benchmark. Beta only considers

systematic risk in relation to the benchmark

and does not account for risk specific to the

investment.

252015 GLOBAL SURVEY OF FINANCIAL ADVISORS

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NOT FDIC INSURED • MAY LOSE VALUE • NO BANK GUARANTEE

This communication is for information only. Analyses of the survey referenced herein are as of September 29, 2015. There can be no assurance that developments will transpire as may be forecasted in this material. This material may not be redistributed, published, or reproduced, in whole or in part. In the EU (ex UK): This material is provided by NGAM S.A. or one of its branch offices listed below. NGAM S.A. is a Luxembourg management company that is authorized by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier and is incorporated under Luxembourg laws and registered under n. B 115843. Registered office of NGAM S.A.: 2, rue Jean Monnet, L-2180 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. France: NGAM Distribution (n.509 471 173 RCS Paris). Registered office: 21 quai d’Austerlitz, 75013 Paris. Italy: NGAM S.A., Succursale Italiana (Bank of Italy Register of Italian Asset Management Companies no 23458.3). Registered office: Via Larga, 2 - 20122, Milan, Italy. Germany: NGAM S.A., Zweigniederlassung Deutschland (Registration number: HRB 88541). Registered office: Im Trutz Frankfurt 55, Westend Carrée, 7. Floor, Frankfurt am Main 60322, Germany. Netherlands: NGAM, Nederlands filiaal (Registration number 50774670). Registered office: World Trade Center Amsterdam, Strawinskylaan 1259, D-Tower, Floor 12, 1077 XX Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Sweden: NGAM, Nordics Filial (Registration number 516405-9601 - Swedish Companies Registration Office). Registered office: Kungsgatan 48 5tr, Stockholm 111 35, Sweden. Spain: NGAM, Sucursal en España. Registered office: Torre Colon II - Plaza Colon, 2 - 28046 Madrid, Spain. In Switzerland: Provided to Qualified Investors by NGAM, Switzerland Sàrl. Registered office: Rue du Vieux Collège 10, 1204 Geneva, Switzerland. In the UK: Approved for use by NGAM UK Limited, authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (register no. 190258). Registered Office: NGAM UK Limited, Cannon Bridge House, 25 Dowgate Hill, London, EC4R 2YA. In the DIFC: Distributed in and from the DIFC financial district to Professional Clients only by NGAM Middle East, a branch of NGAM UK Limited, which is regulated by the DFSA. Related financial products or services are only available to persons who have sufficient financial experience and understanding to participate in financial markets within the DIFC, and qualify as Professional Clients as defined by the DFSA. Registered office: Office 603 - Level 6, Currency House Tower 2, PO Box 118257, DIFC, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. In Singapore: Provided by NGAM Singapore (name registration no. 5310272FD), a division of Natixis Asset Management Asia Limited, formerly known as Absolute Asia Asset Management Limited, to Institutional Investors and Accredited Investors for information only. Natixis Asset Management Asia Limited is authorized by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (Company registration No.199801044D) and holds a Capital Markets Services License to provide investment management services in Singapore. Address of NGAM Singapore: 10 Collyer Quay, #14-07/08 Ocean Financial Centre. Singapore 049315. In Taiwan: This material is provided by NGAM Securities Investment Consulting Co., Ltd., a Securities Investment Consulting Enterprise regulated by the Financial Supervisory Commission of the R.O.C and a business development unit of Natixis Global Asset Management. Registered address: 16F-1, No. 76, Section 2, Tun Hwa South Road, Taipei, Taiwan, Da-An District, 106 (Ruentex Financial Building I), R.O.C., license number 2012 FSC SICE No. 039, Tel. +886 2 2784 5777. In Japan: Provided by Natixis Asset Management Japan Co., Registration No.: Director-General of the Kanto Local Financial Bureau (kinsho) No. 425. Content of Business: The Company conducts discretionary asset management business and investment advisory and agency business as a Financial Instruments Business Operator. Registered address: 2-2-3 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo.

In Hong Kong: This document is issued by NGAM Hong Kong Limited and is provided solely for general information only and does not constitute a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell any financial products or services. Certain information included in this material is based on information obtained from other sources considered reliable. However, NGAM Hong Kong Limited does not guarantee the accuracy of such information. Please note that the content of the above website has not been reviewed or approved by the HK SFC. It may contain information about funds that are not authorized by the SFC.

1289852.1.3

WP112-0815

In Australia: This document is issued by NGAM Australia Limited (“NGAM AUST”) (ABN 60 088 786 289) (AFSL No. 246830) and is intended for the general information of financial advisers and wholesale clients only and does not constitute any offer or solicitation to buy or sell securities and no investment advice or recommendation. Investment involves risks. This document may not be reproduced, distributed or published, in whole or in part, without the prior approval of NGAM AUST. Information herein is based on sources NGAM AUST believes to be accurate and reliable as at the date it was made. NGAM AUST reserves the right to revise any information herein at any time without notice. In Latin America (outside Mexico and Uruguay): This material is provided by NGAM S.A. In Mexico: This material is provided by NGAM Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V., which is not a regulated financial entity or an investment advisor and is not regulated by the Comisión Nacional Bancaria y de Valores or any other Mexican authority. This material should not be considered an offer of securities or investment advice of any type and does not represent the performance of any regulated financial activities. Any products, services or investments referred to herein are rendered or offered in a jurisdiction other than Mexico. In order to request the products or services mentioned in these materials it will be necessary to contact Natixis Global Asset Management outside Mexican territory. In Uruguay: This material is provided by NGAM Uruguay S.A. NGAM Uruguay S.A. is a duly registered investment advisor, authorised and supervised by the Central Bank of Uruguay (“CBU”). Please find the registration communication issued by the CBU at www.bcu.gub.uy. Registered office: WTC – Luis Alberto de Herrera 1248, Torre 3, Piso 4, Oficina 474, Montevideo, Uruguay, CP 11300. In Canada: NGAM Distribution, L.P. (“NGAM Distribution”), with its principal office located in Boston, MA, is not registered in Canada and any dealings with prospective clients or clients in Canada are in reliance upon an exemption from the dealer registration requirement in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. There may be difficulty enforcing legal rights against NGAM Distribution because it is resident outside of Canada and all or substantially all of its assets may be situated outside of Canada. The agent for service of process in Alberta is Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (Jonathan Doll), located at Centennial Place, East Tower, 1900, 520 - 3rd Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta T2P 0R3. The agent for service of process in British Columbia is Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (Jason Brooks), located at 1200 Waterfront Centre, 200 Burrard Street, P.O. Box 48600, Vancouver, BC V7X 1T2. The agent for service of process in Ontario is Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (John E. Hall), located at Scotia Plaza, 40 King St. W, Toronto, ON M5H 3Y4. The agent for service of process in Quebec is Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (Christian Faribault), located at 1000 de La Gauchetiere St. W, Suite 900, Montreal, QC H3B 5H4.

The above referenced entities are business development units of Natixis Global Asset Management S.A., the holding company of a diverse line-up of specialized investment management and distribution entities worldwide. The investment management subsidiaries of Natixis Global Asset Management conduct any regulated activities only in and from the jurisdictions in which they are licensed or authorized. Their services and the products they manage are not available to all investors in all jurisdictions.

In the United States: Furnished by NGAM Distribution, L.P., 399 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116.

Natixis Global Asset Management consists of Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A., NGAM Distribution, L.P., NGAM Advisors, L.P., NGAM S.A., and NGAM S.A.’s business development units across the globe, each of which is an affiliate of Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A. The affiliated investment managers and distribution companies are each an affiliate of Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A.

ngam.natixis.com The provision of this material and/or reference to specific securities, sectors, or markets within this material does not constitute investment advice, or a recommendation or an offer to buy or to sell any security, or an offer of services. Copyright © 2015 NGAM Distribution , L.P. – All rights reserved.