Investment managers are facing increasing costs, reduced margins, and heightened expectations from clients and regulators, leading many firms to reassess their operating models and consolidate vendor relationships. This industry shift favors unified solutions that integrate technology and services into a single, agile operating ecosystem. Historically, firms used multiple providers for front-, middle-, and back-office functions, which led to complexity and integration challenges.
Research from KPMG indicates that companies increasingly view managed service providers as strategic partners rather than just task handlers. Boston Consulting Group also reports that asset and wealth managers are accelerating platform modernization to manage costs and scalability. Emmy Bernard, President of STP Investment Services, stated, “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.”
Bernard added, “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 (STP), a provider of technology-enabled investment operations outsourcing, developed its Managed Services Platform to meet this market need.
STP’s open-architecture model aims to provide a unified, scalable partnership, supporting clients through platform migrations, operational transitions, and ongoing optimization. The platform delivers three layers of partnership: Integration, which connects with clients’ preferred systems to unify data, workflows, and oversight; Transition Support, which maintains operational continuity during platform migrations and minimizes dual-run risk; and Operational Partnership, which provides long-term managed services designed to evolve with client needs.
This model offers firms the flexibility to modernize platforms or consolidate systems without disrupting daily operations. For instance, when a firm migrates technology platforms, STP’s cross-system teams ensure consistent operational structure and service quality. This approach aims to deliver seamless continuity, reduced risk, and faster realization of efficiency gains.
Bernard emphasized, “This is exactly what the industry is doing, modernizing platforms, consolidating vendors, and reducing tech fragmentation. Behind all of it is the need for an agile operations partner that can adapt to any system and keep the client experience seamless.”
The broader trends of “Wealth as a Service” and rising advisor “tech fatigue” reinforce this demand, as firms seek turnkey operations, technology, and service from a single provider to focus on growth. STP’s model offers a single, accountable partner capable of integrating, operating, and optimizing across leading systems.
Bernard concluded, “You’re migrating platforms, we’re migrating operations. At the end of the day, you want your clients to feel one seamless experience. With STP, you get platform choice and an operations partner that doesn’t change when your tech does.”
STP Investment Services is a technology-enabled services company offering middle-, back-office, and compliance solutions to various financial entities, including investment managers, hedge and private equity funds, family offices, wealth managers, and asset owners. With its end-to-end investment operations, Blueprint technology, and expertise, STP aims to enable clients to grow revenue, optimize processes, improve productivity, and protect their businesses. STP processes all asset classes and caters to evolving business and regulatory requirements. The company has over 250 employees globally and services clients representing more than $500 billion in assets.
