Financial Investment Industry Product Cycle
The investment industry is composed of a wide variety of firms. The main players include independent full line brokerage firms, investment bank subsidiaries of chartered banks, and discount brokers. Independent full line brokerage firms offer a wide range of services, including underwriting, trading of stocks, advice and research. The full service brokerage subsidiaries of chartered banks offer the same services; however, banks’ brokerage firms may have a larger pre-established clientele. Finally, the discount brokers are basic stockbrokers that perform trades for clients who do not want investment advice. Banks entered the investment industry, whereby they took over full-service brokerages, introduced mutual funds to the banking industry and became part of discount brokering.
The demand for investment financial services was expanding. This became evident by the average increase in revenue, which was happening in the mid 1990’s. An additional indication of growth in the investment industry was the fact that the number of firms in the industry had increased from the beginning days of the investment industry. It is obvious that the industry was growing; however the cause for this growth was due to the demographics of society point towards an aging population. This aging society is comprised of active retired and semi-retired individuals who have knowledge, time and disposable income for investing purposes. Moreover, younger generations that fear the elimination of the existing of social security because of the aging population were interested in building there own retirement plan. Read more…