In today’s investment landscape, the role of an investment research provider has never been more important. Financial advisers are operating in an increasingly complex environment, navigating product proliferation, and rising regulatory expectations, all while trying to deliver the best possible outcomes for their clients.
Amid this complexity, access to quality investment research is essential. But not all research providers offer the same level of value. So, what should advisers be looking for when choosing a research partner?
Here are six key characteristics that define a quality research provider and how Zenith incorporates these into our approach.
1. Objectivity & alignment with your advice
Investment research providers play a critical role in supporting the advice process, which makes objectivity essential. The most valuable insights come from research teams that are focused solely on assessing investment quality and the likelihood a fund will achieve its investment objectives. This clarity of purpose allows the research provider to remain aligned with advisers and their clients, supporting unbiased decision-making and defensible recommendations.
Our ratings are based solely on the merits of each strategy. We believe this research-first approach allows us to provide advisers with a level of transparency and integrity they can rely on.
2. A structured & repeatable research process
A consistent and transparent investment process is the foundation of high-quality research. Rather than relying on reactive analysis or surface-level data, quality research providers implement a repeatable methodology that combines deep qualitative insights with rigorous quantitative evaluation.
This means going beyond past performance and assessing the sustainability of a manager’s edge, the robustness of their philosophy and process, and how they manage risk across changing conditions.
At Zenith, our research process has been developed over decades and refined to ensure it can identify funds with strong potential for long-term outperformance. Every product we assess is reviewed through the same structured lens, giving advisers confidence in the consistency and reliability of our views.
3. Breadth of coverage, delivered by specialists
Today’s advisers need access to high-quality insights across a wide universe of investment strategies, including listed and unlisted funds, ETFs, and Private Markets. But breadth only matters when it’s paired with depth.
A quality research provider combines extensive coverage with specialised knowledge, ensuring that each fund is assessed by analysts who understand the intricacies of that specific asset class or investment style.
Zenith’s research team is structured to deliver both. With sector-specialised analysts covering every major area of the market, our coverage spans hundreds of investment products without compromising the depth of due diligence or the quality of insights.
4. Experienced analysts who are accessible
Behind every strong research provider is a team of experienced analysts. Deep industry knowledge, and consistency of personnel all contribute to the value and reliability of research.
Zenith’s team is made up of long-tenured analysts who bring deep expertise and a collaborative mindset. We pride ourselves on being accessible to the advisers we support, whether through one-on-one discussions, briefings, or events.
5. Clear, practical & transparent outputs
Research should empower advisers, not overwhelm them.
High-quality research is well-articulated, easy to navigate, and designed to support real-world advice conversations. Advisers need to understand not just what the rating is, but why it was assigned and how it may change in the future.
Zenith’s research reports and platform, Mosaic, are built with this in mind. From detailed fund reviews to tools for comparing investments and building portfolios, our investment research is delivered in a way that’s clear, practical and ready to apply.
6. Continuous monitoring & timely insights
The investment landscape changes quickly and so do the strategies within it. A quality research provider doesn’t stop once a fund is rated. Ongoing monitoring is essential to ensure advisers are kept up to date with developments that could impact a fund’s suitability and its’ potential to achieve it performance objectives
Whether it’s a portfolio manager departure, mandate change or performance deterioration, investment research providers must have the systems and discipline to flag these changes promptly and provide relevant updates.
Zenith’s approach includes continuous oversight of rated products, regular manager re-engagement, and interim updates when material developments occur. This helps advisers stay informed and make timely, well-supported decisions.
The role of investment research in strengthening your advice
Ultimately, investment research should make the advice process stronger, supporting advisers in building well-constructed portfolios, making informed recommendations, and having confident conversations with clients.
The hallmarks of a quality research provider are clear: a robust process, objective thinking, broad yet deep coverage, experienced analysts, accessible outputs, and responsive updates. These are the principles that guide Zenith’s approach to research and the value we aim to deliver to the advice community every day.
To learn more about Zenith’s Investment Research capabilities, visit:
https://www.zenithpartners.com.au/our-solutions/investment-research