Every now and then fund directors have a serious discussion about the merits of performance fees for the fund's advisor. Perhaps the debate is incomplete and they should also discuss what it would mean if they decided to integrate a performance fee into their own compensation. Without taking a position on the relative advantages and disadvantages of this proposition, this bulletin explores this concept.

In addition to the myriad duties mutual fund directors must carry out with regard to the funds they oversee, they are faced with the added burden of setting their own pay.  The demands of the job, including the expertise required and time involved, justify being paid fairly.  However the optics of being overpaid would not be perceived favorably by fund shareholders or the financial press.

As markets rebounded in 2009 from the tumultuous decline in 2008, the 1st and 2nd quarter end assets under management of management companies generally also improved, and revenue went right along for the upswing.  Advisory and operating margins also improved but not to quite the same extent.