Focus Financial Partners

Focus Financial Partners, the largest partnership of independent registered investment advisory (RIA) firms, was known as a young holding company hungry to acquire independent RIAs from owners who wanted to sell but continue to practice. Focus called on Makovsky in 2008 because the company wanted to be known as something other than a deal-making machine. The company offered best-in-class practice management, marketing and networking resources to firms, and this message was not getting through.

SmartCard Consortium

Marketing a Whole New Way to Pay

Not a credit card. Not a debit card. It was the SmartCard.

New York Life Investment Management

Maximizing Returns, Minimizing Risk

Winner of PRWeek’s 2008 Financial Communications Campaign of the Year Award

Grappling with long-term, lower returns from global equity markets, in 2007 pension plans and endowments across the nation became aggressive in searching for alternative investments that could enhance their returns.   In response, asset managers such as New York Life Investments went to work in creating products that could deliver greater returns without significantly increasing portfolio risk.   
 

Barra

Makovsky + Company Powers Financial Services Campaign

General Motors Asset Management

Repositioning General Motors' Pension Fund

 

Overview

 
General Motors Asset Management is resonsible for managing GM's pension plan — the largest corporate plan in the US. However, lagging stock markets and low interest rates caused GM's pension plan to be signficantly underfunded. In 2003, GM announced the largest corporate debt deal in history and GMAM took charge of developing an investment strategy for the $14 billion raised. Makovsky + Company, in turn, was charged with devising a communications plan to announce and publicize this innovative investment strategy. 

Touchstone Investments

Putting a Mutual Fund on the Map