Vanguard Group Case Study

The needs of the below $1M segment are in line with the current Vanguard product offering

Grove Street Advisors (“GSA”) is a leading fund-of-funds, focused on investing in “low risk” top-tier private equity funds that are not excessively large nor highly levered. GSA is faced with a number of strategic alternatives to help catalyze the firm’s next stage of growth. We propose that GSA expand globally and continue to build expertise in relatively underserved global PE markets such as China and India to help meet its objectives of satisfying customer needs, enhancing its international reputation, staying responsive to trends in private equity, and ultimately maximizing profitability.

Since this is my second job interview, I want to be specific, realistic, and measurable as possible than my first interview. I want to build a relationship with a recruiter through the phone by setting up the different objectives so I can assure my knowledge in this business with Liberty Mutual. I will begin my interview by explaining my primary objective, my biggest desire to fulfill in this part of business in order to succeed in my goals by setting up an agreement between me and a recruiter, so we can build a confidence in calling references for a certain office appointment or a paperwork. My minimum objective, that I hope to achieve in this business, is to coming up with a plan that I can do for this business for a long-term such as increasing

Conducting a value chain analysis provides a snapshot for identifying a firm’s relative competitive performance, core competencies, and for focusing on customer centric activities. Costco’s customer driven focus allows primary and support business activities to work in unity creating a stronger competitive advantage and thereby increasing profitability. Profitability and shareholder value rely on coordination of both sets of business activities to create a firm’s competitive advantage.

Henderson Brothers Retirement Plan Services is an independent financial services firm, which specializes in the design and function of retirement programs from corporations, small businesses, and non-profit organizations throughout the Pittsburgh region. Henderson Brothers Retirement Plan Services provides plan sponsors with plan assistance in an effort to provide the most suitable retirement plans and educational support to help participants maximize the plan as part of their overall financial picture. For more information, visit www.hbretirement.com. Securities offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC.

Value Chain analysis evaluates each step business goes through from inception to finality. The goal is to maximize the value for the total cost. Costco's mission is to provide their members with quality goods and services at the lowest possible prices. The company’s mission, values and strategies suggest Costco uses a broad enterprise strategy which fits in the societal framework. To ensure employee motivation, Costco offers them a unique banquet of benefits. This include; paying health benefits for them, 50% higher wage, employee retention of over 90 percent, and maintaining employees even during recession periods (Costco, 2010). The Company’s strength is its primary value chains which split into two distinct functions: Demand fulfilment and Demand generation. Demand fulfilment includes input logistics, operations, and output logistics. Demand generation involves sales, marketing, and service department which breaks down into sub-tiers. Costco’s support activities include HRM, technology development, firm infrastructure and procurement. Costco’s weaknesses are difficult to pinpoint; one weakness is persistent low operating profit margins. Bigger profits can occur by not paying employee benefits and with demanding higher returns from their suppliers. The problem would be at what cost?  Costco receives cost advantages from value adding major (brand items) activities. However, it continues to experience a challenge

A firm’s value chain can be different for the different segments of business units of Virgin Atlantic, which could be understood in the context of business unit chain. In this context, applying the value chain of Virgin as a competitive tool would be deficient because it would constrain the analysis to a single type of business pursued by the airline. In essence, this would obscure the strategic importance of other in-demand products services that are critical in the airline transportation

Kevlyn Investments, Inc. is an asset and property management firm that is located in Davis, California. This property management company is serving the areas of Rancho Cordova, CA, Sacramento, CA, Aurora, CO, and Lakewood, CO. Kevlyn Investments, Inc. delivers real estate investment and property management services. This property management company provides management services to the multi-family properties and other types of investment properties such as office and retail. Kevlyn Investments, Inc. currently manages the five properties in the four major west coast markets which total to 325 units. Their current portfolio has an aggregate value of roughly $50,000,000. Their staff, officers, and directors carry an extensive experience in real

A strong strategy is another factor that is prevalent in this organization. One of the strategies, directed towards institutional investors, is to position the company as the total retirement provider. This concept is a part of everyday dealings with the clients. For example, when there are discussions with a company about that client’s main retirement plan, the presentation is made to service other retirement vehicles that the company may have. However, this organization does not seek to provide non-retirement services, such as payroll, to their clients. This well defines strategy is important within the company.

I work for Synovus Financial, a banking corporation covering a 5 state footprint with 28 individual divisions. I have worked on the teller side of banking at a previous company, and now I work on the operations side with my current employer. On a daily basis, I receive phone calls for all 28 divisions and locations of Synovus from across the five states. My responsibility is to assist these customers with day to day issues such as; debit card malfunctions, balance inquiries, funds transfers, branch and location information, etc. On the other hand, I also handle the more complex situations, for example: assisting customers with interest rates, balance traceability, deposit services, a variety of business products, investment services, family

The Vanguard group offers some investment options that one can consider investing in. These investment options include; retirement planning services, brokerage services and educational information for individuals. The retirement planning services are more of the services that have grabbed a wide range of the company’s customer base. There are some costs associated to the long run investment which cannot be avoided by all mean.

I believe Morningstar Inc. made investing easier for individuals basically because Morningstar is doing the hard part for investors by doing a majority of the work. Joe created a compendium of information for the wide range of different funds that were available on the market (Ferrell, Hirt & Ferrell, 2009). Morningstar has a wide range of analyst to help with the different funds, which helps investors by researching different investments for them. Morningstar Analyst is trained to do the research, write up the investments, as well as rate the investments. Due to the analyst doing a majority of the work, it helps guide investors in making better choices in his or her investments. Because Morningstar is solely dedicated to serving investors,

1. What do you think of the Vanguard group as a firm? What is the Vanguard group

Both Blunt and Mathas knew this would be an uphill battle, however. Historically, investment advisors preferred to actively manage their clients’ funds, whereas an immediate annuity represented an irrevocable one-time transaction. In addition, most advisors favored a fee-based business model rather than one in which they would receive only a one-time commission. Complicating matters, research suggested that consumers were almost completely unaware of the existence or benefits of immediate annuities. Yet Mathas had faced doubts about this product before, and he genuinely believed that, in the ever-changing landscape of retirement planning, immediate annuities offered great benefits for those in or approaching their retirement years.

New York Life (NYL) has set its mind on growing the Guaranteed Lifetime Income (GLI) business in the future, but faces several possible paths in order to reach this goal. To be as cost-efficient as possible, we think that the company should select its pool of end-customers wisely. The focus on retirees should be maintained and even enforced, as many still do not know the products proposed by NYL. Furthermore, the focus should be broadened to a larger target group, to include the “typical” customers of the companies, families with children. As noted by Rotemberg and Gourville (2010), NYL tends to build long term relations with its clients, as agents follow them over time