The firm's lasting product shelf is its strength. Its 10-year success ratio of 63% means that 63% of its strategies have both survived and beaten their respective category median. A high success ratio indicates good performance and provides insight into a firm’s discipline around investment strategy and product development. The firm charges fees on open-end and exchange-traded funds that are on par with category peers. On average, fees are within the middle quintile, giving it neither an advantage nor disadvantage compared with the competition. Despite other redeeming qualities as a firm, William Blair has seen some disruption among its portfolio management ranks in the past five years, denoted by elevated turnover compared to peer asset-management firms. Long-term stability tends to support positive results.
When Funds Avoid China, Where Do They Go?
Emerging-markets managers who shun the country disagree on the best alternatives.