Simfund 3.0 is both an event and a process
to assist the progress of our clients. Adding
to the power of Simfund 3.0, additional
features will be incorporated throughout
the coming year.
Simfund 3.0 will be your passport to add-on
modules of other data providers, so your
reports based on such integrated data can
take advantage of Simfund’s aggregation
tools and new graphic capabilities. We are
currently in discussions with several major
providers to make the integration of their
data into Simfund 3.0 possible.
Beyond the significant benefits to your
in-house Simfund use, Simfund 3.0 will deepen
our customized research team’s ability
to help our research clients with innovative
analytics and quicker response.
The initial release of Simfund 3.0 will
be around September 22nd. Our client service
team can now provide you with illustrations
and examples of Simfund 3.0, as well as
demonstrate its features, through WebEx
or in client meetings. To learn more, call
our customer service team leaders: Rita
Leytush rita@sionline.com 212-944-4466 or
Jennifer Jank jj@sionline.com 212-217-6941.
Budget Planning Details
You will find the use of Simfund 3.0 expanding
within your company, especially in the areas
of sales and distribution, investment analytics,
and senior executive and Board presentations.
While Simfund’s standard contract
permits up to 10 User stations, you can
contractually arrange for additional Users
at a relatively nominal added fee.
To develop and continuously add
to Simfund 3.0, and especially to support
its expanded use, SI is investing in significant
technological and personnel resources, necessitating
higher annual licensing fees. This price
increase will go into effect November 1st
and will be incorporated in our subsequent
billings.
In order to provide Simfund 3.0 to all
of our clients at the same time, the associated
costs need to be equitably distributed among
all of our client companies. Subscribers
with a renewal date in January 2004 or later,
should plan for a pro-rata subscription
price increase from November 1st until the
point of their annual Simfund contract renewal.
For the average subscriber with six months
remaining on their existing contract period,
such costs will be no more than an additional
$1,500 to $4,500, depending upon a client’s
subscription. Our goal is to have each of
our 150 Simfund client companies and 1,300
individual Users benefit from Simfund 3.0
as soon as possible. We will be as accommodating
as possible of our clients’ budgeting
process. Should you have questions or concerns,
call Strategic Insight’s COO, Todd
Hiller at 212-944-4457.
Training Process: Analyst
Round Tables with Strategic Insight
Simfund 3.0 training seminars begin
September 29th. Because of the
many additional features of Simfund 3.0,
as well as its expanded use, SI will be
conducting a series of one-day Users’
training seminars in our N.Y. offices (and
subject to demand, elsewhere) during the
Fall. Each day we will be training a small
group of Simfund Users. We will run these,
for a full day for each group, each day
of the week of September 29th to October
3rd, as well as each day during the week
of October 13th through October 17th. Further
dates will be announced. We will group seminar
participants based on the nature of their
company responsibility and Simfund experience.
Simfund training classes will include an
introduction to version 3.0 features, one-on-one
support from SI analysts, individuated assignments
based on the experience and needs of each
User, time-savings tips, advanced graphics,
reviews of lessons learned, “Analyst
Round Tables – Discussions with Your
Peers”, and more. Our intention is
to offer as much individualized attention
as possible and to accommodate specific
interests.
We also plan to have days devoted to client
users and Simfund beneficiaries with very
specific responsibilities, including:
- For Sales and Distribution Executives:
planning for 2004 sales opportunities
with Avi
- For fee and Board report analysts:
advanced and automated fee benchmarking
for product development, regulatory response,
and Board reporting
- For due diligence and monitoring: quick,
advanced S.E.C. filing research
- Depending on our clients’ request:
Variable Annuity opportunities, use of
our global customized research, or other
requested topics.
These Simfund seminars are free of charge.
Because training works best in smaller groups,
and there are only so many spaces available
in the first few weeks, we have to limit the
number of initial attendees from each client
firm. Following the training of your key Simfund
User, we will then work with that User to
be a center for Simfund 3.0 within your organization
and facilitate additional company training.
Because of likely, high demand for our early
training spaces, please call as soon as possible,
Francesca Loo, Strategic Insight looks forward to the
integration of Simfund 3.0 in your growth
initiatives for the coming years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can you tell me about the
changes to Simfund?
Strategic Insight has been working for the
past year to improve the Simfund system
to meet and exceed the needs of our clients.
Simfund 3.0 will make your job easier and
will provide you with greatly expanded data
and analytical capabilities. Many of the
features added to the Simfund platform were
at the request of our clients, and include:
- Automated graphics capabilities
that allow you to quickly and easily create
your own bubbles, scatters and snails with
the click of a button.
- Expanded fee and expense data and
analytics, including advisory fee and operational
expenses data going back 5 years, and automated
analytics for sub-advisory and N-SAR data
(for fee and expense subscribers).
- Incorporation of data modules from
other leading vendors to facilitate multi-dimensional
analysis and reporting.
- New analytics to support sales and
distribution.
- QuickLink to all recent SEC filed
changes for any fund with even greater capability
for FundFiling subscribers.
When will Simfund 3.0 be released?
We expect the initial release of Simfund
3.0 with the September release -on or around
September 22. Additional features will be
incorporated throughout the upcoming year.
Will I have to install any additional
software for Simfund 3.0?
No. The September 2003 release will incorporate
the new Simfund 3.0 features and data. Simply
follow your normal monthly update process
and the upgrade will be installed automatically.
How will this affect my saved queries/files?
Will I have to learn a new interface?
Unlike the upgrade from Simfund 1 to Simfund
2, which involved a completely new interface
and manner of querying, Simfund 3.0 is an
evolution of the existing software. All
your saved project files will continue to
work seamlessly.
How can I receive training on Simfund
3.0?
This fall SI will be conducting a series
of one-day training seminars in Manhattan
for the key Simfund user in each company.
Each group session will include an introduction
to version 3.0 features, one-on-one support
from our analysts, analyst round tables,
and discussions with your peers.
Group sessions will be held daily September
29th – October 3rd, and October 13th
– October 17th. To register, contact
Francesca Loo, floo@sionline.com,
212-944-4460. Depending on demand, Strategic
Insight may conduct regional training sessions
around the country, in addition to further
NY-based sessions later in the fall. We
also plan to hold real-time web-based training
for all Simfund users via the WebEx Interactive
Network, a meeting service that provides
a fully interactive, collaborative meeting
experience via the internet and telephone.
What will the cost be?
Strategic Insight has dedicated significant
resources over the past year to upgrade
and support the Simfund platform, and we
believe that users will find the new and
improved features to be extremely useful.
However, the upgrade will result in a price
increase. The actual price increase of Simfund
3.0 varies by client and is a function of
a client's total subscription with SI. Most
clients will fall into the range of $4,500
to a max of $9,500 annually. Contact Todd
Hiller directly for details pertaining to
your account. 212-944-4457.
