It is often argued that European citizens are not able to fully benefit from the single market for investment funds, on the basis that the cost of UCITS is higher than the cost of mutual funds in the United States (US). In this Market Insights, we analyse this question by carrying out a detailed comparison of the cost of UCITS and US mutual funds, taking into account the various ways of calculating costs as well as the differences between Europe and the US in the way investment funds are distributed.

The investment industry and policymakers must co-ordinate efforts to promote funded retirement saving and improve financial literacy to ensure that billions of people can live comfortably in their later years and, in the process, ease the fiscal pressure on governments. Financially-literate individuals are more likely to make better-informed financial decisions and to understand the benefits of long-term investments. 

This is our 13th edition of the Asset Management in Europe report, which provides an in-depth analysis of recent trends in the European asset management industry, focussing on where investment funds and discretionary mandates are managed in Europe.