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Great stock picking is a key asset for most active managers recently recognized as Asset Manager of the Year winners by Envesetnet and ThinkAdvisor. “Nine out of 10 managers we rewarded were because of excellent stock selection,” said Envestnet Chief Investment Strategist Tim Clift.

Yet last year’s double-digit stock gain isn’t the only reason these active managers did well. Pandemic issues and percolating inflation made 2021 a challenging year, so another differentiator involved “managers that continually are able to produce alpha in a consistent manner” over a longer time period, Clift explained.

And while quantitative factors such as performance and risk management matter, “It’s really the qualitative factors that we focus on more [when picking the winners],” he said. “What is their true investment process? What is their investment thesis?”

The 18th Annual Asset Manager of Year program highlights a variety of managers in 10 portfolio categories — including a former pro hockey player, a fund executive from Ukraine and even some repeat winners: Wakefield Asset Management won the award in the large cap category this year as well as in 2018. (The category has two winners in 2022.)

Plus, the overall Asset Manager of the Year — Schroders, which won in the sustainable category this year — was honored in the global, international and emerging market equity group last year.