SMA Administration Group

The SMA (Separately Managed Account) business at McDonnell includes over $3 billion in assets managed in over 5,500 individual accounts. With this volume, we recognize the ongoing need for extreme efficiency and streamlined processes in our daily operations. In addition to the Director of Operations & SMA Administration (Susan DeSanto), this key area is staffed with the Manager of SMA Administration, Elizabeth Nikchevich (far left in photo), who oversees the daily operations activities of three dedicated analysts.  Ms. Nikchevich has been with McDonnell for over eight years and is well versed in the specific systems and unique operational procedures associated with each managed accounts platform on which McDonnell maintains taxable and tax-exempt fixed income strategy offerings.  Account administration analysts, Sarah Johnson (middle in photo), Stephen Staed and Russell Singleton (not pictured), are responsible for a variety of trading and back-office operations, rotating coverage for specific SMA platforms on a quarterly basis.  The team's responsibilities include the execution and communication of trades and positions between McDonnell and the sponsor systems, as well as the maintenance of databases for all SMA accounts internally and externally.  The SMA analysts are also responsible for the time-critical resolution of trade issues and any other questions/issues that arise between the portfolio managers, custodians and financial advisors.  In addition, the team prepares a number of reports for our Portfolio Management and Client Accounting/Reporting Groups.

Lynn Horan (far right in photo), a Senior Administration Analyst and long-time member of the team, has been working in the field of separate account administration for nearly fifteen years, and served in this capacity at Van Kampen Management Inc. prior to joining McDonnell in 2001.  Ms. Horan works closely with the Director of Operations & SMA Administration, focusing primarily on providing service to new and existing institutional client accounts in the area of documentation/contract requests as well as maintaining internal records and files for these accounts and serving as a liaison between the SMA Administration Group and McDonnell's compliance staff.  Ms. Horan's deep experience in account administration and knowledge of McDonnell clients make her a valued asset on our team.

It is our goal across the organization to continually excel in the area of client service, and in a segment of our business where constant communications and transactions are occurring between financial advisors, clients and key external operations contacts, the SMA Administration Group demonstrates the skill and high standards that help McDonnell achieve its goal of optimal service year in and year out.