Coronavirus Stress Hits Wall Street’s Bonus Pool: Expert

Wall Street bonuses will fall roughly 30% this year, with even the most productive employees facing a pinch, as big banks and investment managers try to preserve profits during the coronavirus recession, a leading compensation expert said on Wednesday. The predictions by Alan Johnson are closely watched by financial professionals, especially during times of stress.…

Despite Strong Year, Bonus Hike Not in the Cards

Managers are currently “loath to add in fixed costs, and I don’t see that changing,” said Alan Johnson, managing director of Johnson Associates Inc., New York. And given industry headwinds such as fee pressures, he doesn’t believe managers would try to make up for a dearth of big bonuses by increasing salaries or other entitlements…

Firms See Technology as Savior to Cut Costs, Offer Competitive Edge

As money managers continue to evolve to better integrate technology into their business, demand for professionals with this expertise also grows. And while firms are moving to lower-fee investment products and facing increased operational costs, the “best technologists and data analytics (professionals) continue to be expensive,” said Alan Johnson, managing director of Johnson Associates Inc.,…