The advice and wealth management arm of Ameriprise Financial has posted pre-tax adjusted operating earnings of $350m for the second quarter of 2018, a surge of 20% compared to $291m a year ago.
The company attributed the rise in earnings to asset growth and higher earnings on cash balances.
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The division’s pretax adjusted operating margin increased to 22.7% in the second quarter from 21.1% in the year ago period.
The unit’s net revenues increased 12% to $1.54bn from $1.37bn a year earlier. Compared to last year, adjusted operating expenses increased 10% to $1.2bn, mainly due to higher distribution expenses related to growth in client assets.
Total retail client assets rose 10% year-on-year to $566bn. The company said that the rise was driven by client net inflows, client acquisition and market appreciation.
Wrap net inflows were $5.3bn, a jump of 18% from $4.5bn in the previous year.
Asset Management
Pre-tax adjusted operating earnings in the asset management unit were $183m for the second quarter of 2018, up 4% from $176m in the corresponding quarter of 2017.
The unit’s adjusted operating net revenue rose 1% year-on-year to $755m. The company attributed the rise to asset growth from market appreciation and the Lionstone acquisition.
The division’s adjusted operating expenses remained almost stable at $572m.
The unit’s AUM totalled $482bn at the end of June 2018, up 2% from $473bn last year.
Ameriprise chairman and CEO Jim Cracchiolo said: “Ameriprise had a strong second quarter and a record first half of the year for financial results. In the quarter, we grew earnings per share by 29 percent and delivered a return on equity of 31.1 percent. We continue to generate strong free cash flow that we invest in the business and return to shareholders at a high level.”
