Two Consulting Giants Merge: Que Pasa?

With the news of Towers Perrin and Watson Wyatt (WW) merging to form Towers Watson, tongues are wagging about what this means for the employee benefits consulting business in general. According to the June 28, 2009 press release, the all stock deal "will create one of the world's leading professional services firms."

The combination comes at an interesting time. Besides the economic rollercoaster we've been riding, there is a real debate about the role of consultants, particularly whether they will wear the hat of pension fiduciary, functional or otherwise. Additionally, many of the decisions that challenge pension executives are increasingly specialized, making it difficult for generalists to assist. Then there is the issue of fees and whether "traditional" firms can prosper as competition mounts. The offering of asset management services by select consultative organizations illustrates their respective desire to juice up revenue, despite the possible conflicts of interest that ensue.

Whether the Watson Wyatt - Towers Perrin deal is a harbinger of things to come remains to be seen. One thing is sure. The advice and consulting business is changing rapidly.

Disclosure: No positions

Comments

[johnny inca:]

Why do people feel compelled to write meaningless, pointless articles just to get their picture posted on a website?

Jun 29 08:56 AM

[Sisspam:]

Absolutely agree. Before I saw your the johnny inca comment I thought, that was completely worthless!

Jun 29 09:42 AM

[Leser:]

Sorry, I'm sure the article is of interest to many others, but I personally was not interested in it. In my modest opinion the real fault is that the title, by using the extension "Que pasa?" (What's going on here? What's up? What's happening?) implies a Latin connection--at least to me. Therefore, I opened it up. I don't get it. Why use Spanish in the title? After reading the article I saw no Spanish language connection (such as reaching out to the Hispanic population, etc.) I'm not xenophobic and not Hispanic. I do speak Spanish, however. It just is not a title that suggests with accuracy where the article is going to go, even though there is a reference to "tongues wagging" in the body. I feel this title is not indicative of article content and don't want to waste time opening articles that won't be of a nature I want to read.
By the same token, I feel the title "Must Know News" by a different Seeking Alpha contributor, is too bland. I don't open that link up because the title is too nondescript. I wrote to that contributor about it, but she's kept the column name lo these many months. I find "must know news" is an exaggeration. It's a come on to get me to open the article and never fulfills it's promise. After reading her column I never feel "Wow, I had to know that! Thank goodness for that alert! It certainly was a must know revelation."
So, unlike "What's in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet," what's in a title? A way to get people who really would be interested in your article incentivized into reading it by giving a palpabale suggestion of the content. You'll have more appreciative readers and followers when you're done.
By the way, the body of the article has a good compositional style. Sorry, if it seems the earlier responders and I are trashing your contribution. I'm sure someone after me will point out what an idiot I am for writing about this and will love it all.
Nonetheless, I feel the title should be pertinent in multiple ways to the content.

Jun 29 10:42 AM

[Old Trader:]

Fwiw,
The editors of SA typically come up with titles for articles...often far removed from what was submitted.


On Jun 29 10:42 AM Leser wrote:

> Sorry, I'm sure the article is of interest to many others, but I
> personally was not interested in it. In my modest opinion the real
> fault is that the title, by using the extension "Que pasa?" (What's
> going on here? What's up? What's happening?) implies a Latin connection--at
> least to me. Therefore, I opened it up. I don't get it. Why use Spanish
> in the title? After reading the article I saw no Spanish language
> connection (such as reaching out to the Hispanic population, etc.)
> I'm not xenophobic and not Hispanic. I do speak Spanish, however.
> It just is not a title that suggests with accuracy where the article
> is going to go, even though there is a reference to "tongues wagging"
> in the body. I feel this title is not indicative of article content
> and don't want to waste time opening articles that won't be of a
> nature I want to read.
> By the same token, I feel the title "Must Know News" by a different
> Seeking Alpha contributor, is too bland. I don't open that link up
> because the title is too nondescript. I wrote to that contributor
> about it, but she's kept the column name lo these many months. I
> find "must know news" is an exaggeration. It's a come on to get me
> to open the article and never fulfills it's promise. After reading
> her column I never feel "Wow, I had to know that! Thank goodness
> for that alert! It certainly was a must know revelation."
> So, unlike "What's in a name? A rose by any other name would smell
> as sweet," what's in a title? A way to get people who really would
> be interested in your article incentivized into reading it by giving
> a palpabale suggestion of the content. You'll have more appreciative
> readers and followers when you're done.
> By the way, the body of the article has a good compositional style.
> Sorry, if it seems the earlier responders and I are trashing your
> contribution. I'm sure someone after me will point out what an idiot
> I am for writing about this and will love it all.
> Nonetheless, I feel the title should be pertinent in multiple ways
> to the content.

Jun 29 11:50 PM