Susan M. Mangiero's  Instablog

With the news of Towers Perrin and Watson Wyatt 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