Submit Responses to Our Annual Fees & Expenses Survey

Why It Matters

Up‑to‑date fee benchmarking equips firms to negotiate better terms and satisfy investor demands, while shaping industry standards. The partnership with leading legal advisors adds credibility and ensures the data reflects evolving contractual practices.

Key Takeaways

• Seventh annual survey launched by Private Funds CFO
• Collaboration includes Troutman Pepper Locke and Withum
• Survey targets fund managers' fee structures and expenses
• Participation provides benchmarking data for industry peers
• Free registration required for access to full results

Pulse Analysis

The private equity and hedge fund sectors have long relied on fee and expense surveys to gauge market standards and negotiate more favorable terms. Each year, the Private Funds CFO platform aggregates responses from fund managers, administrators, and service providers, producing a granular view of management fees, performance incentives, and ancillary costs. As the industry grapples with heightened investor scrutiny and regulatory pressure, up‑to‑date benchmarking data becomes a strategic asset. The seventh iteration of this survey arrives at a time when fee compression and transparency demands are reshaping deal economics. These insights also aid limited partners in assessing fee fairness.

This year's questionnaire is conducted in partnership with two prominent law firms, Troutman Pepper Locke and Withum, enhancing both credibility and legal insight. Their involvement ensures that survey questions reflect evolving contractual language, compliance considerations, and emerging fee structures such as hybrid models and ESG‑linked compensation. By leveraging the firms' expertise, respondents gain confidence that their data will be interpreted within a robust legal framework, while the resulting analysis can inform contract negotiations and risk assessments across the private fund ecosystem. The collaboration also facilitates future updates to survey methodology.

Fund managers who submit responses receive free access to the full analytical report, offering a benchmark against peers and identifying outliers in cost structures. This intelligence supports pricing strategies, investor communications, and internal budgeting. Moreover, aggregated findings are often cited in industry publications, influencing broader market expectations. Participation also contributes to a collective data pool that helps shape future regulatory guidance. As the survey progresses, its longitudinal nature will reveal trends, enabling firms to anticipate shifts before they become mainstream. Long‑term participants can track performance against evolving industry baselines.