The only way the financial services industry will recover from the brutal market and financial crisis of the present is to concentrate wholeheartedly on rebuilding investor trust. That was the overriding theme of this year’s Fund Forum Asia, the Singapore Straits Times reports.

“High-profile frauds such as the Madoff and Stanford cases have made investors very nervous,” said David Seymour global head of investment management for KPMG. “The investor community is rattled, and confidence will not return easily.”

To counter this sentiment, Seymour said, “Rebuild trust and confidence through strong customer relationship management. Historically, the most successful investment management firms have been those which focus clearly on their customers.”

And while the market outlook currently remains weak, Seymour is convinced that investment management will bounce back in a “tremendous” way. “Those investment funds which keep their nerve, concentrate on improving transparency and communication with customers, and get themselves in shape for the new financial world order stand to enjoy an exciting and profitable future indeed.”

Investors are currently seeking regular income-generating, low-risk products,” said Lester Gray, CEO of the Asia-Pacific arm of Schroders.