Hub and Spoke Structure

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Adam Hayes
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Adam Hayes, Ph.D., CFA, is a financial writer with 15+ years Wall Street experience as a derivatives trader. Besides his extensive derivative trading expertise, Adam is an expert in economics and behavioral finance. Adam received his master's in economics from The New School for Social Research and his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in sociology. He is a CFA charterholder as well as holding FINRA Series 7, 55 & 63 licenses. He currently researches and teaches economic sociology and the social studies of finance at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

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Updated October 31, 2021
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What Is a Hub and Spoke Structure?

Hub and spoke structures are used by investment companies to pool assets, cut costs and improve efficiency. Several investment vehicles, each remaining individually managed, combine their assets and contributing to one central vehicle. This can also be called a master-feeder structure.

All of the funds in the system typically have the same investment objective and portfolio manager, or master fund that serves as the "hub". The smaller investment vehicles, or feeder funds, are referred to as the "spokes."

Key Takeaways

  • A hub and spoke structure, in investments, utilizes multiple portfolio managers or sub-funds, known as "spokes" or "feeders," that invest in a "hub," or "master fund."
  • This structure is often used by investment companies to reduce costs and maintain efficiency.
  • Each spoke is individually managed by particular fund managers, while the hub is managed by one portfolio manager utilizing an overarching investment strategy.

Understanding a Hub and Spoke Structure

A hub and spoke provides benefits to managers of investment funds by offering numerous efficiencies from their pooled structure. With a hub and spoke structure, capital is channeled to the master fund where all transactions are made, helping to reduce transaction costs.

Business Development

Hub and spoke structures can also accommodate a full range of feeder funds, providing greater incentive for business development. A fund can be marketed in different ways and to different investors using a multitude of spokes. Each spoke can charge different fees and therefore appeal to a wider array of investors, all the while operating as one investment portfolio. These funds are able to keep fund operating costs relatively low in comparison to their competitors due to the hub and spoke structure.

In addition, hub and spoke structures commonly include both U.S. and offshore funds, creating the ability to market the fund globally. These structures are set up as partnerships to service global investors. As a partnership, they can work cooperatively while still allowing for individual feeder fund registration in the U.S. and abroad.

Accounting and Tax Benefits

Accounting and financial reporting can be complicated in a hub and spoke fund structure. With this type of fund, all transactions, fees, and expenses are accounted for and paid from the master fund. Despite the complicated accounting for inflows and outflows to and from the master fund, its partnership structure allows each feeder fund to be managed individually with its own rules and registrations.

This is particularly beneficial in the case of taxes. Offshore funds often require different taxes on dividends and capital gains. In a hub and spoke structure, U.S. investors in an onshore fund would be unaffected by any obligations of the offshore fund and vice versa. The hub and spoke structure keeps all fund reporting, fees, and expenses segregated while still allowing for the greater benefit of economies of scale.

Example of a Hub and Spoke Fund

Several hub and spoke funds exist in the market. BlackRock is one fund manager broadly employing this fund structure in a variety of hub and spoke setups.

For example, they run the Master Treasury Strategies Institutional Portfolio, which is the hub, consisting of two spokes, the BlackRock Select Treasury Strategies Institutional Fund and the BlackRock Treasury Strategies Institutional Fund. Each of the feeder funds engages in a different investment strategy with a different portfolio manager.

Article Sources
Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our editorial policy.

  1. Eureka Hedge. "The Benefits of Master-Feeder Fund Structures for Asian-based Hedge Fund Managers." Accessed August 20, 2021.

  2. Bloomberg. "The Hubbub Over 'Hubs'". Accessed August 20, 2021.

  3. Marshall, P. (1995). Complex Fund Structures and Choice of Jurisdiction. Trusts & Trustees, 1(2), 27-29.

  4. Amorosi, M., Zornada, G., Gibson, T., Almquist, J., & Man, P. J. (2017). Cross border master-feeder arrangements: SEC staff slightly expands utility of offshore feeders for global investment management firms, but tax and other challenges remain. Journal of Investment Compliance.

  5. New York Times. "Small Investors Can Often Skirt Those Large-Sum Rules." Accessed August 20, 2021.

  6. BlackRock. "BlackRock master portfolios." Accessed August 20, 2021.

  7. BlackRock. "BlackRock Treasury Strategies Institutional Fund." Page 3. Accessed August 20, 2021.

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