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While the majority of investors piled money into bond mutual funds in 2009, a number of investment boutiques that specialize in other investment strategies saw organic growth of more than 50% last year. Net inflows into bond mutual funds and exchange-traded funds hit an all-time record of $396 billion in 2009, according to data released today by Strategic Insight. If you include funds underlying variable annuities, the inflow actually hit $425 billion, according to the firm.

In 2009, 15 mutual fund companies with more than $1 billion in assets saw organic growth over 50%. Topping the list: Van Eck Global, which saw 109% growth in assets, bringing in net new inflows of $13 billion. Manning & Napier Advisors Inc. recorded growth of 91%, bringing in $4.2 billion. Matthews Asia Funds saw growth of 83%, bringing in $3.3 billion.

“When you look at the macro-level trends, it would make you believe that the story of 2009 was all about bond funds,” said Loren Fox, senior research analyst at Strategic Insight, in a conference call this afternoon. “But when you look at the firms, the numbers show a much more diversified story.”

Index-based exchange-traded funds also continued to see record net inflows, bringing in $114 billion in 2009, up from $176 billion in 2008 and more than double what index mutual funds brought in last year. Net inflows for traditional index funds in 2009 were $54 billion.

source:http://www.investmentnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100114/FREE/100119936