It’s been a growing trend for mutual fund advisor sites to reorganize their website content, with the goal seemingly to make for a cleaner appearance and provide streamlined access to information. When undergoing such changes, firms usually make site navigation simpler either by cutting down or moving information. Since mid-July, three firms have updated their website organization DWS, Fidelity and MFS. While Fidelity and MFS simply rearranged pre-existing content, DWS Scudder revamped their website (and name) completely.

When Fidelity rolled out their reorganized site in late August, we were pleased to see that the firm offered a good combination of both efficient site reorganization and new Web technology. In addition to the reorganized tab structure, Fidelity used numerous Ajax lightboxes instead of old-school Javascript pop-ups, giving the site a more up-to-date feel. An eight-minute site tour is available to educate advisors of the new changes, eliminating the need for users to reacquaint themselves with the new site on their own which was nice; firms don’t often introduce a site tour for a reorganization.

While not as grand as Fidelity’s changes, MFS also reorganized the navigational structure of their advisor site. The firm ditched the old heading format for a new format featuring collapsible lists, making the site’s appearance easier to look at and more functional at the same time.

The changes to DWS Investments were much more in depth, with the site featuring a complete revamp; details can be found here.

All of these site reorgs prove you can teach old websites new tricks, or as the old Brylcreem slogan says, “A Little Dab’ll Do Ya!”