Benjamin F. Phillips will join Putnam Lovell NBF Securities in February as a managing director of investment banking in the financial institutions group, said spokesman Richard Chimberg. Mr. Phillips will oversee strategic research on traditional and alternative fund management firms. His work will include producing research on industry trends, as well as advising Putnam Lovell NBF clients, Mr. Phillips said in a telephone interview. It is a new position. He is a managing director at investment industry research and consulting firm Cerulli Associates, where he was responsible for establishing the international research division. Mr. Phillips said Cerulli is reviewing its options regarding his replacement.