EXHIBIT 99(j)(1)


CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


The Shareholders and Board of Trustees of
Managed Assets Trust:

We consent to the incorporation by reference, in this registration statement, of
our report dated February 18, 2005, on the statement of assets and  liabilities,
including the schedule of  investments,  of Managed  Assets Trust ("Fund") as of
December 31, 2004,  and the related  statement of  operations  for the year then
ended,  the  statements  of  changes  in net assets for each of the years in the
two-year period then ended,  and the financial  highlights for each of the years
in the five-year  period then ended.  These  financial  statements and financial
highlights  and our report thereon are included in the Annual Report of the Fund
as filed on Form N-CSR.

We also  consent to the  references  to our firm under the  headings  "Financial
highlights" in the  Prospectus  and  "Financial  Statements" in the Statement of
Additional Information.


                                                                        KPMG LLP


New York, New York
April 25, 2005