Perspectives

Driving Strategic Transformation for Wealth Management Firms: A Framework for Technology Vendor Selection

Like many industries, wealth management is undergoing a change. Demographic and generational shifts in wealth will continue to reshape services and enhance the digital experience . In a survey of 120 wealth managers, 87% reported that they have made significant investments in technology over the past several years. Tech transformations within large wealth management firms are often achieved through integrations of vendor platforms with proprietary applications, as stakeholder needs are particularly diverse. A single platform solution may solve for a set number of stakeholders, but firms with various client types require multiple solutions that integrate seamlessly. Deciding on the best technology partners requires a proven, structured approach to technology evaluation.

by Tina Madel, CFA, Senior Manager
Jose Michaelraj, CIPM, CAIA, Manager
Josh Gerwick, CFA, CIPM, Consultant

Read Full Article

Top 3 Reasons Why Asset Owners Should Claim GIPS® Compliance

Compliance with the GIPS standards is widely adopted within the institutional asset management industry as it is considered the industry’s best practice for calculating and reporting investment performance. Asset owners’ need for reliable and transparent investment performance when evaluating and hiring outsourced investment managers is a major reason for the rise in the Standards’ popularity. In recent years, the industry has seen a trend in asset owners’ turning their attention to their own investment performance reporting and adopting the GIPS standards. This movement has now gained momentum with CFA Institute’s release of guidance specific to asset owners to make adoption of the standards easier. Aside from better-fit guidance allowing for easier implementation, why are asset owners interested in claiming compliance with the GIPS standards?

by Alicia Spencer, CIPM, Senior Manager

Read Full Article

The Evolution of Client Experience and Client Communications

As private and institutional clients continue to demand greater technology, service, and ease of access, investment managers are under pressure to advance all aspects of the client journey. We tend to think of the client experience as business-to-customer interactions, yet the reality is there are aspects of your business the customer never “sees” but senses. This often stems from internal operating models and projects to deliverables such as account reporting and ongoing information availability.

For added perspective on how technology is adapting to fit a myriad of client needs, we spoke with Andrew Maynard of SimCorp, an independent provider of industry-leading, integrated investment management solutions.

by Tim Jager, Senior Manager
Andrew Maynard, Product Expert, Client Communications, SimCorp North America

Read Full Article

A Business Case for Outsourced Chief Performance Officers

The mix of skills required to oversee Investment Performance includes regulatory compliance, complex mathematical models coupled with data management, and a variety of technologies. In what situations does an outsourced Chief Performance Officer (OCPO) make sense? Laurie Hesketh and Jonathan Boersma consider some scenarios which may warrant a different paradigm.

by Laurie J. Hesketh, CIPM, PMP, Managing Director
Jonathan A. Boersma, CFA, Practice Lead, GIPS and Performance Regulation

Read Full Article