info@meradia.com
While much has been written about attribution in the context of individual asset classes, the asset owner confronts a much more complex scenario. In the interest of maximizing return/risk payoff (often subject to external mandates, liability streams, and risk constraints), asset owners frequently diversify their total fund amongst multiple asset classes: equity, fixed income, hedged
Read Full Article
A Business Case for Fractional Performance Oversight
The mix of skills required to oversee investment performance includes regulatory compliance, complex mathematical models coupled with data management, and a variety of technologies. Fractional Performance Oversight is the concept of key elements of oversight and leadership being supported by partial allocated resources or fractional outsourcing. In what situations does Fractional Performance Oversight make sense? Jonathan Boersma and Alicia Spencer consider some scenarios which may warrant a different paradigm.
by Jonathan A. Boersma, CFA, Practice Lead, GIPS and Performance Regulation
Alicia Spencer, CIPM, Senior Manager
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
Proving Your Data Is Ready: A Framework for Prototyping Performance Measurement
Building off of his previous article, Mark David discusses how a performance prototype takes a step beyond a performance data readiness assessment (PDRA) to identify undetected issues.
by Mark David, Senior Manager
Read Full Article
Automation: Taking Back Control From Excel and Email Anarchy
If your firm relies on homegrown tools like Excel and email to coordinate tasks, track status and transfer information, your business could be at risk of inefficiencies, or much worse. Here, we explore how business process automation can transform your operating model.
by Mick Cartwright, CIPM, Managing Director
Tim Jager, Senior Manager
Byron Derti, Analyst
Four Signs Your Firm Is Ready for a Consolidated Front-To-Back Solution
Front-to-back office solutions are on the rise. Are they right for your firm?
by John Leavy, Senior Manager
Read Full Article
Outsourcing: An Insider’s Framework for Finding the Right Service Provider
Now more than ever, investment managers are outsourcing the responsibility of improving operational efficiency. Service providers taking on this task have enhanced their offerings over the last several years to accommodate the ever-changing complexity of the financial services industry. As such, your firm will need a focused due diligence effort to assess the available options in the marketplace. This includes evaluating the capabilities of different market solutions, the ability to configure versus customize, the overall operational model and, most important, assessing your readiness for the transformation itself. Meradia’s consultants leverage their decades of outsourcing experience to provide a framework for your firm’s next outsourcing project.
by Tom McCorkell, Senior Manager
Jeremy Welch, Manager
How Fund Operators Can Leverage “Dirty” Data To Enhance Business Intelligence
Dirty data – it sounds bad – something your mother warned you about: “you better not come home with that dirty data all over you!” What is this thing we call dirty data – and just because it is “dirty”, does it not hold value? Let’s explore how the desire for perfect data is the enemy of efficient business models.
by Tim Jager, Senior Manager
Read Full Article
Why It Pays To Analyze Data on Day One of a Business Transformation
When conducting a system-wide transformation, there are certain details that tend to be neglected. While some missing pieces can be less harmful than others, there is one that can derail your plans completely: Data.
Elizabeth M. Colebrooke, Senior Manager…
Read Full Article