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“Architecture is about the important stuff. Whatever that is.” – Ralph Jophnson. While Strategic Asset Allocation (SAA) and Total Portfolio Approach (TPA) are both investment philosophies, they require fundamentally different architectures to support them. Most asset owners do not struggle because of the allocation approach they choose. They struggle because the systems, data structures, and design decisions
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Bridging Two Worlds: The Modern Analyst’s Role in Investment Operations
Starting out as a consulting analyst in 2025, I can’t help but notice how different my experience is from those who entered the field a generation ago. In the 1990s, entry-level analysts spent their first few months balancing ledgers by hand, keying data into green-screen terminals, and learning the quirks of rigid mainframe systems. They
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The Challenges and Complexities Facing Today’s Pension Plans
The role of the Chief Investment Officer (CIO) within pension plans has evolved significantly in recent years. No longer focused solely on portfolio construction and return generation, today’s CIO must navigate an environment shaped by data, technology, and a growing set of external pressures. The long-term sustainability, funding of pension systems, and the financial security
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The Case for a Total Portfolio Approach
In early 2026, U.S. action in Venezuela triggered a swift market reaction. Venezuela’s 17% share of global oil reserves led some investors to see renewed potential in its assets, while others viewed the development as a sharp shift in emerging‑market risk. These types of major events are more common than many assume. Over the past
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Unlocking GIPS® Compliance Benefits for Asset Owners
For asset owners, the investment performance function effectively serves the Chief Investment Officer (CIO) and Risk, both of whom have a vested interest in overseeing and optimizing the fund’s total performance and maintaining a cross-asset class view. The lack of access to complete and reliable data from asset class silos can hinder cross-firm evaluations and
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Fluent, Not Smart: What Large Language Models Really Mean for Asset Management
In our first article, Are You Ready for AI?, we explained how true AI readiness is less about chasing the latest tools and more about achieving operational maturity. Firms that succeed start with clean data, sound processes, and strong governance; the foundation quality is what determines whether AI delivers value or magnifies flaws. This second
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Inside the Conversation: Meradia and State Street on Regulatory Readiness and Operational Change
Today, collaboration and knowledge sharing are more critical than ever. Recently, Meradia’s Laurie Hesketh, CIPM and Mick Cartwright, CIPM joined forces with Ian Hissey and Peter Sherriff from Charles River Development, a State Street Company, for an exclusive knowledge sharing session. Together, these experts explored the challenges and opportunities facing asset owners and investment firms
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3 Best Practices for Building Confidence in Performance Results
Performance data errors do not just create operational rework. They damage client trust, raise regulatory scrutiny, and erode a firm’s reputation. Performance results are not just numbers; they represent a firm’s credibility. Portfolio managers, client reporting, marketing, and compliance all rely on performance results to be accurate, consistent, and durable. Once firms publish results, stakeholders
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From Data to Decisions: Leveraging Your Total Portfolio View
In recent articles, we’ve examined why delivering an effective Total Portfolio View (TPV) is difficult, the data obstacles firms face, and why an Investment Book of Record (IBOR) often plays a key component in constructing your TPV. I’d like to step back and consider the utility a TPV delivers. It is not simply the accumulation
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Is Your Data Ready for AI?
Currently, AI is featured in headlines, boardrooms, conference agendas, and nearly every strategic roadmap. The pressure to act is growing, but amid the momentum, one truth often gets lost . AI’s value depends on the integrity of the foundation upon which it’s built. Artificial intelligence is advancing rapidly, but its success isn’t about chasing every
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