Thought Leaderships

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

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

Modernizing Derivatives Oversight Through Accounting Optimization

Historical inefficiencies in accounting software made accounting workarounds for complex products a matter of necessity. As vendor offerings have caught up to this complexity, is your firm prepared to migrate these assets between platforms?

by Jake Daly-Leonard, Consultant

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

4 Mistakes When Implementing a Data Catalog

Building and implementing a data glossary are two common goals for many investment firms in their annual strategy setting. But what happens when you rush into it without proper planning? Four common mistakes can occur which can hamper your development or make the final product irrelevant. This paper will discuss these missteps and offer prevention strategies.

by Andrew R. Jacob, CFA, Senior Consultant

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