Thought Leaderships

Market Data Contracts – Managing the Invisible Fence

Market Data Contracts – Managing the Invisible Fence

Market data is like a river that flows through an investment firm’s landscape, supplying the essential data to function and operate competitively. Exchanges and vendors that own and provide this data often charge a premium due to its exclusive nature. The way investment firms acquire this data is via market data contracts, which may carry restrictions that seem onerous. In this paper, we will discuss the nature of these restrictions and four approaches to handling them.

by Andrew R Jacob, CFA, Senior Consultant
Jose Michaelraj, CIPM, CAIA, Manager

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Key Operational Considerations for Crypto Investment Managers

Key Operational Considerations for Crypto Investment Managers

As demand for crypto offerings intensifies, asset managers entering this market are facing new operational challenges that are unique to this emerging asset class. This article highlights regulatory, valuation, performance, and safekeeping aspects of traditional managers’ operations that require a special approach when it comes to digital currencies.

by Natasha Romanova, CIPM, Consultant

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Outsourcing: An Insider’s Framework for Finding the Right Service Provider

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

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How Fund Operators Can Leverage “Dirty” Data To Enhance Business Intelligence

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

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Composites: Considering the New SEC Marketing Rule and the GIPS Standards

Composites: Considering the New SEC Marketing Rule and the GIPS Standards

The November 4, 2022 deadline for the new SEC Marketing Rule requires firms to create and maintain composites in order to market their performance. Many investment managers are looking to the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS®) for guidance and best practices, leading some to consider taking the necessary steps to claim GIPS compliance. Here, we address some of the most frequently asked questions about this process.

by Jonathan A. Boersma, CFA
Natasha E. Romanova, CIPM

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Core Principles To Abide By for Effective Outsourcing

Core Principles To Abide By for Effective Outsourcing

What processes are poised for outsourcing, and what areas should be kept in-house? These are the first questions investment managers should ask before delegating specific business processes to external providers. Outsourcing is complex, but abiding by these three principles will ensure your firm’s decision supports enhanced business operations well into the future.

by Benjamin P. Smith, Client Partner

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