Blogs

Next-Wave Distribution

By Nicsa posted 7 days ago
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Nicsa members received an in-depth look at current distribution trends during a Webinar Wednesday event moderated by Lesley Keefe, Managing Director at EY. The session, held early November, featured panelists from EY’s wealth and asset management business consulting practice. During the second half of 2019 and early 2020, EY conducted research focused on two perspectives: asset managers as product manufacturers and wealth managers as their intermediaries. Nicsa’s Product & Distribution Committee participated in the initiative and were a key source of insights for EY’s research. The study unveiled six key distribution trends, which the panel explored ...
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Former Nicsa Chairman Dan Houlihan Weighs in on Industry Tech Transformations

By Nicsa posted 13 days ago
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The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the potential of technology and why it could reshape the asset management landscape. With a spotlight on digital client interaction and resiliency, asset managers are adapting to the increasing importance of technology, but the industry has a way to go in terms of intervention and innovation. Former Nicsa Chairman of the Board Dan Houlihan, Executive Vice President and Head of Northern Trust Asset Servicing - Americas , recently discussed this issue in an interview with Asset Servicing Times . We'd thought we'd share Dan's insights on improving inefficiencies, current tech challenges, data analytics, and streamlined ...
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Diversity Project North America Member Firms Hold Round Table on Advancing Racial Equity.

By Nicsa posted 15 days ago
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Racial equity is a critical topic for the asset management industry with a renewed sense of urgency sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis earlier this year and the events that followed. The industry has acknowledged a shared responsibility to address inequity, as well as its impact to employees, investors, and the communities in which they operate. There is an acute need for asset managers and financial services firms to collaboratively develop best practices that can be onboarded, tracked, and measured. Member firms of the Diversity Project North America participated in a Round Table on Advancing Racial Equity in Asset Management in October ...
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Regulatory Outlook Reveals Impact to Asset Managers

By Allison Lovett posted 20 days ago
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Nicsa members received a generous dose of regulatory oversight during a panel event moderated by Frank Maresca, Vice President of Broadridge. “The SEC has been very busy this year, both proposing and enacting rules that impact reporting,” Maresca said. “It is interesting to examine how these rules converge in making information for investors more digestible and impactful, as well as furthering the use of technology to drive engagement and investor insight.” The panel, which featured experts from Putnam Investments and Ropes & Gray LLP, was designed to help financial services firms worldwide navigate trends dominating the regulatory landscape. Areas ...
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Political and Economic Uncertainty in the Asset Management Industry

By Nicsa posted 29 days ago
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Uncertainty has been the name of the game in 2020 — and that trend that will likely continue as we head into 2021. But with uncertainty comes opportunities for competitive differentiation. To that end, panelists gathered to present a bird's-eye view of political and economic trends affecting the industry and during the final day of Nicsa’s virtual GMM 2020 event. Dave Parks, Executive Director at EY, moderated the event, which also featured experts from AGF Investments and Citi. Parks kicked things off with the question on everyone’s mind: What will be the outcome of the 2020 United States presidential election? “As of today, Vice President Biden ...
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Distributors Take a Close Look at the Product Lifecycle

By Nicsa posted 29 days ago
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Nicsa members received a detailed look into product lifecycle challenges from the distributor’s point of view during the second day of GMM 2020, held virtually on October 8. Linda York, Senior Vice President of Cogent Syndicated, moderated the event, which featured diverse perspectives from Bank of America, LPL Financial, and Morgan Stanley. Robert Pettman, EVP, Advisory Platforms and Products at LPL Financial, said many asset managers have been waiting for the opportunity to turn away from legacy distribution models toward something more modern — and the pandemic has pushed the industry toward virtual environments. “Now, we’re all living in ...
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A Product Masterclass for 2025

By Nicsa posted 29 days ago
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As we inch closer to 2021, seasoned product leaders from American Century, John Hancock, and Nationwide shared their future product priorities during the second day of GMM 2020 (held virtually on October 8). Dan Beckman, Head of U.S. Product, Columbia Threadneedle, moderated the panel, which focused on the current landscape for alternative investments, interval funds, active and non-transparent ETFs, and share classes. “This was an unprecedented year, distinguished by a global pandemic, a newly remote workforce, capital market volatility, social unrest, a focus on diversity and inclusion, and a divisive presidential election,” he said. “That said, ...
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Stripping the Labels: Panelists Talk Operational Change

By Nicsa posted 29 days ago
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Investment management companies have had clearly-defined front, middle, and back offices for ages — but over the years, corporate culture has begun to change. Nicsa members explored how firms are breaking down the walls from an operational perspective during the second day of GMM 2020, held virtually on October 8. “Asset managers, services providers: these groups aren’t going away any time soon,” said Gary Casagrande, VP of Global Market Strategy at Confluence, who moderated the session. “What is changing is how investment firms need to manage their data across their enterprises. That means that the way these groups interact with each other needs to change.” ...
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Workplace Wellness and Inclusion Amid Social Change

By Nicsa posted 29 days ago
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Between a global pandemic impacting the physical and mental health of employees across the globe and a national reckoning with racial injustice, a focus on workplace culture has never been more important. Nicsa members explored these transformative forces through the lens of inclusion and wellness during the first day of GMM 2020, held virtually on October 7. INCLUSION A panel of industry thought-leaders kicked off the concurrent sessions by discussing how to build inclusive and engaging work environments. Sarah Maynard, Global Head, External Inclusion & Diversity Strategies and Programs at CFA Institute, moderated the event, which ...
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Exploring the Asset Management Industry’s Return to Office

By Nicsa posted 29 days ago
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A forward-thinking virtual panel kicked off Nicsa’s 2020 General Membership Meeting October 7 by addressing the question on nearly every professional’s mind: What will it take for the asset management industry to reopen offices safely? Justin Hall, Partner at PwC, who moderated the session, said that over the past six months, he’s seen the conversation evolve from keeping businesses operational as they go remote to safely reopening offices. “Then, with the realization that reopening was probably not happening at a large scale in a lot of cases, the conversation evolved to: 1) ‘How do I keep my workforce productive and avoiding burnout while they’re ...
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Nicsa’s Diversity Project North America Announces Release of D&I Pulse Survey Results

By Nicsa posted 10-28-2020
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Boston, MA – October 28, 2020 – Nicsa is pleased to announce the release of its 2020 Pulse Survey Report : a pulse check on the perception of diversity, equity and inclusion in the asset management industry. As part of its mission to accelerate D&I in the asset management industry, Nicsa’s Diversity Project North America partnered with CareerAgility to conduct a Pulse Survey of its members and those in the broader industry. Survey questions centered on beliefs around D&I and corporate progress. The report seeks to identify the gaps and provide baselines from which the industry can measure its progress. This is the first year Nicsa has ...
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Nicsa Announces Election of Chairman and Six New Members to its Board of Directors

By Nicsa posted 10-13-2020
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Boston, MA – October 13, 2020 – Nicsa announced at its 2020 General Membership Meeting the election of Scott Brady, Head of US Product Development & Strategy at Columbia Threadneedle Investments, as Chairman of its Board of Directors. As Chairman, Mr. Brady will preside over the governing body of the Association as well as Nicsa’s executive committee. The board is responsible for oversight of policy and activities of the trade association, whose members include asset managers, broker dealers, custodian banks, transfer agents, and other professional service firms including audit, tax, law, technology, marketing, and compliance. Commenting on ...
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Nicsa’s “Face the Membership” Session to Feature Two of the Industry’s Most Influential Women

By Nicsa posted 09-29-2020
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Asset management executives from over 50 firms will gather at Nicsa’s virtual General Membership Meeting to discuss some of the most timely and pertinent topics affecting the global asset management industry. As always, the much anticipated “Face the Membership” session is expected to provide valuable insight into industry trends from the perspective of industry thought leaders and innovators. Tyler Mathisen, CNBC’s co-anchor of the popular “Power Lunch,” returns to the Nicsa stage this year to moderate the highly anticipated session, featuring two of the industry’s most powerful thought leaders: Jennifer Johnson and Mellody Hobson. Both are on Barron ...
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Nicsa 2020 General Membership Meeting to Focus on the Path Forward for the Asset Management Industry

By Nicsa posted 09-28-2020
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Boston, MA – September 28, 2020 — Nicsa’s keystone industry event, its General Membership Meeting , is going virtual this year and features some of the industry’s most influential innovators. The GMM will take place from October 7-9. The General Membership Meeting will bring together industry professionals via a virtual platform to hear dynamic and diverse perspectives on the most pressing issues facing the global asset management industry. The event is designed for asset managers, broker dealers, banks, and professional service and consulting firms strategically positioning their firms in an uncertain environment. Notable speakers include Jamie ...
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Market Experts Talk ESG Supply and Demand

By Nicsa posted 09-24-2020
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Sustainability has become a core lifestyle value in recent years, driving demand in the asset management industry for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)-based investment solutions. Nicsa members received updates on both the demand and supply side of the emerging market during a recent Webinar Wednesday event. Dan Bender, Managing Director at EY, moderated the session, which featured thought leaders from Accenture, BNY Mellon, and J.P. Morgan. “There's an accelerated amount of news and activity around sustainable finance in terms of both active and passive ESG, and sustainability-themed products,” Bender said. “In satisfying growing demand, ...
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Soledad O’Brien, Award-winning Journalist, Author and Philanthropist to Take Nicsa Stage at GMM

By Nicsa posted 09-21-2020
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Nicsa members will have the opportunity to hear the unique perspective of award-winning journalist, entrepreneur and host of the weekly syndicated political show, Matter of Fact, during the 2020 General Membership Meeting on October 9. Soledad O’Brien is CEO of Soledad O’Brien Productions, a multi-platform media product company dedicated to telling empowering and authentic stories on a range of social issues and a thought leader whose public engagement garners wide attention. O’Brien has had national impact with her books and speeches, and her presence on the nation’s op-ed pages and social media. During her career, O’Brien has anchored shows on CNN, ...
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Nicsa Unveils Full Speaker Lineup for 2020 GMM, Covering All Facets of Asset Management

By Nicsa posted 09-15-2020
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Thought leaders and industry innovators from across the asset management spectrum will convene at Nicsa’s virtual General Membership Meeting from October 7-9. The speaker lineup features leading experts from a diverse set of asset management firms, broker dealers, and an extensive group of financial services firms. Thirty-seven speakers from 34 different companies will cover top-of-mind issues such as: returning to the workplace, inclusion and wellness, forward-looking business modeling, product trends and lifecycles, differentiation and competitive advantages, the economic and political landscape, and more. Keynotes : Jamie Dimon , Chairman ...
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Regulatory Discussion Reveals New Rules, Reviews Impact to Asset Managers

By Nicsa posted 09-08-2020
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Nicsa members received a generous dose of regulatory oversight during a recent Webinar Wednesday panel event moderated by Frank Maresca, Vice President of Broadridge. “The SEC has been very busy this year, both proposing and enacting rules that impact reporting,” Maresca said. “It is interesting to examine how these rules converge in making information for investors more digestible and impactful, as well as furthering the use of technology to drive engagement and investor insight.” The panel, which featured experts from Putnam Investments and Ropes & Gray LLP, was designed to help financial services firms worldwide navigate trends dominating the ...
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Nicsa Announces Financial Industry Leader Jamie Dimon as Keynote for General Membership Meeting

By Nicsa posted 09-02-2020
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Boston, MA – September 2, 2020 —Nicsa, a global asset management trade association, announced that JPMorgan Chase & Co. Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon , a financial industry leader and catalyst for innovation, will headline as a closing speaker at its 2020 General Membership Meeting in a Fireside Chat with Jim Fitzpatrick, President & CEO of Nicsa. The virtual event will take place on Friday, October 9 at 2:00pm EST. Dimon leads one of the largest financial institutions in the U.S., with assets of $3.2 trillion, which serves millions of customers and many of the world’s most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients. Among his many ...
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Nicsa’s Diversity Project Sponsors Industry Dialogue on Authentic Allyship

By Nicsa posted 08-26-2020
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Dismantling systemic racism in the workplace is an effort that will require a fundamental shift in workplace culture and governance. After all, racism and biases rear their persistent and ugly heads in many forms, including fewer job opportunities, lower salaries, and less career advancement. One of the first steps in healing the wounds of racial injustice is a willingness to engage in open, honest, and sometimes uncomfortable conversations centered on inequalities in the workplace. Nicsa’s Diversity Project North America invited asset management industry participants to engage in such a dialogue during a recent event focusing on authentic allyship. ...
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