8 pain points manual reconciliation brings to the table
In seeking to meet and overcome the challenges Investment Managers face in the wake of soaring trade volumes, increasingly complex transactions, and mounting pressure for faster reconciliation, firms today face an unprecedented level of hardship but also a myriad of opportunities. One of the greatest challenges Asset Managers must overcome is their capacity to meet the growing market demand for accurate and fast data reconciliation, regardless of volume levels. Efficient scaling has become impossible with existing manual processes. Here are 8 potential pitfalls of manual reconciliation that can hold your business back: Higher operational risk from unmatched data items Account errors that mislead Portfolio Managers, particularly regarding [...]
Summary of the FCA’s 2021/22 Business Plan and what it means for asset managers
The Financial Conduct Authority has been publishing its annual business plan for close to a decade. But this year's plan, published on 15 July 2021 — three months later than usual — is radically different to its predecessors. The first plan under new CEO Nikhil Rathi, sets out a broad and ambitious vision for the financial services industry's Covid-19 recovery and the future of regulation in the UK. In order to achieve that vision, the FCA plans to implement sweeping changes to how it operates, how it engages with the businesses it regulates, and what it expects from those businesses moving forward. Here's a look at the [...]
7 Risks and Lessons learned when implementing a 3rd party Product Master Data Management Platform
Fundipedia is a product data management platform built in partnership with, and delivered to the asset management industry. We work with some of the biggest names in the industry and through the delivery of dozens of successful Fundipedia installations, we have identified the most common risks and established strong mechanisms to mitigate them. From initial demonstration to user-ready, our implementation team will typically have Fundipedia Data Management up and running in less than 12 weeks. Delivered in an agile manner, ensuring the solution delivers value early and often using an incremental delivery model Client-owned and managed but delivered Software as a Service (SaaS) so you get the [...]
5 Competitive Boosters of an Automated Reconciliation System
Reconciliation is often overlooked and undervalued by firms. Done right, reconciliation can help you avoid regulatory risks, make informed decisions, and ultimately reduce costs. Unfortunately, reconciliation at many firms remains a laborious, time-consuming and risk-prone process relying heavily on spreadsheets and manual labor. This approach is not only inefficient but also fundamentally unsustainable in the long run. Planning well ahead, and considering automating your data reconciliation process early on, could be the competitive edge your firm has been seeking. Here are 5 competitive advantages to consider when deciding whether automated reconciliation is the right choice for you: 1. Informed investment decisions Asset managers are increasingly demanding further [...]
5 ways your Asset Management firm will stay ahead of the game with AI and ML
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine learning (ML) may seem both a distant and even scary prospect to some, straight out of a sci-fi movie plot, but in reality they’ve been around in our lives for quite some time now. Think Siri or Cortana, for example. A growing number of financial institutions are applying AI to their businesses via the back office and customer advice interactions to name just a couple. And, according to a report from the last World Economic Forum, 76% of banking CXOs agree that adopting AI will be critical to their organisation’s ability to differentiate in the market. Yet, the Asset Management industry seems [...]
Steps that forward thinking asset managers take after they’ve created a static data product master
So you have mastered your static product data - congratulations! You’re now one step ahead of your competition. What next? Accurate and trustworthy static data creates a foundation that offers many additional opportunities for asset managers to utilise their data, driving the business forward while keeping on the right side of their regulators. It also presents opportunities to empower customers and reduce time on unnecessary data administration tasks. So let’s get to it, what additional opportunities present themselves after the static product master is mastered... Get dynamic It’s a fantastic idea to supplement your Golden Source of static data with dynamic data e.g. prices, dividends and so [...]
5 key challenges for asset managers in 2021 and beyond (and how to tackle them)
While the Covid-19 pandemic thrust asset managers into uncharted territory, they've proved themselves remarkably resilient. Faced with the prospect of adapting quickly or not doing business for the foreseeable future, the industry made 5 years' worth of digital progress in just a few months. But if 2020 — and the first part of 2021 — have shown it's possible to digitalise successfully even if you're a traditional firm with legacy issues, that doesn't mean it's going to be plain sailing from here on out. Even as physical restrictions are lifted and vaccine rollouts are giving us hope of a return to normality. So what are the [...]
Introducing: The zero-effort way to prepare for SFDR
While sustainable investing isn't a new idea — the first sustainable investment fund, Pax World, launched in 1971 — it has exploded in popularity over the past few years. Investors are rebalancing their portfolios to make them more sustainable in record numbers. But if sustainable investments are better for the planet and more resilient — in 2020, they outperformed traditional investments by an average of 0.9% — their popularity has also turned 'sustainability' into somewhat of a buzzword. As a result, legislators have stepped in to make sure that, when asset managers and other financial market players bill themselves and their products as sustainable, they really [...]
6 critical software implementation mistakes that could derail your project (and how to avoid them)
While organisations are investing in technology more than ever before — Gartner expects global spending to hit $3.9 trillion by the end of 2021 — returns aren't a given. From getting the technicalities and logistics right to winning over key stakeholders, implementing new technology is a complex undertaking. And even seemingly minor issues can make the process trickier than it has to be. So where can tech implementation go wrong? And what can you do to make sure the project stays on track? In this post, we'll look at 6 critical mistakes that can derail your project and the steps you can take to avoid them. [...]
The case for inter-organisational data ecosystems for asset managers
Sharing research, product information, and other data with your competitors probably isn't the first thing you'd think of when looking for ways to grow your business, work more efficiently, and manage risk better. If anything, it would be last on your list. Or not on your list at all. Why share potentially sensitive information with firms that are vying for the same customers you are? But while it sounds counterintuitive, this approach can deliver huge dividends for everyone. When firms organise, share, and manage data together, they can create value — for both themselves and their customers — that goes far beyond what they could ever achieve [...]
How to take the pain out of third party reporting
You'd think standardisation would make reporting easier. But the EMT, EPT, and all the other regulatory reporting requirements you have to contend with as an asset manager have led to the complete opposite. If anything, putting reports together in the correct format is becoming increasingly challenging. And it's primarily down to the way data is gathered, managed, and stored The good news is that it doesn't have to be like this. With the right technology in place, you can create complete, accurate, and compliant reports quickly, without the attendant frustration. Here's how. Out of control Complying with reporting requirements is challenging to begin with. But, to make [...]
Document generation is broken, but there’s a fix
How much of their time do your staff spend on document generation? Hours? Days? Perhaps a week a month or more? While you might not know the exact figures, we're willing to bet it adds up to a significant chunk of their work week. From prospectuses, KIIDs, and factsheets, to regulatory filings and internal reports, asset managers are faced with an ever growing list of documents they have to produce on a monthly — if not weekly — basis. The kicker, though, is that most of these documents have to be compiled manually. Which means the process is not only frustratingly inefficient, but also prone to mistakes [...]
Q&A with the Fundipedia Developer Team
We recently spoke to Senior Software Developer Steven Day about his experience of working at Fundipedia for over 10 years. You’ve worked at Fundipedia for over a decade – why did you join the company and what keeps you here? I started working at Fundipedia as an apprentice after I left college and had no real commercial or technical experience. My initial meeting with Simon and Dean was super relaxed and they were both very welcoming which is exactly what I was looking for in my first role. As I finished my apprenticeship and was offered a full-time position it never crossed my mind to [...]
Video – Modern approaches to data for asset managers + The European ESG Template – what you need to know
This webinar was recorded on March 10th 2022 and features: Simon Swords from Fundipedia Graeme Devlin from Devlin Mambo Simba Mamboininga from Devlin Mambo Simon will explore how asset managers are using modern processes and systems to put data governance on autopilot, allowing them to remain focussed on their core services. Topics include: How to align your data projects for successful outcomes The benefits of efficient data management Leveraging control models to automate data governance Integrating internal and external data sources Ensuring that your data across the market is consistent and accurate using automated reconciliation Using workflow to optimise your fund and share [...]
Fundi Launch Workflow
Fundipedia has added a new product to our comprehensive, end-to-end data management platform. Fundi Launch Workflow is a user-friendly, customisable, fully integrated fund and share class launch solution that is designed to help asset managers streamline and optimise their fund and share class launch processes. Building Fundi Launch Workflow, we set out to solve what we found to be the most common pain points experienced by asset managers when embarking on a new launch. With an ever increasing amount of data to process, constantly evolving regulations and competition to get new products to market faster, we understood the need for a product that would increase efficiency [...]
How asset managers and FinTechs can work better together
When the first wave of fintechs launched in the late 2000s and early 2010s, they made no bones about being in direct competition with traditional financial services firms. From the terms they used to describe themselves — challengers, or disruptors — to how they marketed their products, fintechs highlighted at every possible opportunity that they were more customer-centric, more agile, and, well, just better than incumbents. Then, in the mid-2010s, something happened. Fintechs and traditional firms realised they could achieve bigger and better things if they worked together instead of trying to out-compete each other. But despite widespread agreement that technology is fundamental to the industry's [...]
Fundi Launch Workflow Released
Fundipedia adds automated workflow for product launches to its platform for investment managers With Fundi Launch Workflow, investment managers can unify data, automate time-consuming processes, and align their product team around a shared purpose: launching products to market more efficiently and accurately than ever before. Fundipedia, the leading master data management platform for investment managers, is expanding its suite of tools with the addition of Fundi Launch Workflow. This latest addition to Fundipedia transforms the way product teams collaborate on the launch of new products, share classes and other product development processes. With Fundi Launch Workflow investment managers can efficiently collaborate on the completion of tasks [...]
Q&A with the Fundipedia Implementation Team
Recently, we spoke to Edward Dunkley (Ed), one of our Implementation Associates about what working at Fundipedia is really like. Ed –You were interviewed not long into this role and said that ‘understanding all the acronyms’ was what you found the most challenging. Is this still the case? My industry and project management knowledge has certainly improved but I still get the odd term or acronym I don’t know popping up! There’s certainly more to learn. I think the next step in improving my industry knowledge is moving from the ‘what’ to the ‘why’. So, for example, even though I might know what a [...]
The EU’s AIFMD II proposals: What asset managers need to know
It may have taken the best part of four years — the directive was due for review in July 2017 — but the EU commission has finally published its proposals for reforming the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive, or AIFMD. And while many in the industry were expecting a radical overhaul, the proposals are surgical. Which is to say they're limited in scope but fairly significant. So what is the EU Commission proposing? And what are the implications for asset managers, should these proposals become law? The story so far: A quick refresher on the AIFMD Like many regulations that came about in the 2010s, the [...]
Webinar: Modern approaches to data for asset managers and The European ESG Template – what you need to know
Modern approaches to data for asset managers Register here to secure your space at the event: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4572968236754749711 Simon will explore how asset managers are using modern processes and systems to put data governance on autopilot, allowing them to remain focussed on their core services. Topics include: How to align your data projects for successful outcomes The benefits of efficient data management Leveraging control models to automate data governance Integrating internal and external data sources Ensuring that your data across the market is consistent and accurate using automated reconciliation Using workflow to optimise your fund and share class launch processes The European ESG Template - what you need [...]
Future-proofing asset management: 6 key changes to succeed in 2022 and beyond
While asset management firms are starting 2022 in a position of strength, the times — as Bob Dylan would say — are a'changing. Despite the precariousness caused by a certain deadly virus that's been doing the rounds, the industry hit double-digit growth during 2020 and 2021. But, to paraphrase a well-worn investment disclaimer, these numbers aren't a guarantee of future success. With mounting regulation, rapid technological change, and, most importantly, investors' shifting attitudes and expectations, the products, tools, and approaches that firms have relied on for decades are no longer fit for purpose. So what does the asset management firm of the future look like? And how [...]
Basic ESG and SFDR terms all Money Managers need to know
The SFDR was introduced by the European Commission, alongside the Taxonomy Regulation and the Low Carbon Benchmarks Regulation, as part of a package of legislative measures arising from the European Commission’s Action Plan on Sustainable Finance. The main provisions (Level 1) of the Disclosure Regulation came into action in March this year. The initial application date of detailed rules for requirements (Level 2) was set for January 2022. However, the European Commission decided to defer by six months as a consequence of its failure to hit the deadline for adopting draft regulatory technical standards (RTS) submitted by the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) in February. While this delay [...]
Fundipedia 2021 – a year in review
As 2021 nears its completion and we prepare for 2022, we’re taking a moment to reflect on what we have achieved over the past 12 months 🥂 We continued to grow our client base and now provide Fundipedia data platform and consultancy solutions to firms with a combined AUM of over US $4 trillion 🎉 We have quadrupled annual recurring revenue and a onboarded a raft of new global (and incredibly happy) clients. A recent client quote from a global asset manager: "Thank you again for your team’s outstanding partnership which we look forward to maintaining going forward.". 💪 We formed 6 new partnerships with best-in-class market data and technology [...]
Eye of the TIGRR: what’s next for financial services regulations in the UK?
Whether you think it's a catastrophe or the best decision the country has ever made, Brexit has happened. And with the UK now no longer obliged to follow EU rules, the government is keen to make wide-ranging regulatory reforms. To this end, in February 2021, the Prime Minister appointed TIGRR — the Task Force on Innovation, Growth, and Regulatory Reform — to look at how the UK could be less bureaucratic, foster innovation, and increase competitiveness. The ensuing 130-page report is packed with ambitious and far-reaching proposals which the authors believe will: '...drive innovation and accelerate the commercialisation and safe adoption of new technologies... reduce barriers to [...]
Fundi Launch Workflow Released
Fundipedia adds automated workflow for product launches to its platform for investment managers With Fundi Launch Workflow, investment managers can unify data, automate time-consuming processes, and align their product team around a shared purpose: launching products to market more efficiently and accurately than ever before. Fundipedia, the leading master data management platform for investment managers, is expanding its suite of tools with the addition of Fundi Launch Workflow. This latest addition to Fundipedia transforms the way product teams collaborate on the launch of new products, share classes and other product development processes. With Fundi Launch Workflow investment managers can efficiently collaborate on the completion of tasks [...]
Q&A with the Fundipedia Implementation Team
Recently, we spoke to Edward Dunkley (Ed), one of our Implementation Associates about what working at Fundipedia is really like. Ed –You were interviewed not long into this role and said that ‘understanding all the acronyms’ was what you found the most challenging. Is this still the case? My industry and project management knowledge has certainly improved but I still get the odd term or acronym I don’t know popping up! There’s certainly more to learn. I think the next step in improving my industry knowledge is moving from the ‘what’ to the ‘why’. So, for example, even though I might know what a [...]
Basic ESG and SFDR terms all Money Managers need to know
The SFDR was introduced by the European Commission, alongside the Taxonomy Regulation and the Low Carbon Benchmarks Regulation, as part of a package of legislative measures arising from the European Commission’s Action Plan on Sustainable Finance. The main provisions (Level 1) of the Disclosure Regulation came into action in March this year. The initial application date of detailed rules for requirements (Level 2) was set for January 2022. However, the European Commission decided to defer by six months as a consequence of its failure to hit the deadline for adopting draft regulatory technical standards (RTS) submitted by the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) in February. While this delay [...]
9 ESSENTIALS to gain a competitive advantage for your Wealth Management Firm
According to a cross-industry research by Accenture, over 80% of Asset Management companies don’t have enterprise-wide Master Data Management (MDM). Half of the respondents didn’t even regularly assess and update their data governance process definitions. So what is Master Data Management? MDM empowers Asset Managers to link all critical business data to a single point of reference. This reduces errors while ensuring business processes are not made redundant. It is the core process used to manage, centralise, organise, categorise, localise, synchronise and enrich master data while adhering to business rules. Why is MDM so important for the AM industry? Implementing MDM, and thus the ability to change [...]
8 pain points manual reconciliation brings to the table
In seeking to meet and overcome the challenges Investment Managers face in the wake of soaring trade volumes, increasingly complex transactions, and mounting pressure for faster reconciliation, firms today face an unprecedented level of hardship but also a myriad of opportunities. One of the greatest challenges Asset Managers must overcome is their capacity to meet the growing market demand for accurate and fast data reconciliation, regardless of volume levels. Efficient scaling has become impossible with existing manual processes. Here are 8 potential pitfalls of manual reconciliation that can hold your business back: Higher operational risk from unmatched data items Account errors that mislead Portfolio Managers, particularly regarding [...]
7 Risks and Lessons learned when implementing a 3rd party Product Master Data Management Platform
Fundipedia is a product data management platform built in partnership with, and delivered to the asset management industry. We work with some of the biggest names in the industry and through the delivery of dozens of successful Fundipedia installations, we have identified the most common risks and established strong mechanisms to mitigate them. From initial demonstration to user-ready, our implementation team will typically have Fundipedia Data Management up and running in less than 12 weeks. Delivered in an agile manner, ensuring the solution delivers value early and often using an incremental delivery model Client-owned and managed but delivered Software as a Service (SaaS) so you get the [...]
5 Competitive Boosters of an Automated Reconciliation System
Reconciliation is often overlooked and undervalued by firms. Done right, reconciliation can help you avoid regulatory risks, make informed decisions, and ultimately reduce costs. Unfortunately, reconciliation at many firms remains a laborious, time-consuming and risk-prone process relying heavily on spreadsheets and manual labor. This approach is not only inefficient but also fundamentally unsustainable in the long run. Planning well ahead, and considering automating your data reconciliation process early on, could be the competitive edge your firm has been seeking. Here are 5 competitive advantages to consider when deciding whether automated reconciliation is the right choice for you: 1. Informed investment decisions Asset managers are increasingly demanding further [...]
11 Key Capabilities to look for when considering an Automated Reconciliation Solution
Reconciling data manually is, more often than not, a good choice for firms just starting out. It requires minimal initial setup, almost no cost, and no development projects to implement. However, as the organisation grows, so too does the risk of errors. As data increases in volume and complexity, firms quickly realise that their lack of governance and audit trail, two of the foremost limitations of manual data reconciliation, become a real issue and risk to their business. This is also the point at which macros start to become increasingly complex. This is a precarious point for firms that, as a result, can end up with a [...]
What to expect when choosing Fundipedia at the heart of your data ecosystem?
Fundipedia is the only fully data agnostic data management platform for the Asset Management industry. Through intelligent automation and powerful control models, Fundipedia provides firms with complete control of their product data without increasing staff headcount. It connects effortlessly to any system to leverage your data across multiple areas of the business and with 3rd parties. Our data management solution is used by some of the largest companies in the world. We care about the projects we take on and we’re proud of our clients and their achievements. Here is what to expect when working with Fundipedia: The software development process Fundipedia development follows the Agile [...]
What’s behind Fundipedia’s service quality and resilience?
Fundipedia is backed by a team of technology experts, Asset Management industry veterans, and entrepreneurial builders. We’ve been helping the likes of Barclays, Prudential and M&G take control of their data since 2007. Our innovative technology enables the user to disseminate and reconcile any type of data. This results in end-to-end control, as well as insights that drive smart business decisions, inspiring the confidence to meet regulatory requirements with ease. You can learn how Fundipedia employs the latest developments in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning >> here. Fundipedia is delivered via a web application built on top of the .NET Framework connecting to a SQL Server database. [...]
5 ways your Asset Management firm will stay ahead of the game with AI and ML
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine learning (ML) may seem both a distant and even scary prospect to some, straight out of a sci-fi movie plot, but in reality they’ve been around in our lives for quite some time now. Think Siri or Cortana, for example. A growing number of financial institutions are applying AI to their businesses via the back office and customer advice interactions to name just a couple. And, according to a report from the last World Economic Forum, 76% of banking CXOs agree that adopting AI will be critical to their organisation’s ability to differentiate in the market. Yet, the Asset Management industry seems [...]
Are you certain you’re fully complying with MiFID II?
Asset managers have been living with MiFID II for close to a decade. But while that might seem like it's more than enough time to get to grips with the directive's admittedly complex requirements, it turns out many aren't as compliant as they thought they were. Or, at least, that's what the Financial Conduct Authority discovered, according to the findings of a review they published on 26 February 2021.Here's a look at the FCA's key findings, plus some tips on improving your firm's MiFID II compliance which you can start implementing straight away. What was the scope of the FCA's review?The FCA's review focused on product governance. In other words, [...]
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