Virtual
Account customization makes it difficult for institutional managers to embrace commercially available end-to-end solutions for client onboarding. Instead, firms often initially focus on "process." This starts with identifying onboarding tasks and dependencies, while setting up a communication cadence to ensure that stakeholders are kept in the loop throughout.
What else can you do to set yourself apart from other firms?
In this CutterCast, we cover industry challenges, best practices, and the role of automation in client onboarding.
Gina McCafferty has 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. She served at Cutter from 1999 to 2011 as Principal and Managing Director of CutterResearch, and she was instrumental in growing that business. Gina returned to Cutter in 2017, and established and ran the company’s Wealth Management research division. In 2019, she was appointed to Head of Research, responsible for Asset Management and Wealth Management product development and delivery to over 200 member firms around the globe. Gina was previously at Investit Ltd., where she served for six years as head of the company’s research service. Prior to that, she held senior positions at DST International with product responsibility for their global accounting and performance measurement systems, and at SunGard as Vice President of Client Services for their securities trading products.
Philip (Phil) Orlando is a Consultant at Cutter Associates and brings over eleven years of consulting, organizational strategy, client service, operations, accounting, and IT experience to Cutter clients. Phil has been involved with multiple Front, Middle, and Back Office strategy engagements covering accounting systems, portfolio management and trading, pre and post-trade compliance, risk management, and data management and governance. Phil also has extensive experience with client and sales management (e.g. client reporting, CRM).
Prior to joining Cutter Associates, Phil was an Organizational Strategy Business Analyst at State Street Bank where he worked on several large-scale projects including the implementation of an enterprise workflow tool and a new inquiry management system. He also guided a program purposed to transition complex cash, reconciliation, and trade tasks from the business units to centers of excellence (COEs).
Previously, Phil was an ETF Client Operations Account Manager at State Street Bank. He launched new ETFs & on-boarded new clients, managed relationships with several ETF sponsors, and crafted specifications for IT resources to continuously improve the accuracy, reliability, and efficiency of ETF processes.
Phil holds a B.S. in Finance from Stonehill College and is also a CFA charterholder.
Neil Sheehan brings more than seven years of experience in the financial services industry to his Research Analyst’s role at Cutter Associates. Prior to joining Cutter in 2021, Neil was an analyst in the wealth management group at Celent, a global research and advisory firm focused on technology for financial institutions. At Celent, he contributed to the wealth management team’s global research agenda, supporting advisory relationships with clients and completing and delivering on consulting engagements. Prior to Celent, Neil was a business analyst in fintech product development at Brown Brothers Harriman, where he was responsible for business analysis and management of client-driven projects, research to support key business initiatives, and maintenance and implementation of products and solutions. Prior to that role, Neil served as a supervisor within the Investor Services Group at Brown Brothers Harriman. Neil earned his bachelor’s degree in finance, with a minor in economics, from Providence College.
Neil’s areas of expertise include the following:
• Experience working in US financial services and fintech product development, supporting back- and middle-office functions
• Strong research focus in BPO, RPA, intelligent automation, client experience, investment operations, financial planning, and portfolio construction
• Work featured in trade publications, such as Investment News, Financial Planning, Wealth Management.com, and Business Insider