Event
Virtual
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Event Summary
As traditional data sources like company filings, stock price, and transaction volume have gotten over-analyzed and over-engineered, asset managers are increasingly shifting their focus to novel types and forms of data such as satellite images, credit card spend, website traffic, app usage, social media posts, geolocation, and news feeds to guide their investment strategies. This explosion in the volume of data, combined with the availability of cheap compute power and the rise of AI, has created an enormous opportunity for investment managers to lead their peers through an information advantage or risk being left behind.
In this discussion with Alpha-DNA, we examine the alternative data landscape and the applicability of AI tools to enhance alpha capture, including specific use cases, as well as some of the challenges to deploying such technology.
Event sponsored by Alpha-DNA.
Speakers
Cutter
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Jon Chandler
Director
Jon Chandler brings more than ten years of experience in the financial services industry to his Director's role at Cutter Associates. Prior to joining Cutter, Jon was a senior business analyst for State Street Global Advisors (SSGA), where he was involved in a number of projects for the front and middle office, including UAT design and execution for an order management system (Fidessa IMS), the implementation of a web-based due diligence platform (FundInsight), and an enterprise solution to support blended benchmarks. Prior to his project roles, Jon was a principal in fixed income trade operations at SSGA. He has extensive experience with post-trade operations and applications, such as OASYS/CTM, PORTIA, MBSExpert, and Failstation. Jon earned a bachelor of arts in history from the University of Florida and an MBA from Northeastern University.
Recent research assignments and publications include the following:
- Alternative Investment Systems
- Collateral Management
- Investment Accounting Solutions
- Order Management Systems
- Performance Measurement and Attribution Systems
- Reconciliation Solutions
- Risk Management Systems
Guests
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Wayne Ferbert
Managing Director, Alpha DNA Investment Management
Wayne has spent his entire 30-year career in financial services. He founded Alpha DNA Investment Management to broaden the use of machine learning in the Hedged Equity space.
He previously co-founded ZEGA Financial to specialize in risk-management strategies using options. ZEGA’s founding principles grew out of the book Wayne co-authored entitled Buy and Hedge, the Five Iron Rules for Investing Over the Long Term.
Wayne spent 10 years in the online brokerage segment with TD Ameritrade. He managed Business Development as a member of the Senior Operating Committee-including M&A and Market Research--as well as ran Product Development. Previously, Wayne held planning & analytical roles at Fortune 500 insurance and banking firms.
Rod Fertig
Co-founder and Director of Research, Alpha-DNA
Rod is a Partner and co-founder of alpha-DNA, where he leverages AI to synthesize traditional and alternative data to predict revenue growth for brand and companies. Prior to starting alpha-DNA in 2014, Rod spent over a decade leading Customer and Digital analytics transformation inside large global Financial Services businesses, most recently at The Western Union Company where he led their digital analytics, pricing strategy, and account-based relationship optimization teams. He has also held roles at Capital One where he was responsible for credit risk management and customer value optimization. Rod has a B.S. in Economics degree from Duke University and holds a Series 65 license.
Andy Pratt
Senior Partner and Director of Investment Strategy, Burney Wealth Management
Andy Pratt, CFA, CAIA is the Director of Investment Strategy at Burney Wealth Management. He started with Burney in 2012 and now focuses primarily on Burney’s investment strategies and trading operations, where he and his team are responsible for managing over 2,400 accounts and $1.5 billion in assets under management. He enjoys the challenge of blending Burney’s long-standing investment process with new ideas and technology. Andy graduated from Virginia Tech with degrees in Economics and Psychology. He is a CFA Charterholder, earning his Charter in 2017, as well as a CAIA Charterholder, an alternative investments designation, earned in 2020.