February 18, 2014
Cutter Associates held its inaugural BlackRock Solutions Aladdin Peer Networking event on 11 February in New York, NY. The event provided an independent forum for investment technology and operations professionals to meet and discuss ways to improve efficiencies and optimize their use of BRS Aladdin – a leading portfolio management and trading tool. The full-day event was attended by technology and operations leaders from several prominent asset management firms, insurance companies and pensions.
In preparing the program, Cutter Associates interviewed attendees to understand their thoughts, priorities and complexities surrounding the BRS Aladdin system. CutterBenchmarking provided insights into each firms’ assessment of the system by conducting a utilization and satisfaction survey of each participating firm. This framework led attendees to engage in interactive and informative discussions. Among the topics discussed were governance, internal support models and the challenges around implementing changes. The afternoon session focused on data governance and integrity and how firms manage quality control and reporting. The high caliber attendees ensured lively debate.
“We were very pleased by the level of participation at this first meeting – the energy and communication in the room and the networking that happened during breaks and lunch. Everyone there had peers to connect with – to share experiences and learn from best practices,” said Linda Bertone, Managing Director of Client Service at Cutter Associates.
Jay Boyd, Senior Director, Head of Fixed Income Applications at Invesco added, "The opportunity to validate and challenge what we have done with our Aladdin implementation to ensure we are maximizing our investment makes participation in a group like this of great value to us."
CutterConsulting has helped many clients successfully realize their tactical initiatives and implementations around BRS Aladdin, providing the resources, experience and strategies needed for effective outcomes. CEO Tom Seeman noted, “It makes sense for Cutter Associates to bring our distinct systems experience to the fore and we are committed to expanding services to clients where we can add similar benefits.”
The next BRS Peer Networking onsite meeting is scheduled for Fall 2014 in New York with additional networking opportunities planned beforehand.
About Cutter Associates, LLC
Cutter Associates, LLC provides truly independent investment process expertise for the investment management community. Through three interrelated services, Cutter Associates provides investment management firms the knowledge and tools to ensure that their business technologies and processes are competitive. CutterResearch offers member firms detailed, actionable research to reduce risk, lower costs and keep up-to-date on systems and operational processes. CutterBenchmarking provides bespoke reports measuring firms’ investment processes by capabilities, risk and effectiveness through comparisons based on tried and tested capability models. CutterConsulting partners with firms to evaluate, select, and implement systems and to develop leading technology and operational strategies. Cutter Associates is headquartered in Rockland, MA and has subsidiaries in Canada and the UK.