Risk & Compliance

Compliance departments have a very clear goal: reduce risk. But changing regulations, complex asset types, and innovative product offerings make this task increasingly difficult.

CutterCast: Automation in Compliance

On the face of it, automation in compliance may sound like an oxymoron. With the exception of investment compliance, where robust systems handle pre-trade and post-trade compliance, and personal trading, many other areas of compliance tend to have fragmented bespoke processes requiring significant manual intervention. In this CutterCast, we examine the degree of automation in different functions within compliance, including the management aspects. We’ll discuss the challenges that asset managers face and the solutions they employ.

CutterCast: Automation in Compliance

In this CutterCast, we examine the degree of automation in different functions within compliance, including the management aspects. We’ll discuss the challenges that asset managers face and the solutions they employ.

Modern Compliance - Cutter Member Meeting

This virtual meeting takes place over three hours with multiple sessions featuring trends and takeaways from our Modern Compliance Benchmarking survey and focused sessions on electronic communications surveillance and investment guideline monitoring.

Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC)

This report contains the results of Cutter Associates research on governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) for investment management. It includes information on industry issues and trends, challenges and best practices, and GRC systems.

Cutter Member Meeting: Modern Compliance

This Modern Compliance - Cutter Member Meeting, comprised of three sessions, takes you through the Modern Compliance Benchmark Survey results and the latest electronic communications research. Sessions include research and consulting presentations and panel discussions with vendors and members.

CutterCast: Compliance for Your ESG Program

This CutterCast provides insights into the elements of a comprehensive ESG compliance program, considerations for a firm’s ESG policy and its integration into the investment process, preferred practices for reviewing ESG disclosures and related marketing, and reporting requirements to meet rising regulations.

CutterCast: GDPR Compliance – Are You Ready?

CutterResearch members join industry experts James Tedman of ACA Aponix and Jocelyn Paulley of Gowling WLG to discuss how firms can best prepare for the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and what changes they need to make to adapt client interactions, cyber-security policies, data governance programs, other systems, and workflows before the May 2018 deadline.

How Compliance Budgets Will Be Spent

CutterCast: GDPR Compliance - Are You Ready?

GDPR Compliance - Are You Ready?

We Are Bullish on Compliance: A Debrief From the Modern Compliance Member Meeting

Cutter Benchmarking 2022 Modern Compliance in Investment Management

Compliance officers face increasing pressure to deliver effective and efficient compliance programs. Heightened expectations from clients and regulators, increased supervisory requirements in today’s hybrid/remote work environments, and constant regulatory changes all contribute to this pressure. Firms find themselves increasingly turning to technology to enhance their compliance program’s effectiveness and control costs.

CutterCast: Compliance for Your ESG Program

This CutterCast provides insights into the elements of a comprehensive ESG compliance program

The Path to Developing Strong Compliance Professionals

The talent war is real! The question is: How are we going to win the battle for talent, so we win that war? From where I stand, you’ve got two strategies in this battle - you can buy talent or build it.

Game-Changing Tools to Modernize Your Compliance Program

Compliance: Beyond the Edge of the Horizon

While the future holds a number of challenges for compliance professionals, we focus in this Cutter Conversation on two of the important issues: ESG and SEC examinations.

CutterCast: Get Rid of the Noise and Fine-Tune Your Compliance Program

In this CutterCast, we discuss what options are available to the compliance professional in dealing with false positives related to the following: Investment guidelines complianceCode of Ethics / Employee Personal Trading ComplianceElectronic communications surveillance

How to Reduce Your Compliance Risk and Add to Your ROI

Compliance professionals these days have a to-do list that is so long that they can barely see to the end of it. From personal trading and marketing and distribution issues to monitoring client portfolios, the end of the list seems to be just a distant vision and the cycle continues like the tide of quarterly and annual compliance tasks.

The Changing Realities of Compliance and How to Prepare for the Future

CutterCast: Get Rid of the Noise and Fine-Tune Your Compliance Program

In this CutterCast, we discuss what options are available to the compliance professional in dealing with false positives related to the following: investment guidelines compliance, trade forensics/market abuse surveillance and electronic communications surveillance

Welcome to a New Season of SEC Enforcement Actions

The SEC recently released some interesting enforcement actions that should make advisors and broker-dealers think long and hard about permitting employees to contribute to most, if not all, political candidates without incurring significant risks to their business.

Public Funds Virtual Roundtable (Public Fund Members Only)

Member Driven Topics: Compliance and Outsourcing

RegTech: Dealing with the Regulatory Avalanche

FinTech has received a lot of media attention. However, this attention focused mostly on customer-facing technology. Given the ever increasing regulatory requirements in the financial services industry, the automatization of compliance related tasks through technology makes a lot of sense. RegTech, a subset of this development, is still in its early stages and is only starting to receive attention. The report will give a brief introduction and then highlight some of the most innovative startups.

Why You Should Thank and Support Your CCO

When was the last time you asked your chief compliance officer (CCO) how he or she was doing? Because your CCO may likely have something to say ─ and don’t be surprised if you get an unenthusiastic answer.

CutterCast: Preparing for New SEC Liquidity Rule 22e-4

CutterResearch members discuss the changes they are making in their organizations, systems, and processes to comply with SEC Liquidity Rule 22e-4, which takes effect for most fund managers between late 2018 and mid-2019. Topics will include requirements for reporting and for security classification, pricing, and valuation. We will also discuss vendor solutions and services available to help members support the new rule.

Electronic Communications Surveillance Systems

Compliance faces the critical task of surveilling electronic communications to monitor employees' business conduct and mitigate risks of non-compliant behaviors. With today's distributed/hybrid workforce, compliance requires the right tools – and AI and analytics can help.

Predictive Analytics for Operations

Investment management firms use predictive analytics to optimize processes and to identify early warnings of process anomalies. Predictive analytics use historical data to predict future outcomes based on current data, and use machine learning to create models that help identify patterns and behaviors that predict risky situations. This research explores how Operations teams can leverage predictive analytics and models to provide much earlier warnings to predict and prevent operational loss, and presents some options on how to get started.

CutterBenchmarking 2020 Investment Risk Management

The results of participating Benchmarking firms’ investment risk management practices.

RegTech Solutions for KYC

This report explores how RegTech enhances KYC compliance and strengthens KYC processes, and provides vendor assessments and best practices in the selection and adoption of RegTech solutions for KYC.

Regulatory Reporting Solutions

CutterResearch provides an overview of vendor software products and services that support the production of reports of investment data to regulators.

Regulatory Guidance During COVID-19 Crisis Presents Strategic Opportunities for Asset and Wealth Managers

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, regulators in the UK and US announced a relaxation of certain regulatory requirements and reiterated current regulations that provide firms with greater operational flexibility and offer a strategic opportunity for proactive asset and wealth managers.

Due Diligence and the Asset Owner – Getting the Job Done

Due diligence is becoming more complex as risk and operational professionals at asset owner firms are being asked to conduct more oversight on their asset managers. This paper explores the challenges of due diligence processing during asset management selection, and examines the tools and technology offering assistance.

SFDR - Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation

This whitepaper provides a background, summary, and impacts of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulations (SFDR) that came into force on March 10th 2021

CutterResearch Member Meeting

Supporting Changing Investment Strategies: Connect with your contemporaries in the operations and technology divisions of leading asset management firms.

CutterResearch Member Meeting

Supporting Changing Investment Strategies: Connect with your contemporaries in the operations and technology divisions of leading asset management firms.

CutterResearch Member Meeting

Supporting Changing Investment Strategies: Connect with your contemporaries in the operations and technology divisions of leading asset management firms.

Regulation of OTC Derivatives

This research report provides an update on the changing OTC derivatives regulations and their impact on CutterResearch Member firms’ operations.

US Data Protection Regulation

Humans now generate 2.5 quintillion bytes of data worldwide every day. The volume will only increase as digital innovations emerge, including the volume of personal data collected, used, and stored. Regulators around the world are working to protect personal data, and the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has dominated the discussions for the past two years. In the US, the states have been actively seeking to protect personal data, and the federal government has recently shown interest in enacting federal laws. This report examines state-level initiatives as well as the impact a new federal data protection law could have on financial institutions and the vendors who serve them.

Order Management System Selection

Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)

CutterCast: Client Onboarding: Challenges and Best Practices

Automation is critical to efficient onboarding of asset and wealth management clients. This CutterCast explores member best practices for gathering client data and artifacts, determining suitability, completing documents, originating accounts, and transitioning assets.

CutterCast: Cutter Benchmarking: Investment Risk Survey Results

Investment managers need formal, centralized risk management practices with the appropriate segregation of duties. Although many member firms have established effective risk management teams and practices, and implemented technology and data to support them, work remains to be done. In this CutterCast, we share key trends and takeaways from our Investment Risk Management Benchmarking Survey.

Cyber Security

This Research report includes a look at cyber security trends and concerns that investment managers are increasingly facing.

Digital Client Onboarding for Wealth Management - Vendor Analysis and Strategic Considerations

This research provides insights into the status quo of digital onboarding in wealth management and a comparative assessment of vendors that supply onboarding solutions specific to wealth management.

Best Practices for Developing a Vendor Management Program

Order Management Systems

Investment managers have witnessed some significant changes across the OMS vendor landscape. Vendors are offering expanded functionality and services, and vendors of OMS designed for hedge funds or small asset managers are vying for market share.

Cryptocurrencies for Wealth Management - A Risk Worth Taking?

While the Bitcoin bubble may be deflating, many wealth management clients are eager to add crypto currencies to their portfolios—despite the obvious risk associated with these virtual products. Wealth managers are therefore stuck between appeasing clients’ wishes and protecting their wealth. Meanwhile, despite Bitcoin’s recent fall, cryptocurrencies are likely to remain a key investment topic for years to come.

An Introduction to Vendor Management

Cutter Research presents an explanation of the key factors driving asset managers and asset owners to focus on vendor management, along with a description of the Cutter Associates Vendor Management Lifecycle and Framework.

Security in Wealth Management

This report turns a critical eye to the discussion of cyber security in the financial services sector generally and private banking and wealth management specifically.

The Rise of Crowdfunding: Threats and Opportunities for the Global Wealth Management Industry

This report explores more than 50 crowdfunding platforms that are of strong relevance for the wealth management industry and analyzed in-depth 14 crowdfunding platforms in the sectors of donation and reward-based crowdfunding, marketplace lending, P2B lending and equity crowdinvesting. In addition, the report includes comprehensive profiles of three providers of support infrastructure that are highly relevant for the crowdfunding industry.

Cutter Benchmarking 2021 Managing Vendors and Service Providers

As organizations continue to focus on reducing costs and optimizing their third-party relationships, they have recognized the management of vendors (including service providers and other suppliers) as a vital discipline. We also recognize that asset managers and asset owners have a wide range of maturity and spending in their approach to vendor management. In this study, we look at how effectively organizations are managing vendors, from negotiating contracts and service level agreements to monitoring costs and risk.

CutterCast: Client Reporting - Using ESG Data

In this CutterCast, we hold a panel discussion with vendors to discuss how asset and wealth managers are tackling ESG reporting.

Vendor Management: Trends - and the Tools That Can Help

Growing requirements for vendor management have firms looking for more control, integration, and automation. In part one of this series, we discussed the importance of a vendor management program and introduced Cutter's Vendor Management Lifecycle. In part two, we offered recommendations and best practices for constructing a vendor management program. In this paper (part three), we examine trends and summarize the tools and technology that firms use to help manage all the processes within their vendor management programs.

Wealth Advisor Digitalization - How to make advisors more efficient, compliant and client-friendly

Digital technology is contributing to a major shift in the role of financial advisors in client interactions, as well as in their efficiencies. This report analyzes the status, trends and drivers in the digitalization of wealth advisor functions such as onboarding, compliance, client profiling, financial planning, advisor-client interfaces and client meeting preparation, and explores the threats and opportunities for wealth management firms in supporting their advisors through digital means.

Family Office Digital Transformation

Family offices, at the top of the pyramid of wealth services providers, are now beginning to feel pressures similar to what private banks and wealth managers felt a few years ago. In this flash report, we examine the latest trends in the digital family office.

Workplace Transformation With Robotic Process Automation

This paper on robotic process automation (RPA) offers a preview of some of the focus areas that we will discuss in our upcoming research report, and it provides information about what bots do and why RPA is important now.

2019 FinTech Landscape in Review

This spotlight report highlights some of the top fintech themes that impacted the wealth management industry in 2019.

General Data Privacy Regulation

On May 25th, 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will formally take effect. The amount of data amassed on clients means that the provisions outlined in the GDPR will have a significant impact on the costs and operations of the banking industry in general and private wealth management in particular.

Increasing Appetite for ESG Data

Firms are grappling with ESG integration. While the number of ESG data vendors has grown, so has the number of frameworks and regulations that firms must adhere to.

Wealth Trends – Part Five: Trends in the Provider Space

In April 2019, Cutter Wealth launched Wealth Trends, an online research series delivering thought leadership on key trends and disruption points that will reshape the wealth management industry through the early 2020s. Part Five, the final installment of our Wealth Trends 2019 series, looks at trends in the wealth management solution providers space.

CutterCast: ESG Practices

We’ve seen a steady increase in asset owners and asset managers implementing multi-asset class portfolios. In this CutterCast, we discuss the systems, tools, and processes that firms use to support these portfolios, as well as the challenges they encounter at different points in the portfolio management workflow.

Using RPA to Automate Business Processes

Investment management firms continue to cultivate an environment of greater efficiency, as business owners seek innovative solutions using modern technology to transform the workplace. Firms are embracing RPA as a technical solution to improve process efficiency and strive to use RPA in combination with other modern technologies, including AI. The RPA vendor landscape has been rapidly developing, receiving a steady influx of capital, and showing strong future growth trends. Firms, both large and small, use RPA and they all share a similar story ─ that the ROI benefits of RPA are clear.

CutterResearch Member Meeting

Alternative Data and the Expanding Universe of Investment Information; Investment Accounting Solutions; Managing Market Data; Practical Applications of Data Science and Data Visualization; SEC Liquidity Rule

CutterResearch Member Meeting

Operating Models and the Architecture to Support Them; Alternative Data and the Expanding Universe of Investment Information; Investment Accounting Solutions

CutterResearch Member Meeting

Operating Models and the Architecture to Support Them; Alternative Data and the Expanding Universe of Investment Information; Automating Business Processes; De-mystifying the EDM Landscape

CutterResearch Member Meeting

Alternative Data and the Expanding Universe of Investment Information; Investment Accounting Solutions; Mastering Client, Account, and Product Data;Pitch Book and Client Presentation Systems

CutterResearch Member Meeting

Client Reporting Systems; All-in-One or Standalone Solutions; The Business of IT; Integrating Investment Systems; SimCorp User Discussion

CutterResearch Member Meeting

All-in-One or Standalone Solutions; Integrating Investment Systems; The Business of IT; Client Reporting Systems; Best Practices for Client Reporting Templates; Trends in Client Portals

CutterResearch Member Meeting

Asset Allocation Solutions, Managed Data Services, Managing Benchmark and Index Data, Guest Speaker, Vendor Demos

CutterResearch Member Meeting

Asset Allocation Solutions, Managed Data Services, Managing Benchmark and Index Data, Guest Speaker, Vendor Demos

CutterResearch Member Meeting

Digital Leaders in the Financial Services Industry, Asset Allocation Solutions, Managing Benchmark and Index Data, Alternative Data and the Expanding Universe of Investment Information, Managed Data Services, Asset Servicing Today

CutterResearch Member Meeting

Asset Allocation Solutions, Managed Data Services, Managing Benchmark and Index Data, Supporting Alternative Assets, Asset Servicing Today

CutterCast: Supporting Alternative Investments

CutterResearch members discuss how they support investments in complex asset types like private equity, real estate, and fund of funds. Discussions will include systems, services, and processes related to alternative assets, including reporting, compliance, valuation, record keeping, cash management, data management, performance measurement, commitment tracking, and benchmark selection.

CutterCast: Supporting Alternative Investments

Supporting Alternative Investments

CutterCast: Automating Pitch Books & Client Presentations

Sharing information through presentations has always been important in sales and client service roles at asset management firms. Members have been working on automating updates to presentation materials, leveraging common slides across multiple presentations, improving compliance and brand adherence, and enabling story telling through customization. In this CutterCast, members share how they are automating production of pitch books and client account review presentations.

Trends in Asset Management 2021

Cutter Research presents an overview of key trends for 2021 that will impact asset managers and owners as they navigate headwinds and plan for the future. Although 2020 is behind us, asset managers and owners continue to operate in an environment of consolidation and regulation, shrinking revenue due to lower fees and increasing costs, and disruptive technology. While the COVID-19 pandemic persists and work-from-home mandates continue, asset managers and owners are getting to work. With ESG and alternative investments taking center stage, firms are investing in data and technology to heighten their operational efficiency.

Business Process Redesign

Business Process Redesign

Sydney Cutter Connect 2022

We are excited to bring members, analysts, consultants, and service providers together, in-person, for a full day of learning, networking, and reconnecting.

CutterCast: Automating Pitch Books & Client Presentations

Automating Pitch Books & Client Presentations

Cutter Research and Cutter Wealth ASIA-PACIFIC Member Meeting

This virtual meeting takes place over two days, with multiple sessions and tracks featuring new Cutter Research and Cutter Wealth research presentations.

Cutter Research and Cutter Wealth EUROPE Member Meeting

This virtual meeting takes place over two days, with multiple sessions and tracks featuring new Cutter Research and Cutter Wealth research presentations.

Cutter Research and Cutter Wealth NORTH AMERICA Member Meeting

This virtual meeting takes place over two days, with multiple sessions and tracks featuring new Cutter Research and Cutter Wealth research presentations.

Advance Together – Cutter Member Meeting NORTH AMERICA

This virtual meeting takes place over two days, with multiple sessions, tracks, live experiences, and real-time interactivity, featuring new Asset and Wealth Management research topics.

Advance Together – Cutter Member Meeting EUROPE

This virtual meeting takes place over two days, with multiple sessions, tracks, live experiences, and real-time interactivity, featuring new Asset and Wealth Management research topics.

Advance Together – Cutter Member Meeting ASIA-PACIFIC

This virtual meeting takes place over two days, with multiple sessions, tracks, live experiences, and real-time interactivity, featuring new Asset and Wealth Management research topics.

Adapt2Advance – Cutter Member Meeting ASIA-PACIFIC

This virtual meeting takes place over three days. Each day focuses on a key theme with multiple sessions and real-time interactivity, featuring new Asset and Wealth Management research topics.

Adapt2Advance – Cutter Member Meeting EUROPE

This virtual meeting takes place over three days. Each day focuses on a key theme with multiple sessions and real-time interactivity, featuring new Asset and Wealth Management research topics.

Adapt2Advance - Cutter Member Meeting NORTH AMERICA

This virtual meeting takes place over three days. Each day focuses on a key theme with multiple sessions and real-time interactivity, featuring new Asset and Wealth Management research topics.

Asset Allocation Solutions

This report on asset allocation provides information about solutions that can be used at various stages of a top-down investment process, from strategic design and evaluation through to the implementation of multi-asset and other custom strategies.

CutterResearch AUSTRALIA Member Meeting NEW! VIRTUAL EVENT **June 2 in Asia Pacific Region**

Data Science and Analytics - Beyond the Quant Team, Rethinking Research Management, A New Normal - Executive Panel Discussion, OMS Innovation - Acquire, Build, Cooperate

CutterResearch EUROPE Member Meeting NEW! VIRTUAL EVENT

Data Science and Analytics - Beyond the Quant Team, Rethinking Research Management, A New Normal - Executive Panel Discussion, OMS Innovation - Acquire, Build, Cooperate

CutterResearch NORTH AMERICA Member Meeting NEW! VIRTUAL EVENT

Data Science and Analytics - Beyond the Quant Team, Rethinking Research Management, A New Normal - Executive Panel Discussion, OMS Innovation - Acquire, Build, Cooperate

Cutter Wealth Member Meeting NEW! VIRTUAL EVENT

The Future is Mobile - Mapping the Road To Success, Tackling Financial Literacy with Digital Education Tools, A New Normal - Executive Panel Discussion, The Rising Popularity of the Family Office - Turning Risk into Opportunity

Cutter Connect 2022

We are excited to bring members, analysts, consultants, and service providers together, in-person for three days of learning, networking, and reconnecting.

CutterCast: Selecting and Monitoring External Managers

For asset owners, evaluating their external managers involves more than just assessing investment performance. This Cuttercast examines the process, tools, and criteria used by firms in the selection and ongoing monitoring of external managers.

CutterCast: Cutter Benchmarking: Alternative Investments Survey Results

Allocations to alternative assets have steadily increased in recent years, as institutional investors look beyond traditional investment vehicles to diversify their portfolios and generate higher returns. In this CutterCast, we share key trends and takeaways from our Alternative Investments Benchmarking survey.

Cutter Wealth Webcast

Fintech Landscape in Review

ESG Roundtable

ESG Roundtable

Big Data for Wealth Management - A Practical Guide for Successful Implementation

In recent years, financial providers have looked for ways to leverage the power of Big Data by implementing new digital ecosystems intended to take advantage of increased data volume. Unfortunately, many of these projects have produced lackluster returns, if not outright failure. This report analyzes why Big Data projects in the financial services sector are often less successful than intended, and what wealth managers can do to ensure that their Big Data initiatives stand a better chance of success. The report and profiles a group of 30 vendors who cater to a range of Big Data needs of wealth managers. And presents five case studies and learning points on how the main Big Data needs are addressed in different industries.

Aladdin Implementation

Avoiding Disaster: The Benefits of Digital Client Prospecting and Onboarding Tools

You finally landed that $50 million client you’ve been courting. Because you understand the importance of a successful onboarding, you’re feeling a level of stress ─ and recall how your last one took weeks to complete.

Cutter Wealth Meeting

Leveraging the Power of Automation: Connect with your contemporaries in the operations and technology divisions of leading wealth management firms

Fixed Income Portfolio Management and Trading

This research report provides a review of applications that support fixed income portfolio management and trading, including specialty analysis and order management systems. It also offers a discussion of associated market trends and member practices.

How Do Your Client Reports Stack Up?

How often do you review and update your client reporting templates? Most likely, not frequently enough.

CutterCast: Outsourced Trading

The number of asset managers outsourcing some portion of their trading is growing, as is the number of providers. Although the outsourced trading industry is still relatively young, it offers clear benefits for specific types of investment managers and in certain situations. This CutterCast explores the drivers, potential benefits, and challenges of outsourcing some or all of trading.

Derivatives Platforms: Ready for Cross Asset Coverage?

This CutterResearch report addresses the issue of whether the platforms originally designed to support derivatives are capable of supporting front-to-back processing of multiple asset classes.

CutterCast: Transition to Internal Management

Asset owners are increasingly looking to insource their externally managed assets, with the goal of reducing fees. But the past suggests that this can be a long and at times excruciating process. This CutterCast examines what transitioning from external to internal management entails. In addition to hiring experienced portfolio managers, there are operational and infrastructure needs as well as governance lessons. We look at best practices and lessons learned.

Market Data Administration

Cutter Research Finds OMS Vendors Expanding Services and Functionality

There are demands for added functionality, but improving existing service and support levels are also critical

CutterCast: System Implementations: Lessons Learned

System implementations and upgrades are something that all firms have to do, some more often than others. Yet each one still comes with surprises and learning opportunities. This CutterCast explores member experiences during their implementation journeys and the lessons they learned.

Rein van Rooyen joins Cutter Associates as Senior Director

Cutter's rapidly expanding consulting practice, which includes 13 new hires in recent months, is due to the growing demand for advisory services among asset managers and superannuation funds in Australia, New Zealand, and around the globe.

Derivatives Operations Assessment

Our client's use of derivatives has increased significantly over the last several years and is expected to continue to grow both in terms of volumes and complexity.

Back Office Strategy

Isn’t It Time We Used Modern Technologies to Analyze Vendor Management Risk?

Vendor risk management is exhausting, because of the sheer volume of available data for analysis and the organization’s obligation to report a complete, accurate, and timely risk register.

Managing Liquidity and Trade Execution

This research report examines the systems and practices relating to trade execution management (EMS and OMS), transaction cost analysis, and electronic execution venues.

Global Custodian Conversion

Operating Model Strategy

Cutter Benchmarking 2022 Performance Measurement and Attribution Practices

In today’s competitive and increasingly global economy, investment managers are focused on retaining clients by delivering and reporting on strong portfolio performance. This Cutter Benchmarking study on Performance Measurement and Attribution (PMA) Practices focuses on the systems, processes, and organization required to accurately measure performance and effectively publish results for internal and external consumers.

Investment Systems, Process Review, and Internal Equity Assessment

CutterCast: Operational Efficiency

Every day, we hear about fee compression, consolidations, and new FinTech advancements promising process improvements—trends that put pressure on buy-side firms to improve their operational efficiency. At Cutter we’ve been helping firms automate business processes for two decades. Before we propose new systems or data solutions, we develop a deep understanding of our client's operating and business services models. What has the firm already done to improve performance and operational efficiency? What actions can the firm take immediately to improve their systems and data strategies? What technologies have already helped them achieve real results? And what emerging technologies can best help them improve business process automation now and for the foreseeable future?

CutterCast: Seismic: Automating Material Production

Seismic is a widely adopted tool within asset and wealth management firms. While the vendor describes it as a sales enablement tool, Seismic offers many benefits in its ability to automate the production of presentations such as pitchbooks and client account reviews. In this discussion, we examine how member firms have leveraged the tool to automate data into slides, master slides, and build personalized presentations.

CutterCast: Leveraging CRM in Asset Management

CRM tools, once used at asset management firms mainly by sales staff, are now commonly used by marketing and client service teams as well. This CutterCast explores how members are leveraging data and analytics to improve the client experience delivered by sales and client service teams, and how members are improving user adoption and data governance. We also examine the role of the CRM vs a Client Master, as well as practices for selecting a CRM platform and managing multiple client types.

Lights, Camera, Action: Performance Measurement and Attribution 2020

This report highlights the Performance Measurement and Attribution (PMA) research currently underway for publication later this year. We introduce how the PMA vendor landscape has changed and what makes PMA challenging.

ESG Investing: One Vision, Many Lenses

Asset managers and asset owners are attempting to build ESG-friendly portfolios that achieve strong financial performance. But approaches and viewpoints vary on how to incorporate ESG into investment frameworks - and this nuance is what makes ESG such a complex topic.

CutterBenchmarking 2020 Alternative Investments Results

This report provides the key findings identified in Cutter’s 2020 Alternative Investments Benchmarking survey.

Are Increases in Ops Budgets in the Cards?

We’ve been sifting through the data and preliminary findings from our 2021 Operations Staffing and Organization benchmarking survey and, when we analyzed the results, one of them jumped out at us.

All-in-One or Standalone Solutions? Finding the Right Technology Strategy

This report contains the results of Cutter Associates research into the age-old debate between all-in-one and standalone (best of breed) solutions.

CutterCast: CutterBenchmarking Performance Measurement and Attribution

In this CutterCast, we share key trends and takeaways from our Performance Measurement and Attribution Practices survey. The survey focuses on the systems, processes, and organization required to accurately measure performance and effectively publish results for internal and external consumers.

CutterCast: Supporting Portfolio Construction and Optimization

CutterResearch members discuss how they support portfolio construction and optimization, including the organization, tools, and processes they use for specific and multiple asset class investments.

Investment Companies’ Mergers & Acquisitions - Position Your Performance Team for Success

Imagine you start your day with the announcement that your firm has been acquired or is merging with another company. After getting over the initial shock, you realize that the executive team eventually will turn their attention to restructuring and integrating the performance teams at each firm.

CutterCast: Fee Calculation and Billing Processes

CutterResearch members discuss best practices and solutions for investment management fee calculation and billing processes.

CutterCast: Supporting Bank Loans and Commercial Mortgages

CutterResearch members discuss their challenges and best practices supporting bank loans and commercial mortgages. Discussions include operations and technology factors such as organization, data management, automated systems, and services.

Wealth Webcast: Fintech Landscape in Review

It's been an exciting year for the wealth management industry with new partnerships, emerging technology, and innovative products continuing to transform the market. Many of these initiatives are the result of a dynamic fintech landscape, which is broadening wealth managers’ client base and propelling further digitalization across the industry. Nevertheless, trends set by agile fintech firms could pose competitive and operational challenges for traditional wealth managers. Join Cutter Wealth as we discuss some of the top fintech themes impacting the wealth management industry.

Client Report Vendors: What Can They Really Do for You?

Don’t Let Your Outsourcing Implementation Land Your Firm in a Sand Trap

We’ve all been there. When all of that time and preparation goes out the window ─ and it seems there’s no way to recover.

Metrics for the Business

This research report offers a comprehensive overview of how asset managers are using quantitative assessments to measure people, process, and technology.

What's Next in Digital Client Communication? Innovative Tools for Success

Explore the functional highlights of different types of communication technology like analytics and messenger aggregation, see how others in the industry leverage these new technologies and get an overview of the specific vendor landscapes.

CutterCast: Creating Pitch Books and Client Presentations

CutterResearch members discuss the tools and processes used to create pitch books and client presentations for the Sales, Portfolio Management, and Client Service teams.

CutterCast: Unstructured Data Capture and RPA

Unstructured data is everywhere. Firms are capturing this data, but also tackling the job of being able to use it in the front and back office. Whether it be from PDFs, websites, or emails, the data has to be interpreted and then fed into their internal processes. In this webcast, we discuss use cases and the tools that are finding the insights in this ocean of data.

↳ Careers

Develop professionally by helping our clients reach their goals alongside a team of talented industry veterans. We value highly motivated and qualified professionals with a background in investment management systems and operations.

Execution Management Systems

Execution management systems enable traders to focus on high touch orders, while automating routine trade execution through rules-based processing, such as smart order routing and algo wheels, with direct integration to counterparties and liquidity sources.

CutterCast: ESG Investing Among Wealth Managers

This webcast explores recent and emerging trends in ESG (environmental, social, governance) investing among wealth management firms as well as some of the tools these firms use to support their ESG investment strategies. Additionally, we address regulatory guidelines relating to ESG as well as potential pitfalls associated with incorporating ESG into a wealth management strategy.

Market Data Administration

This report summarizes current industry trends that impact market data administration (MDA), plus details the challenges that asset management and asset owner firms face when dealing with market data - and how firms manage those challenges. Our report also covers vended MDA tools and services.

CutterCast: Portals - The Art of the Possible

While the banking and wealth worlds are adopting portals, this trend has been slower to catch on in the institutional world. In this CutterCast, we discuss where institutional firms are today and where the future of portals is headed.

Client Facing Strategies

This research examines the organizational structures and technology approaches used by institutional asset managers to support existing clients and drive new business.

CutterCast: Client Profitability

While firms have focused on mutual fund profitability for years, they are at various stages of exploring client profitability. This CutterCast explains what client profitability is, factors that influence it, and how best to measure it.

Wealth Management Operating Models

Wealth managers today are under increasing pressure and face fierce competition. Plus, expectations have changed, with investors demanding more. For some managers, legacy technology and process inefficiencies hamper their ability to respond to a changing industry ─ and they'll need to transform their operating models to future-proof their businesses.

Behind the Login of Leading Robo-Advisors

This report reviews the offerings, digital platforms and market positioning of 20 leading robo-advisors from around the world to rigorous empirical assessment. For the first time, our report incorporates 10 new criteria relating to fiduciary responsibility and client suitability.

CutterCast: Market Data Administration

Market data costs are skyrocketing at historic rates as the growing need for data factors heavily into investment managers’ success. In this CutterCast, firms will share their experiences with managing and controlling market data costs within their organizations.

2020 Trends – Part One: Transformative Times in Asset Management

CutterResearch presents part one of a four-part series on asset management trends that provides an overview of key areas of focus during these transformative times in asset management.

Automating Client Communications

Giving structure to unstructured data

CutterCast: Cloud Adoption in Asset Management

CutterResearch members share their rationale for adoption of cloud technologies. They discuss which applications and activities are best suited for hosting by cloud service providers, and why. Members also explore principles guiding effective implementation, share their thoughts about current service providers and platforms, and discuss their use of public and private clouds.

Automating Client Communications: Giving Structure to Unstructured Data

The next generation of client service personnel must have appropriate tools to meet the growing demands of their clients, while freeing up time so they can focus on value-added services. However, taking advantage of the next technology revolution and the benefits of automation will be much easier if firms have well-defined data that’s easily accessible.

ESG Investing

This research investigates environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing, the state of the market, and challenges experienced by asset owners and asset managers. It profiles third-party products that offer ESG data, ratings, evaluation, and services.

Wealth Management Investing Trends: Direct Indexing

Trends in Asset Management: 2022 and Beyond

With asset managers and asset owners committed to achieving their goals, the Cutter Research team presents an overview of firms' focus areas for 2022 and beyond.

Wealth Management CX Trends: Embedded Wealth Management

In this whitepaper, we argue why firms offering services for U/HNW clients should pay attention to embedded finance and embedded wealth management — even if the use cases may not appear applicable at first glance.

How to #Twitter in #Wealth Management: A Guideline for Setting Up a Successful Handle

Social media, and especially Twitter, offer banks and wealth managers the great advantage of engaging and monitoring high-net-worth individuals in a cost-effective and real-time manner. This 9-page flash report looks at industry best practices, and some of the bigger Twitter do’s and taboos to provide key recommendations for wealth managers on how to build a Twitter profile that reaches and engages their wealthy clients and prospects in the most productive way possible.

CutterCast: Derivatives and Collateral Management

Since the last major financial crisis, we've had more than a decade to figure out what went wrong and how to keep it from happening again. This session explores some important questions. What have we learned about the role derivatives played in the crisis? Have buy-side firms learned how to avoid them or at least use them more wisely? Are there indications that a new crisis could be brewing for similar reasons? Which providers can you count on to serve your firm's needs?

Exploring Cryptocurrency Investments

In this paper, Cutter Associates explains the background, characteristics, and types of cryptocurrencies, as well as some of the reasons institutional investors are interested in and skeptical about investing in them.

Supporting Investment Management in a Global Environment

This research report includes a discussion of various member approaches to supporting global strategies, focused on the organization of investment, trading, and operations business areas.

Wealth Management Client Reporting

In this research, we discuss current industry trends and assess the leading vended client reporting and communications systems for wealth managers.

Trend Watch: Synthetic Data

This whitepaper looks at the synthetic data trend, examines the use cases for wealth and asset managers, assesses the benefits versus drawbacks, and offers Cutter's take on whether this is a trend worth watching.

Performance Measurement and Attribution

This report on performance measurement and attribution (PMA) provides information about current PMA practices and challenges and the systems that support PMA.

Valuation Systems and Services

This research report includes an analysis of systems, services, and practices relating to derivatives valuation.

Data Management Strategies

This report focuses on organizational structures, sponsorship, governance, models, and approaches asset managers have deployed to manage the data assets that support their core investment processes.

Behavioral Analysis in Investment Management

The purpose of behavioral analysis in investment management is to examine active investment management decisions and create a plan to improve behaviors detrimental to alpha generation. This whitepaper offers an introduction into the pressures investment managers are under that are driving them to use behavioral analysis, common types of behaviors that jeopardize alpha, and a summary of providers of behavioral analysis software and services.

How to Build the Best Robo-Advisor-Platform - Solutions and vendors for automated investment services

Wealth managers and other traditional financial services companies can gain incredible leverage by employing automated investment solutions as long as they find the best external and robo technology platform and vendor. This comprehensive report offers banks and wealth managers the hands-on guide on how to ensure they find the best robo-advisor technology provider for their needs.

CutterCast: Client Onboarding: Setting the Right Tone

CutterResearch members discuss processes, challenges, and best practices related to onboarding new clients.

CutterCast: Multi-Basis Accounting Solutions for Investments

CutterResearch members share how their firms are addressing the need to support multi-basis accounting – implementing newer solutions, outsourcing, or sticking with the tried and true.

Chatbots for Banking and Wealth Management

Chatbots are poised to become the next big technological innovation and they are already on the way to changing the way we bank and manage our finances. Our 140-page report investigates the ways chatbots are already used in banking and wealth management and explores how they will revolutionize the future client interaction.

CutterCast: Portfolio Valuation Challenges

CutterResearch member firms discuss the challenges associated with valuing alternative assets and assets for which there is no established market. Members share their experiences with specific valuation systems and services, and consider best practices for establishing fair value in extreme market conditions.

CutterCast: Data Architecture and Integration for Investments

CutterResearch members discuss their approaches to building efficient data architectures and integrations, including the ways some of the newer data mart, data lake, and data warehouse technologies can help you to optimize the flow of data through all your investment processes.

CutterCast: Robotic Process Automation (RPA) - Practical Applications in Investment Management

CutterResearch members share their experience with Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in their firms. We explore business use cases being supported and considered, and how organizations plan for and manage the bots.

CutterCast: Predictive Analytics

CutterResearch members discuss how Predictive Analytics are being employed by their Investments and Distribution organizations, and the technologies they are using to support their business requirements

Financial Planning Across the Wealth Spectrum

As wealth management has become more holistic, financial planning - from retirement planning to estate planning - has become a core part of the new wealth management value proposition.

Outsourcing Solutions

The next decade will bring significant changes to our industry, and many investment firms' operating models will require transformation in order for these firms to adapt to those changes. Outsourcing is one option.

The Business of IT

This research report examines leading practices for managing IT functions, aligning IT with strategic business priorities, and defining the value of IT, including metrics for measuring productivity.

End-to-End Advisor Platforms: Enabling the Bionic Advisor

End-to-end advisor platforms offer a promising way for wealth management firms to arm their advisors with an all-inone digital toolbox. But not all end-to-end platforms are created equal. This report profiles eight leading providers of all-in-one technology platforms for wealth advisors, examines which features and functionalities are need-to-haves and which are nice-to-haves, and discusses which solutions are particularly useful for different types of wealth management firms. The research also examines the current state of the industry, discusses future trends for digital advisor desktop technology, and offers a set of concrete strategy recommendations for firms weighing an end-to-end advisor solution.

Alternative Data and the Expanding Universe of Investment Information

This report contains the results of Cutter Associates research into Alternative Data. It includes an overview of how investment managers are using alternative data to generate alpha and gain a competitive advantage through early discovery of actionable information.

CutterCast: Data Governance: Changing Processes for the Better

CutterResearch members join Cutter Consultants in a panel discussion exploring Data Governance tools, processes, and best practices, and requirements presented by different corporate cultures.

Behind the Login of Digital Portals for Wealth Clients

This research benchmarks the client portal experience of leading wealth managers and private banks worldwide.

CutterCast: Optimizing the Client Reporting Function

Choosing and implementing a client reporting tool can take a lot of time and effort for an investment manager. So once it's installed, firms need to make sure the system is working at optimal levels. This CutterCast includes advice from CutterConsulting on how to keep client reporting running smoothly, including best practices for managing new requests, adding new materials to production, maintaining components and templates, training staff, and engaging with the reporting system vendor.

A Guide to Effective Data Storage in Investment Management

As asset owners and asset managers grow increasingly data-centric, how and where they store their data becomes more important. Firms may find that the legacy data storage repositories no longer keep pace with users' data demands, and the constraints and performance of on-premises data warehouses can make it difficult to locate and effectively use data. Data-centric firms need to democratize data by making it easily findable and accessible to all data consumers. In this research on data storage, we explore the new technologies that firms are adopting that aggregate and store common investment data and analytics. We cover data storage basics, member practices, and look at the vendor landscape. We also provide summaries of cloud-based data storage and data virtualization products.

Cryptocurrency for Asset Managers: Are You In?

In the past few years, cryptocurrency has attracted a lot of media attention with record returns, but many investment managers remain on the sidelines. The nascent cryptocurrency market continues to evolve, and there are a number of key issues that are preventing more widespread adoption.

Data Fabric and Data Mesh: An Introduction

As asset managers and asset owners consume more data, and data architecture becomes more complex with cloud-based tools and platforms, firms are looking at new approaches to modern data architecture. In the following slides, we will explore two approaches to modern data architecture that are gaining momentum these days -- Data Fabric and Data Mesh.

Managed Data Services: Case Studies

As more investment managers recognize the value of data, the process of governing and managing that data has grown in importance. The following case studies from two Cutter Research members explain the drivers for and benefits of choosing managed data services (MDS).

Wealth Trends – Part Four: Trends Affecting Firms

In April 2019, Cutter Wealth launched Wealth Trends, an online research series delivering thought leadership on key trends and disruption points that will reshape the wealth management industry through the early 2020s. Part Four of the series focuses on what we see as the most pressing trends relating to the wealth management firm as a whole.

2020 Data Management Benchmarking Survey Results

This report provides key findings identified in Cutter’s 2020 Data Management Benchmarking survey.

CutterCast: Tracking Investment Strategy, Front to Back

CutterResearch members discuss the challenges they face and best practices considered to track Investment Strategies/Themes within Multi-strategy portfolios as data flows through systems supporting the investment process — from portfolio management and trading through downstream systems delivering strategy level P&L, performance, and other reporting.

Tax Optimization: How Efficiency Supports Scale

With today's discussions about personalization and direct indexing, tax optimization is top of mind for most wealth managers. Offering tax optimization can be a significant value-add and differentiator, but it's a multi-dimensional, complex process.

The Business of IT Survey Results

This report contains the results of a survey of CutterResearch member firms to understand how their IT and business people engage with each other, how IT supports the business, and how firms manage technology innovation.

Managing Fintech

This CutterResearch report includes a review of new technologies that are beginning to affect buy-side firms, how firms view them, and how they expect to use them.

Cloud Computing

This research on cloud computing includes an overview of the various cloud computing deployment and servicing models, the risks and benefits of cloud computing, and best practices for cloud computing.

Rethinking Research Management

This report on investment research management provides information about asset managers and asset owners current investment research practices and challenges and the systems that support investment research management by creating, organizing, searching, and sharing research content.

The Role of the CRM for Asset Managers

Asset managers today want solutions to establish the right data and tools to support and enable their sales, marketing, and service teams.

Behind the Login: Benchmarking Digital Portals for Wealth Clients

This research benchmarks digital client portals offered by 15 top wealth managers and private banks worldwide against the industry gold standard and examines how each portal stacks up against peers with a comprehensive profile of behind-the-login functionality.

ESG: It's a Jungle Out There - A Look at the Data Provider Landscape

Today's ESG providers play a big part in the broad and complex topic of ESG - offering data sets, ratings, and ancillary products and services like data management tools, reporting tools, and proxy voting tools and services.

Business Intelligence Tools

Investment management firms widely use business intelligence (BI) tools to provide interactive access to data and analytics. This research examines the leading BI tools and the vendor landscape, common use cases, challenges related to BI programs, and best practices for BI tool implementation and ongoing support.

Post-Trade Processing

This research report includes a review of systems and services to assist in post-trade processing across asset classes, including confirmation / affirmation, matching and settlement systems, settlement instruction databases and networks.

Fund Managers' Digital Presences for Institutionals and Advisors

This report analyzes in detail the strengths and weaknesses of the digital presences of 20 leading fund and asset managers worldwide targeted to institutional investors and advisors. In total, 75 websites and more than 40 social media presences were evaluated. The report provides an assessment and recommendations for each digital presence and discusses trends for the fund and asset management industry as a whole.

CutterCast: Best Practices in Investments IT

CutterResearch members discuss their practices for managing IT functions; planning with the business; budgeting, sourcing, and allocating resources; managing programs and projects; and keeping track of assets. Members share the tools their firms are using to support the business of IT and enable project teams and daily operations.

Wealth Management Investing Trends: Cryptocurrency

The traditional wealth management asset allocation model, previously limited to equities and bonds, is being upended due to investor demands for new products and strategies. And wealth managers need to be prepared.

CutterCast: Workflow Tools

CutterResearch members share how they are using automated workflow solutions to enable their business processes in middle and back office operations. What tools are they using in addition to email? What business drivers and objectives are facilitated by workflow tools?

CutterCast: Machine Learning In Asset Management

Machine Learning (ML) is delivering real-world business value for asset managers in production environments. How are firms deploying ML? Where is it providing the most benefit? What are the costs and challenges? This CutterCast provides insight into lessons learned about how and where to introduce ML for maximal business value.

Trends in Asset Allocation. An Overview of Capital & Risk Asset Allocation, Risk Budgeting, and a Look at Building Risk-Balanced Portfolios

Although many firms look at asset allocation from a capital allocation perspective, this approach doesn’t tell the full story, and this has been evident during times of recent market stress. Traction is now gaining with a different approach.

CutterCast: Managing Metadata

CutterResearch members discuss their tools for managing metadata within their broader data management activities. Discussions include the relevant data domains, who uses metadata, and how it is maintained, along with the benefits expected or realized by implementing an automated Metadata Management system.

Reference Data Management Solutions

This research provides background on the industry drivers affecting investment managers, and the tools and practices they currently use to manage investment management reference data.

Collateral Management

This report contains the results of Cutter Associates research into member practices, and technologies for managing collateral. It also provides detailed evaluations of collateral management systems and overviews of collateral management utilities and services.

Alternative Investments

This report on alternative investments provides information about solutions that can be used at various stages of the investment lifecycle, including systems that support contact management, due diligence, deal pipeline management, document management, portfolio construction, portfolio monitoring and analysis, and operational support.

Integrating Investment Systems

This report contains the results of Cutter Associates research into Integrating Investment Systems, it includes an overview of the approach investment managers take to data and systems integration against a background of technology changes such as cloud deployment and APIs.

Trust Accounting Systems

Trust accounting systems are the cornerstone platform of wealth management firms under trust bank charter. This report evaluates the leading trust accounting solutions used by wealth management firms.

Leveraging AI and Automation for Client Acquisition

This research examines the common applications for automation and AI-driven technology in the wealth management client acquisition process and also addresses common challenges wealth managers face when using automation.

Mastering Client, Account, and Product Data

This report contains findings from Cutter Associates research on Mastering Client, Account, and Product (CAP) Data. It provides background on the industry drivers affecting investment managers, including those related to data quality and accuracy for this reference data.

Managing Benchmark and Index Data

This research explores the supplier landscape, industry trends, and investment management practices related to managing benchmark and index data. The research summarizes current challenges faced by investment managers and discusses their areas of focus for improvement.

I, Advisor: Implementing AI Throughout the Client Journey

This research discusses current trends in AI and the adoption for products and services spanning the wealth management lifecycle and provides practical use cases illustrating best practice implementations in wealth management.