The FTF Exchange Podcast

T+1: Why 'Fix Your Data First' Might Be Wrong Jun 23, 2026 01:22:36 Most financial firms have been told the same thing: clean up your data before you layer AI on top, or automation will only magnify the mess. But Steve Shillingford, CEO and founder of DeepSee, doesn't quite agree. With settlement cycles getting shorter and operational pressure mounting, he makes a case that runs against much of what the industry has been saying, and it's the kind of thing tha

AI Isn’t the Risk… Missing the Boat Is Feb 10, 2026 00:47:30 What’s the bigger risk in 2026: adopting AI… or waiting too long? In this episode of the FTF Exchange Podcast, Maureen Lowe sits down with Toby Glacier, Chairman of Finbourne Technology (and a 2025 FTF News Award winner for Best Data Management Solution), to flip the usual AI conversation on its head. Instead of debating whether AI is “too risky,” Toby makes the case that the real risk is falling

The Client Reporting Toolbox: What to Add, What to Fix Jan 20, 2026 00:53:46 Most firms can generate strong performance data internally. Fewer can deliver it to clients efficiently, at scale, and without adding more manual work. In Part 2 of our podcast series with FactSet, Maureen Lowe is joined by McKay Marschalk and David Mellars to open up the modern “reporting toolbox” and break down what actually belongs inside. We talk about automation gaps, building a reliable dat

AI for Performance Teams: Where Firms Are Winning (and Getting Stuck) Dec 11, 2025 01:06:24 Most firms know they should be using AI for performance measurement. Fewer know how to actually do it without breaking something—or losing their team's trust in the process. In this episode, Sean Murray and David Mellars from FactSet get into the real implementation challenges. We talk about what it takes to build trust in AI-generated narratives, how to create a "golden source" of data, and navi

From Sticky Notes to Success Stories: What It Really Means to Mentor the Next Generation of Capital Markets Professionals Jul 2, 2025 00:56:21 From Sticky Notes to Success Stories: What It Really Means to Mentor the Next Generation of Capital Markets Professionals by FTF News

When Robots Help Write Your Client Reports: AI at Alliance Bernstein May 7, 2025 00:45:14 In this episode, FTF’s Maureen Lowe explores how artificial intelligence is transforming asset management. She’s joined by Madhu Rojukhirdu, Head of Fixed Income Performance Attribution and Global Benchmark Data at AllianceBernstein, and Che Guan, Principal Data Scientist, who leads the implementation of AI models that are redefining how AllianceBernstein delivers insights to clients. Together,

Between the Spreadsheets: Why Asset Managers Are Rethinking Reconciliation Mar 13, 2025 00:39:46 In this episode of the FTF Exchange Podcast, host Maureen Lowe sits down with Dawn Pischetola, Director of Investment Operations at Olmstead Associates, for her perspectives on why reconciliation processes—often overlooked but crucial to operational success—are now at a turning point in asset management. With transaction volumes surging and legacy systems struggling to keep pace, what does the fu

Bridging Performance, Reporting & Risk: Insights from PMCR Chair Todd Juillerat Feb 24, 2025 00:15:59 In this podcast episode, Todd Juillerat, chair of the upcoming PMCR conference in New York City, shares his extensive experience and insights into the performance measurement and client reporting space. Drawing from his career trajectory that began in fund accounting and led to performance analysis at major institutions including JP Morgan, Juillerat discusses the evolving landscape of performance

Digital Assets & Deregulation: What’s Next for Crypto? Feb 10, 2025 00:23:07 In this episode of the FTF Exchange Podcast, host Nick Holland speaks with Hermine Wong, a lecturer at UC Berkeley School of Law and former policy leader at Coinbase, to discuss the evolving regulatory landscape of digital assets and financial services. Wong reflects on her career journey, highlighting the intersection of law, technology, and finance, and how her early exposure to the internet’s d

The Efficiency Dilemma: Why Asset Management Operations Must Evolve Feb 9, 2025 00:30:04 In this episode of the FTF Exchange Podcast, hosts Maureen Lowe and Nick Holland dive into the findings of a recent industry survey conducted by AutoRek, shedding light on the current challenges and inefficiencies in asset management operations. Jack Niven and John Scappaticci of AutoRek provide expert analysis and first hand insight on the trends driving the push for automation, highlighting h

Building Careers, Trust, and Industry Connections: A Deep Dive with Alex Shafran Feb 3, 2025 00:47:54 In this episode, Maureen Lowe and co-host Nick Holland sit down with Alex Shafran, Senior Vice President of Performance Analytics and Client Reporting at Cohen & Steers. Alex shares his career journey, from aspiring math teacher to financial services leader, and provides valuable advice for professionals navigating the evolving landscape of performance measurement and client reporting. Key discus

GIPS Governance and Performance Measurement Jan 21, 2025 00:19:38 Joe reveals how he was first introduced to GIPS over 20 years ago when his firm aimed to market its products in the U.S. His expertise and passion quickly positioned him as a trusted figure in the GIPS governance space, including roles as a CFA Society Ireland President and a longstanding member of multiple GIPS committees. The Role of the GIPS Technical Committee: Joe discusses his work on the

T+1 Settlement: Costly Shift Without a Cause? Dec 17, 2024 00:43:13 The U.S. prioritized reducing settlement fails domestically but ignored the knock-on costs for international investors, which have gone through the roof.” So says industry veteran Gary Wright, director at ISITC Europe CIC, in the latest episode of the FTF Exchange podcasts. In this podcast, hosts Maureen Lowe and Nick Holland speak with Wright who delves deep into the contentious shift to T+1 set

AI, Advertising, and Advisory: Navigating the SEC Marketing Rule Minefield Nov 6, 2024 00:39:46 In this episode, Maureen Lowe and Nick Holland of the FTF Exchange podcast chat with Sanjay Lamba, Associate General Counsel at the Investment Advisor Association (IAA). They discuss the SEC’s marketing rule, which aims to modernize and standardize advertising practices for investment advisors. Sanjay shares insights into compliance challenges and the need for firms to adapt to evolving regulation

Fixed Income Markets Can Develop Credit Strategies & Analytics Oct 31, 2024 00:16:22 Fixed income market participants are under pressure to develop systematic credit strategies and to improve their valuation and performance analytics capabilities. Yet Peter O’Connor, product manager, FINCAD Analytics Suite, Numerix, says it’s a data and computation problem much like other IT issues and firms will be able to catch up. O’Conner is the focus of the latest episode of the FTF Exchange

Exploring the Depths of Sanctions Compliance with DOLFIN Oct 24, 2024 00:12:18 In preparation for the November 7th FTF webinar, Find True North in Sanctions Compliance: Avoid Exposure to Securities Tainted by Sanctions, our Director of Event and Content Strategy, Nick Holland, spoke with Danny McGlynn, President and Chief Integrity Officer at the Institute for Financial Integrity, about the evolution of sanctions regimes and compliance strategies. They explore how sanctions

Should Client Reporting Be On-Demand like Netflix? Feb 26, 2024 00:25:48 The core of any client reporting challenge is inevitably a data problem, and the ultimate solution may be highly personalized self-service capabilities much like a media streaming service, says Andrew Barnett, chief product officer at Hub, a new provider for the global securities operations industry. Barnett is the focus of this edition of the FTF Exchange podcast. When asked about a new ecosys

Ops Needs an Accounting & Data Warehouse Paradigm Shift Feb 21, 2024 00:19:34 Operations teams need to shift away from multiple outdated accounting systems and data warehouses and toward an ecosystem that allows for these and related systems to talk together in real time, says Kirk Littleton, sales director at FundGuard, in this edition of the FTF Exchange podcast. These changes will definitely yield firm-wide benefits, including those for performance measurement and clie

A.I. Will Smooth Out Bumps in Ops Feb 15, 2024 00:21:04 Systems based on artificial intelligence (A.I.) technologies will meet the demands of financial services firms looking for new features and IT capabilities for their performance measurement operations. It will also mean a disruption of the status quo. This is according to the latest FTF Focus podcast featuring Sean Murray, who is senior vice president, senior director, product management, at FactS

Some Firms Lag Behind But Most Are Post-Libor Jan 12, 2024 00:19:02 Kelli Sayres, senior managing director, head of Polypaths at Numerix, says that she is not surprised that some securities firms are lagging behind others in the “huge effort” to move past Libor. They have also had to deal with other shocks to the system such as higher interest rates and inflation. “From what I’ve seen, most of our clients have been able to rise to the occasion and they were able

Is There an Upside from the Liquidity Crunch? Oct 2, 2023 00:16:11 Securities firms searching for liquidity in capital markets are facing many challenges and factors such as high interest and inflation rates. But this situation represents a huge opportunity for firms that have liquidity and are benefitting from better management of lending and hedging decisions. So says Gil Guillaumey, head of strategy for Capital Market Solutions at Adenza, in this latest editi

Operations Using A.I. Need Transparency & Supervision Aug 9, 2023 00:18:13 Managed services clients and prospects of SmartStream Technologies are showing lots of interest in A.I.-based technologies and how they can impact securities operations, but there is a caveat to that evolving demand for A.I., says Nick Smith, executive vice president, managed services, SmartStream Technologies, in this latest edition of the FTF Exchange podcast series. “A.I. cannot work in a blac

SEC’s Marketing Rule Is Creating Ops Headaches Jun 26, 2023 00:13:22 A key requirement of the SEC’s marketing rule is the presentation of net performance data along with gross performance data, but many firms have processes in place only for gross returns, says Olivier Verburg, vice president, analytics manager at FactSet in this latest edition of the FTF Exchange podcast series. “Suddenly switching that to net will present challenges on the operational side of th

Client Reporting Is Anything that Touches Clients’ Hands May 10, 2023 00:22:24 For this podcast, Alex Strekel, director of investment management solutions for Clearwater Analytics, focuses on the best definition of client reporting for 2023 and many other matters. When asked to define client reporting, Strekel acknowledges that he takes a broad view of client reporting from his days working as a portfolio manager. “I think about client reporting as anything that touches th

NRI Melds IT & Business Process Outsourcing Mar 15, 2023 00:09:02 In this edition of the FTF Exchange podcast series, Sue Sato from the Prime Settlement Services (PSS) department at Nomura Research Institute (NRI) focuses on why NRI is offering a combination of IT outsourcing, also known as ITO, and business process outsourcing or BPO. NRI provides system solutions and consulting services such as management consulting, systems integration, and IT management and

Trading Models Get a Quantum Leap via Machine Learning Mar 8, 2023 00:24:42 For this podcast, Alexander Sokol, founder, executive chairman, and head of quant research at CompatibL Technologies, focuses on how trading and risk models are getting an exponential boost from machine learning. For instance, the standard models for interest rates are based on incremental changes in rates but those models are falling short now as rates are in turmoil across the globe as central

Platform Lock-In May Be Driving Up Data Costs Jan 25, 2023 00:15:08 The cost of data is exploding for securities firms and that may be due to inflation and firms being locked into a data platform that sometimes comes from the same data provider, says Roy Kirby, head of core products at SIX, in the latest edition of the FTF Exchange podcast from FTF and FTF News. “I would say that now we’re back in an inflationary environment. I think that some larger companies a

Clients Are Driving the Digital Evolution Dec 13, 2022 00:26:42 Banks, broker-dealers, buy-side firms, and other capital markets participants are getting closer to their digital transformation goals as they put clients at the center of their journey, says Marc Natale, head of presales and marketing for America at Murex, a provider of financial software for trading, treasury, risk, and post-trade operations. Earlier this year, the Murex MX.3 platform won Softwa

Ops Consolidation Could Ease Cost Pressures for Firms Nov 18, 2022 00:13:45 Cost pressures are dominating the agenda for many securities firms and they are likely to be seriously considering new ways to consolidate their post-trade operations, says Brian Collings, CEO of Torstone Technology, via a new FTF Exchange podcast. The new consolidation can take several forms and will be impacted by major market changes such as the push for shorter, T+1 and T-0 settlement, Coll

QUODD Gets Its Seat at the Market Data Table Sep 22, 2022 00:31:31 In this edition of the FTF Exchange podcast series, FTF News speaks with David Kirk, the chief technology officer for QUODD and Justin Van Til, who serves as a senior vice president, product and strategy for QUODD. QUODD describes itself as a provider of market data on demand to the global financial services industry. The upstart serves clients by providing capabilities to stream, embed, look up,

What’s Diving the Need for Speed in Derivatives? Aug 2, 2022 00:22:14 Participants in derivatives trading markets are coping with the need for speed driven via two very challenging trends – market volatility and the need for a pre- and post-trade holistic view of risk management for each transaction. Both situations are compelling firms to look to cloud computing, data science, artificial intelligence (AI), and other cutting-edge technologies in an effort to keep u

Is Your Firm Locked Into Manual Processes? Jul 8, 2022 00:32:38 Despite IT advances, many financial services firms still rely on manual processes to manage collateral and related operations because their existing systems were either built internally or procured via a third party and cannot support new levels of automation, says Neil Murphy, triResolve business manager at OSTTRA. Murphy and Joakim Stromberg, senior director, head of triResolve Solutions at OSTT

Get Ready for UMR Phase 6’s Surprises Jun 13, 2022 00:29:50 A key deadline is looming for the set of regulatory overhauls known as the Uncleared Margin Rules (UMR), which began a phased-in approach in 2016. The sixth and final phase begins on September 1 of this year. Gemma Bailey, director, business management, for triCalculate, and Neil Murphy, business manager at triResolve, both part of OSSTRA, which is the new home of TriOptima, have been keeping an

Seeing the ESG Requirement as a Data Challenge Feb 11, 2022 00:17:36 Financial services firms that want to meet investor requirements for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) compliance will find that it boils down to a data challenge that would be helped by greater transparency, says Todd Moyer, president and chief operating officer (COO) for Confluence, in a new FTF Exchange podcast “An area of focus for Confluence, and I think for the industry in genera

Could the T+1 Move Drive Up Op Risks? Feb 2, 2022 00:18:47 The industry push to shorten the U.S. securities settlement cycle from trade date plus two days (T+2) to trade date plus one day (T+1) will end batch processing, drive operational costs down, but may cause an uptick in operational risk, says Brian Collings, CEO of Torstone Technology, in this installment of the FTF Exchange podcast series The T+1 move will be “quite significant” for most securiti

CompatibL’s Direct Line Between R&D & Product Development Jan 19, 2022 00:17:40 CompatibL Technologies, a cutting-edge trading and risk management solutions vendor, has established a direct line between product development and its research and development efforts, says Alexander Sokol, founder, executive chairman, and head of quant research at CompatibL. CompatibL, which won the FTF Award last year for Best Cloud-Native Computing Initiative, bases everything it does, includi

Human Contact Is Essential for Clients & Staff Nov 23, 2021 00:25:29 While Adenza was actually fully prepared to work in a virtual world, the importance of human contact cannot be denied, says Richard Bentley, chief product and engineering officer for Adenza, who is the focus of this FTF Exchange podcast. Adenza was created from the merger of Calypso Technology and AxiomSL in July 2021. “So, I’ve mentioned technical readiness for the pandemic and the remote worki

Clients Want Firms to Get Rid of Silos Nov 17, 2021 00:21:15 Are financial services firms more willing now to de-silo their operations than ever before? That question was posed to Roland Brandli, strategic product manager for SmartStream Air & TLM Aurora, during a podcast that is part of the FTF Exchange series. The TLM Aurora Trade Process Control (TPC) offering won the FTF Award for Best New Post-Trade Solution. “Definitely, de-silo is the only way to go

Clearwater’s Case for a Common ESG Metrics Nov 9, 2021 00:23:49 Institutional investment management firms are under pressure to provide hefty amounts of ESG-related information about their funds and portfolios to clients who have environmental, social, and governance concerns. Clearwater Analytics wants to do something about that issue and other related industry challenges. While the concept of ESG-compliant funds is easy to grasp, many investment managers are

Why Corporate Actions Processing Needs Full Automation Now Oct 29, 2021 00:15:30 Corporate actions processing has become a heavy burden for securities firms facing surges in trading volumes while securities operations overall become more complex each day. To ease some of that burden and remain competitive, firms are seriously considering fully automating corporate actions processing. So say Neil Sheppard, global head of business development asset servicing at SmartStream Techn

Why Lehman Day Remains Relevant for Systemic Risk Oct 25, 2021 00:20:00 For Tobias Becker, head of risk capital optimization at Quantile Technologies, Lehman Day remains as a significant reminder of why the battle against systemic risk is ongoing. “September 15, 2008 is when Lehman Brothers … filed for bankruptcy and really almost created a snowball effect,” Becker explains in this latest edition of the FTF Exchange podcast series. That day and the Great Recession t

All Firms Know They Have to Change Oct 19, 2021 00:19:35 Financial services firms are in a conundrum because they face the dual pressures of compliance with a growing list of major regulatory reforms at the same that they have to meet budgetary constraints and cut costs. One way to break through that conundrum is for firms to investigate ways to cost-effectively integrate previously autonomous trading, risk, and collateral management operations, says

ESG Is More Than Sorting Your Garbage Oct 6, 2021 00:18:28 For Tanya Seajay, a former journalist and now CEO and founder of Orenda Software Solutions, a SIX company, the push to have environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) concerns guide investing is not a hippie thing but a survival thing. It’s also more than the honorable act of recycling Toward that end, Orenda, founded in 2015, applies advanced technology to social media and gathers d

Are Some Corporate Actions Getting Too Complex? May 21, 2021 00:18:09 Complex corporate actions events with important voluntary aspects and ever-tighter deadlines are getting, well, more complex, says Dominique Tanner, head of content management for SIX Financial Information, who took part in another edition of the FTF Exchange podcast series. A key reason is that public companies want to make themselves more attractive to investors, Tanner adds. So, it’s probably

Is There Too Much Bad Data in Your Cloud? May 12, 2021 00:23:10 Is cloud computing turning securities firms into data hoarders? The issue came up during the latest in our FTF Exchange podcast series with two representatives from Alveo Technology, formerly known as Asset Control. FTF News got time with Nathan Wolaver, the managing director for the Americas at Alveo, and Boyke Baboelal, strategic solutions director for Americas at Alveo. When asked about the

UMR Compliance Will Involve All Internal Groups Apr 21, 2021 00:22:34 At a high level, Neil Murphy, business manager at TriOptima, says in the latest FTF Exchange podcast that the key challenges for compliance with the Uncleared Margin Rules (UMR) deadlines can be summarized as all relating to the high volumes of required tasks and the number of firms coming into scope for these regulations. In addition to the many tasks involved, UMR requires many parts of the fir

How to Love Working from Home Apr 12, 2021 00:15:31 In this episode of the FTF Exchange podcast, Sara Poldaas from Mawer Investment Management talks about pandemic-induced lockdowns and ongoing remote staffing and how it is changing financial services in multiple, unexpected ways. For securities operations teams and their managers, the pandemic has had personal impacts that are catalysts for change.

Complex Deals Create Corporate Actions Woes Apr 12, 2021 00:17:13 This this episode of the FTF Exchange podcast we speak with Henry Napier, a vice president with ICBC Financial Services, on the new challenges impacting corporate actions processing.

What to Do When Workarounds Break Apr 12, 2021 00:21:14 There are telltale signs when firms have outgrown their systems, says Patrick Murray, the founder of STP Investment Services in this episode of the FTF Exchange Podcast.

ISITC Events Likely to Stay Virtual for 2021 Apr 12, 2021 00:18:42 In an FTF Exchange podcast, Lisa Iagatta, chair of ISITC, talks about the challenges of going virtual and the future of the organization.

Episodes

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