Signs of Maturity

During her opening remarks as chairperson of FTF News’ 3rd Annual Hedge Fund Operations and Technology Conference in New York, Holly Miller, partner at Stone House Consulting, discussed critical signs of maturity that hedge fund managers will need to demonstrate to regulators.  Wall Street & Technology highlighted them in their May 2010 cover story.  PleaseContinue reading “Signs of Maturity”

Debating Transparency and Valuation

Yesterday, theglasshammer.com hosted its second Women on the Buy-Side networking breakfast and panel discussion. Nicki Gilmour, founder and CEO of theglasshammer.com, began the event by explaining that the purpose of the gathering was to draw together top women in the investment management industry to discuss the topic of risk and its implications on performance for 2010. GilmourContinue reading “Debating Transparency and Valuation”

Hedge Fund Transparency: The Long-Term Implications of Separate Account Management

Hedge fund managers and investors alike have embraced separate account management as a panacea to their operational risk concerns and a quick win in the quest for greater transparency. But they should think again. In their rush to solve one set of problems, investors may be introducing even greater risks to their portfolios and hedgeContinue reading “Hedge Fund Transparency: The Long-Term Implications of Separate Account Management”

Critical Recordkeeping: Trade Tickets and Order Memoranda

It is remarkable the number of buy-side firms that have overlooked the importance of maintaining proper trade tickets and order memoranda in a timely fashion. Three weeks ago, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged New York-based Ark Asset Management Co., Inc. with fraudulent trade allocation as well as disclosure and books-and-records violations. ThisContinue reading “Critical Recordkeeping: Trade Tickets and Order Memoranda”

Survey of Buy-Side Industry Trends

Margins in the investment management industry are under siege, facing threats from both directions – lower fees and rising costs. The Glass Hammer / Stone House Consulting Survey of Buy-Side Industry Trends indicates that while regulators are contributing to the cost pressures, the industry’s own client base, together with the investment consulting firms that adviseContinue reading “Survey of Buy-Side Industry Trends”

Leaders of the Pack

Video of The Glass Hammer Network’s breakfast networking event on Sep 29 in New York City. Hosted by Nicki Gilmour, CEO, theglasshammer.com. Panelists include Cynthia Steer, Head of Research Strategy, Rogerscasey; Marianne Brown, CEO, Omgeo; Liz Philipp, Head of the New York Office, PIMCO; and Annie Morris, Head of North America, Linedata Services. Moderated byContinue reading “Leaders of the Pack”

Where Does Performance Fit?

CFA Institute free podcast from the 2009 Annual GIPS Conference on Sep 23 in Boston. Panelists include Stephen Campisi, CFA, institutional portfolio manager and principal, Intuitive Performance Solutions; James Edmonds, CFA, global head of performance measurement and client reporting, AllianceBernstein; and Holly Miller, partner, Stone House Consulting. Moderated by Beth Kaiser, CFA, CIPM, director ofContinue reading “Where Does Performance Fit?”

Managing the Business of Asset Management

In the wake of plummeting revenue streams, particularly with client concerns over operational risk and managers’ needs to control costs, the lines between traditional investment managers and hedge funds have blurred and will continue to do so. Traditional investment managers and hedge funds alike need to focus on the business of managing money as wellContinue reading “Managing the Business of Asset Management”

Forgotten Risk: Free Delivery of Securities

While most operational due diligence reviews focus significant attention on the procedures involving wire transfers, they often overlook those surrounding the free delivery of securities. Yet both activities involve the transfer of assets out of a fund or portfolio with nothing received in exchange.