Episode 35: Rico Blaser - How are current trends in active management shaping the future of AMCs, and what should we consider when evaluating their potential?

One of the industry's most significant trends is the increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) into financial services. These technologies are revolutionising areas like personalised investment advice, data optimisation, and operational efficiency. However, navigating AI in a highly regulated financial environment presents unique challenges.Our latest podcast explores these trends and much more in conversation with Christian. Don't miss it!Stay curious and keep investing smartly.Stefan WagnerHost of the Nalu FM Finance Podcast

Learn the appeal structured products have for investors seeking a balance between equity risk and capital protection Discover different options for investors based on their market, risk profile and portfolio size Debunk common myths about structured products Realize the advantage of defined outcome

Join us in this Nalu FM Finance podcast episode as we speak with Rajesh Amin, Founder of 2RSquared, on how to harness the overwhelming amount of growing data to create efficient and effective investment solutions. Learn how advanced front office systems enable smaller and medium-sized firms to compete. Discover how technology enables personalized investment products on a large scale. Understand how to choose different risk metrics based on the client's utility and risk perception. Realize why human involvement in research remains crucial.

Join us in this Nalu FM Finance podcast episode as we speak with Sean Adler, CEO of GZI, about the practical aspects of quantitative investment strategies and alternative financial data. In this episode, Sean demystifies smart beta, factor investing, and quantitative finance, explaining their real-world applications. He emphasizes the importance of not relying solely on backtests and discusses the balanced integration of AI in financial markets, highlighting both its potential and pitfalls. Sean also shares insights on risk management, the use of derivatives, and the continuous optimization needed to stay competitive. Stay curious and keep investing smartly,Stefan WagnerHost of the Nalu FM Finance Podcast

Dear Friends and Colleagues,In a captivating podcast episode, Stefan sits down with Andreas Loetscher, Managing Director of ABBL, a boutique consultancy specializing in reputation protection. Andreas shares intriguing insights from his extensive career in financial auditing and crisis management, including his time at major firms like Ernst & Young and Deutsche Bank. He recounts his firsthand experiences with significant crises such as the Siemens corruption scandal, the Kweku Adoboli case at UBS, and his involvement in the notorious Wirecard audit during one of Germany’s largest frauds.Listeners are promised a deep dive into the intricacies of financial audits, crisis management, and maintaining corporate integrity in the face of adversity. Stay curious and keep investing smartly,Stefan WagnerHost of the Nalu FM Finance Podcast

Dear Friends and Colleagues,In this in-depth podcast episode, Bruce Traan, Global Head of Indices at dxFeed, unpacks the intricacies of index management, emphasising the importance of creating tailored indices to meet specific investment strategies. He underscores the critical nature of data quality and the need for transparency in the processes involved.Bruce also touches on utilising AI and machine learning in developing indices and the significance of clearly communicating the methodologies used. This episode provides insights into the evolving landscape of financial markets and the influence of technological progress on these markets.Bruce Traan is an accomplished business leader with over 21 years of global experience in capital markets and the index industry. He specialises in strategic partnerships, global business development, and index product strategy. Before joining dxFeed in September 2023, Bruce founded Benchmarket, the first peer-to-peer exchange for index licensing. Before that, he served as Chief Index Officer at Coin Metrics and held senior leadership roles at Cboe Global Markets, overseeing the geographic expansion of benchmark products and services. Bruce holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science with a minor in finance from Northeastern Illinois University and an M.B.A. from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Please go to www.myindex.solutions to receive the e-book "Index Technology Providers" which compares the offerings of multiple index providers, including dxFeed. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Stay curious and keep investing smartly,Stefan WagnerHost of the Nalu FM Finance Podcast

tDear Friends and Colleagues,I'm excited to share this podcast episode featuring Chris Corcino, the CEO behind AlphaNotes, with you. In this interview, Chris discusses the company's inception and its response to the evolving financial landscape post-2008 crisis, focusing on technology and private market shifts. Alpha Notes, a securitisation platform for private market fund managers, specialises in private equity, structured credit, and trade finance. Chris highlights their milestones, technology integration with vestr for scalability, and future trends like ESG and tokenisation. Stay curious and keep investing smartly,Stefan Wagner, Host of the Nalu FM Finance Podcast

Dear Friends and Colleagues,I hope you a great start to 2024!The latest Nalu FM Finance Podcast episode features Rico Blaser, CEO of vestr A.G., offering unique insights into investing, speculating, and betting. Rico challenges conventional wisdom with finesse, providing a thought-provoking perspective that will leave you contemplating your outlook.Rico is the CEO of vestr A.G., a fintech company creating SaaS solutions for actively managed products. Before co-founding vestr, he spent over a decade in large financial institutions and on Wall Street. Rico has a quantitative background in computer science, mathematics, and machine learning.In this interview, we discuss: The birth of vestr A.G. as Rico takes us on his journey from competitive swimming to the financial industry, highlighting his passion for quantitative trading strategies and exotic derivatives. The world of AMCs (Actively Managed Certificates) and discover how vestr A.G. is revolutionizing their handling, overcoming hurdles AMC issuers face. Rico's operational insights offer a fresh perspective on active investment management. Effective risk management strategies for actively managed certificates, including tips on diversification, hedging, and collateral schemes to safeguard investments. Stay curious and keep investing smartly,Stefan Wagner, Host of the Nalu FM Finance Podcast

Dear Friends and Colleagues,In this informative interview with Daniel Knoblach, we discussed how to develop, setup and implement custom indices.Traditional and custom indexes follow distinct methodologies for investment and rebalancing. However, the personalized nature of Custom Indexes sets them apart by tailoring methodologies to individual investor preferences. Despite this, many investments are still linked to a few dominant indices. Designing a custom index offers various benefits, such as alignment with values, financial goals, and risk tolerance.Daniel is the founder and CEO of Super Global, an AIFM and securitization expert with offices in Germany and Luxembourg, offering tailor-made AIF and AMC across all asset classes. Previously, as a Board Member, he was responsible for setting up structure and securitization solutions for a Family Office and the Fair Alpha Group in Luxembourg, with a total issuance volume of more than EUR 3 billion. Before that, he worked for a Liechtenstein-based asset manager focused on proprietary fund solutions for institutional investors.For more information, interviews, and comparisons of features across many index technology providers please go to www.myindex.solutions

Dear Friends and Colleagues,In this insightful interview with Jacob Ayres-Thomson and Hassan Salamony, we discussed how Artificial Intelligence can leverage vast amounts of public data to empower investors. Jacob is the Founder and CEO of 3AI, a machine learning company dedicated to unlocking alpha in large data sets. Previously, he represented PwC as their asset & risk modelling expert, advising the UK Treasury during the Financial Crisis and consulting clients across insurance, investment banking, hedge fund and asset management. Before that, he worked in equity trading for Barclays Capital and Goldman Sachs. Jacob holds an MSc (Dist) in Machine Learning from UCL AI Center and a BSc (1st) in Statistics from University College London.Hassan is the COO and co-founder of 3AI. Prior to joining 3AI, Hassan served as MD at Goldman Sachs in London, where he led the global markets FICC sales team for institutional clients across the UK and Ireland. Before this, he was a director at Barclays, leading the bank's coverage team across Europe. He holds a Distinction in Algorithmic Trading from Oxford and a BSc (Hons) in Management Science from LSE. In this interview, we discuss: How can AI make sense of large data sets? How does 3AI make data explainable? How the 3AI solution can predict surprises in the financial markets?   Where is Artificial Intelligence developing? and much more