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Claraphi Advisory Network is gaining ground in the managed accounts arena by offering a unified managed account (UMA) that can blend separate account managers, ETFs, and alternative investments. Claraphi works with advisers of independent broker/dealers and with RIAs who want to focus on asset gathering and entrust the investment management and reporting to Claraphi's expertise.    "We are seeing an industry-wide interest from advisors who are adapting their practices to be more holistic and understanding of their clients' overall financial goals," says Roxanna Guinan, Claraphi's senior vice president of business development. "Alternative investments enable advisers to offer their clients portfolios
IRA Financial Group, a provider of open architecture self-directed solo 401(k) plans, has launched a solo 401(k) plan programme with no account value or transaction fees. IRA Financial Group’s new self-directed checkbook control solo 401(k) plan will allow participants to invest in traditional as well as alternative asset investments, such as real estate, gold, tax liens, hedge funds, and much more with no account value or transaction.   “We are excited to offer a self-directed solo 401(k) plan solution that is cost effective and does not include any asset value or transaction fees,” says Jen David, a retirement tax specialist
Willis Towers Watson has promoted Sara Rejal and Karen Dolenec as head of liquid alternatives and head of real assets, respectively, within its diversifying strategies function. Both Rejal and Dolenec joined Willis Towers Watson in 2014 as senior investment consultants.   In her new role, Dolenec continues to be responsible for real estate, infrastructure and natural resources, whilst Rejal will oversee hedge funds, alternative beta, reinsurance and multi-asset strategies.   Luba Nikulina (pictured), global head of manager research at Willis Towers Watson, says: “I am delighted to announce the promotions of Sara and Karen to, respectively, head of liquid alternatives
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has issued a consultation paper on draft technical standards implementing the Securities Financing Transaction Regulation (SFTR), which aims to increase the transparency of shadow banking activities. Securities financing transactions (SFTs) are transactions where securities are used to borrow cash (or other higher investment-grade securities), or vice versa – this includes repurchase transactions, securities lending and sell/buy-back transactions.   The SFTR will require both financial and non-financial market participants to report details of their SFTs to an approved EU trade repository. These details will include the composition of the collateral, whether the collateral is
Jade Fu (pictured), Investment Manager at Heartwood Investment Management, comments on OPEC’s (Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) surprise announcement to cut production…  OPEC’s first cut in eight years has been taken positively by financial markets. Oil prices rose 6 per cent on the announcement and energy stocks also led US and UK equities higher. At the informal meeting in Algiers, OPEC countries committed to production cuts in the range of 32.5-33 million barrels per day.   While the agreement is a positive signal for the energy sector as a whole, we think it is too early to tell what
Pluribus Labs and Huq Industries have formed a partnership which aims to bring real-time “bricks-and-mortar” retailer performance data to the institutional investor community. Through this partnership, investors can track the performance of real-world retailers and their competitors systematically and in real-time, using an impartial intelligence resource to help evaluate their investment positions on an ongoing basis.   The data source is brought by Huq Industries, the operator of a real-world market intelligence panel which measures the bricks-and-mortar store-visits of over seven million individuals in 140 countries daily.   The full catalogue is being made available to financial services professionals by
Canadian asset management firm Fiera Capital has made an offer to acquire the entire share capital of London-based asset manager Charlemagne Capital. Fiera Capital’s recommended offer includes the payment of a special dividend by Charlemagne Capital.    If the offer is completed, it would provide Fiera Capital with an entry into the emerging and frontier markets asset class and create a European platform to enhance the growth and distribution of Fiera Capital's existing investment strategies.    "The acquisition of Charlemagne Capital would be an important step in advancing our global presence by teaming up with a high quality emerging and
Och-Ziff Capital Management is to pay USD412 million to settle US Department of Justice (DoJ) and Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) charges relating its private investment business in Africa and a 2007 investment by the Libyan Investment Authority. As part of the settlements, Och-Ziff Capital Management Group has entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the DoJ.   A subsidiary, OZ Africa Management, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). The firm has also agreed to settle an administrative proceeding with the SEC involving violations of the FCPA and the
Boutique investment management firm RiverNorth Capital Management has launched RiverNorth Marketplace Lending Corporation, a registered 1940 Act closed-end interval fund dedicated to the rapidly growing online lending asset class. “We are pleased to add RiverNorth Marketplace Lending Corporation to our portfolio of opportunistic investment offerings,” says Brian Schmucker (pictured), chief executive officer of RiverNorth. “RiverNorth is among the first to offer retail investors this tremendous opportunity, that of providing diversified and efficient access to the peer-to-peer lending space.”   The fund will invest in a diverse mix of marketplace lending sectors, including unsecured consumer, small business, and specialty finance loan segments.
Independent advisory firm Conestoga Capital Advisors has appointed Jeffrey A Riggs as institutional sales and client service officer.  Riggs has 20 years of experience in the investment management industry and is joining Conestoga from Lincoln Financial Group where he was associate vice president – head of investment research and analysis.    Based out of Conestoga's headquarters in Wayne, Pennsylvania, Riggs will help develop new business for the firm and maintain relationships with existing clients.   Prior to Lincoln Financial Group, Riggs worked at Nationwide Fund Advisors where he served as the director of manager research focusing on US and international

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