In a recent Q&A with Markets Media, Alexander Monte, Director, Asset & Wealth Management Consulting – North America at Alpha FMC, and Christopher Farrell, Head of US and Global Strategy at FINBOURNE Technology explore the benefits of a modern data pipeline, to adapt and innovate in a dynamic and competitive market.

AI has come a long way since its inception in the 1950s, transforming our lives and work. Yet, amidst its rapid progress, the crucial need for ethical standards is often overlooked. In our latest blog, we explore what truly makes a machine intelligent and the pivotal role of data quality in AI model development. With input from the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) data provider, Denominator, we shine a spotlight on AI’s intersection with ethics, society, and its direct impact on DEI efforts in 2023.

Machine Learning (ML) dominates the narrative in financial services, just as in practically every other industry. In this piece we examine its current use cases and why the take up in Investment Management hasn’t been more widespread. We’ll then look at practical and achievable steps to harness relevant aspects of the innovation. 

Given the increasing complexity and volume of datasets that buy-side managers are now confronted with, the requirement for shrewd data management is now crucial. FINBOURNE’s Nicholas Wood explores the common data management buzzwords buy-side managers come across and how to apply the right technology to enhance your data strategy.

Welcome back to FINBOURNE Five, our series that succinctly covers core data management methods or concepts in five minutes or less. In this piece, we will look at ‘Cloudwashing’, the practice of companies rebranding their existing on-premises or hosted solutions as “cloud-based” to tap into the growing market for cloud computing services.

Omba Advisory & Investments Ltd, a London-based investment management firm has chosen FINBOURNE Technology’s SaaS-native Modern Financial Data Stack as its operational data hub. The firm will leverage FINBOURNE’s LUSID PMS and Luminesce, for portfolio management and improved data consolidation, respectively, to help scale their investment operations. 

FINBOURNE Technology was recently selected to become the technology infrastructure provider for the Bloomberg, MarketAxess and Tradeweb initiative to build a consolidated tape (CT) for fixed income in Europe.
Following this announcement, FINBOURNE’s CEO, Thomas McHugh, shares his thoughts on why we’ve taken on this herculean challenge.

Seilern Investment Management, the independent and privately-owned quality growth investment management firm, has selected FINBOURNE Technology’s Modern Financial Data Stack to scale its investment operations, amid rapid growth. The firm will leverage FINBOURNE’s LUSID platform as a cloud-native data hub, to enhance its investment-decision making and client services.  

FINBOURNE Horizon is our suite of partnerships and interfaces with third party vendors and service providers. The program enables data to be imported and exported, while also adding new functionalities desired by clients. It forms a curated ecosystem for our core products, enabling users easy, integrated access to a broad range of specialist solutions, helping… Continue reading Introducing FINBOURNE Horizon

In this blog, we explore the common barriers to operational change and how firms can de-risk the process of innovation to become future-ready, with a SaaS-native Modern Financial Data Stack.

Welcome back to FINBOURNE Five, a series succinctly covering core data management approaches and concepts in five minutes or less. In this latest piece, we explore the makeup of FINBOURNE’s Modern Financial Data Stack (MFDS), its ability to de-risk operational change and importantly, how it can future-proof investment operations, to fuel growth.

In the latest edition of our ‘Life at FINBOURNE’ series, we speak to Kevin Roice, one of eight Durham University graduates to join this year’s summer internship programme. Hear about Kevin’s experience, what he enjoyed most and why he thinks FINBOURNE is an excellent place for interns to kick start a career in FinTech.

Welcome to FINBOURNE Five, our new series that succinctly covers core data management methods or concepts in five minutes or less. In this first blog, we cover data virtualization and some of its practical applications in global financial services.

3 May 2022 – The Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) has today published a first of its kind study consolidating fixed income trading data from numerous sources for the period of March to December 2021. This shows that the majority of fixed income trades could be made transparent in near real-time, but also… Continue reading AFME/ Finbourne study demonstrates need for longer deferrals for large and illiquid trades and shows transparency could be significantly improved for majority of smaller fixed income trades

At nearly USD 3 trillion, digital assets such as cryptocurrencies are enjoying their hey-day as the new ‘digital gold’ and the hedge fund industry is no stranger to the asset class. FINBOURNE’s Michael Cummins and Tim Wong explore the allure of cryptocurrencies for systematic hedge funds and why achieving scale and diversification, through the use of SaaS technology is essential to striking gold.

This week we finally got to the bottom of a perplexing issue that we have been examining for a number of months now. We had been seeing intermittent HTTP timeouts or other unusual disconnection problems affecting LUSID, our investment data management platform. These were most obvious in our build pipeline, where they were causing test-failures.

With the discussion around the Consolidated Tape (CT) picking up the pace in both the UK and the EU, we believe there are a number of opportunities and challenges to be addressed – including data quality issues – to achieve a fit-for-purpose market mechanism.   Neil Ryan, CTP Lead at FINBOURNE Technology, explores the benefits of… Continue reading A deconstructed view of a consolidated tape

While hedge funds are currently enjoying a renaissance, the scale of global assets under management has not gone unnoticed and regulation is set to play a major role in the industry in 2022. The question is, how will this impact hedge funds across the globe and how will fund managers continue to secure capital allocations and respond to market opportunities, while sailing in unchartered waters?

In part two of Asset Management 2022 vs 2035: from surviving to thriving, we fast forward to 2035 and look at how SaaS technology, fintech innovation, and a new on-demand era has changed the way asset managers operate in the future.

Read part one of our blog to understand how interoperability can build a bridge from the systems of the past, to an ecosystem of future innovation…

Back in 2019, we spoke with Daria Deluermoz, one of FINBOURNE’s first graduate hires, about her first few months as a software developer. Two years on, we catch up with Daria to hear more about her current role and what she enjoys most about working at FINBOURNE.

Railpen, one of the largest pension funds in the UK, with c.£35 billion AUM, has opted for FINBOURNE’s cloud, investment data management platform, LUSID, as its Investment Book of Record (IBOR).

Amid the ‘Great Resignation’, many firms are increasingly under pressure to retain and attract talent, and future-proof operations. None more so than the hedge fund industry, where vast volumes of investment, market and reference data is submerging people and processes today. Thomas McHugh explores the impact of legacy software on hedge funds and why investing in the right technology will attract a more motivated workforce, boost productivity and protect business continuity.

Christopher Farrell, COO of FINBOURNE Technology, explores the current challenges buy-side firms face with ESG data, highlighting the need to establish a new standard for ESG data management to make sustainable finance a success.

As COP26 draws to a close, it is clear that the urgency for change, together with investor demand for greater transparency and new reporting requirements will significantly shape the future of Sustainable Finance. But to create meaningful change, the industry must first overcome the ESG data challenges it faces today. FINBOURNE speaks to Sue McLean and Caitlin McErlane at Baker McKenzie, a leading global advisory and legal firm, to learn their perspectives around the critical roles of technology, data, and regulation. 

Baillie Gifford, a global investment partnership with £352bn (US$ 486.8bn) assets under management, has selected FINBOURNE Technology’s investment data management platform, LUSID, as the Investment Book of Record (IBOR) for its global investment operations. The platform will deliver a consolidated source of real-time investment data across Baillie Gifford’s equity, fixed income and multi-asset portfolios.

Thomas McHugh uncovers the human cost of inaction when it comes to data overload in the buyside. And why more than anything, firms need to move away from burnout and towards data empowerment. De-risking operational change and solving the limitations of legacy tech, is critical to breaking the status quo of inertia. The question is: can you really afford to live with the data overload, any longer?

In our recent views shared on Consolidated Tape (‘CT’), the issue of data quality was highlighted as central to the CT debate. Some may argue it is even hampering the development of a Consolidated Tape Provider (CTP) in the UK and the EU.

Following on from our last insight on Consolidated Tape (CT) and the launch of our Design Council, we explore why the technology that underpins the CT, is key to ensuring that it is fit for purpose, no matter what the decided approach.

Chris Brook, Co-founder and Head of Platform Engineering, FINBOURNE Technology, shares the limitations of the new tech trend ‘low-code, no-code’ as it applies to investment management operations.

Neil Ryan, Regulatory Consultant at FINBOURNE Technology, explores the renewed drive for a Consolidated Tape (‘CT’) and why FINBOURNE’s Design Council will provide a vocal platform to promote and develop the conversation in both the UK and the EU.

While asset managers are not in the business of data management, there is no denying that data is central to investment management. Accessing and understanding data in the investment chain is crucial.

FINBOURNE Technology and FlexTrade Systems announce a collaboration to integrate FlexNOW with FINBOURNE’s LUSID platform.

– Fidelity selects FINBOURNE’s LUSID platform to drive data strategy for its global asset management business – Fidelity International Strategic Ventures invests into FINBOURNE’s latest funding round Fidelity International, London, 21 July 2021: To address the growing need to prioritise data as a strategic asset and to better serve its clients with new growth initiatives,… Continue reading Fidelity International onboards FINBOURNE’s LUSID platform and makes strategic investment

FINBOURNE Technology, in collaboration with the Financial Times, also hosted a panel on capitalising on the power of data in asset management. Thomas McHugh, FINBOURNE Technology’s co-founder and CEO participated in the session alongside the Chief Data Officers of OFI Asset Management and UBS Asset Management. Watch the full session here. On investment data management… Continue reading Capitalising on the power of data in asset management

Thomas McHugh, FINBOURNE Technology co-founder and CEO participated in a session on Understanding the resilience of ESG and impact investing in the face of COVID. He was joined by the CEO of HSBC Asset Management, the Global Head of sustainability at BNP Paribas, and the CEO of International Federated Hermes in a quality discussion. Watch… Continue reading Understanding the resilience of ESG and impact investing in the face of COVID

HFM hosted another great EU Tech Summit this Monday, 22nd of February covering popular and pressing topics with industry experts. FINBOURNE was excited to participate in the panel on Alternative Data for Traditional Managers.

Earlier this week we held a webinar discussing illiquid markets. This blog highlights some of the themes that arose: the origins and nature of the liquidity challenges, the data solution to those challenges and how the right toolset will empower gathering, consolidating and incorporating the data solution not only to inform allocation strategies, but also… Continue reading Operating in illiquid markets: Consolidating disparate data sets to develop your investment insight

In our last API blog post, we looked at how an API-first strategy reduces operational costs and enhances access to data. In this piece, we set out what a good quality API looks like and examine some of the ways in which the right API-first platform can transform how you access and manage your investment… Continue reading APIs for the investment industry: What does good look like?

Last week, we participated in a webinar at HFM’s European Technology Forum. I spoke on a panel with Michael Fastert, COO and CLO at TIG Advisors, and Doron Gutstadt, CTO of Taconic Capital. Read on to get a snapshot on: Hedge funds: Taking a collaborative approach to driving technology decisions In our webinar poll of… Continue reading How technology can give you the edge as you grow your fund

This week, we sit down with Chris Dearie, Deputy CEO, and Roland Anderson, CTO of TP ICAP’s Data & Analytics business. In a wide-ranging chat, we discuss how TP ICAP is providing insights as well as data to buyside clients and the potential game-changing impact Google Cloud could have on the buyside.

In this piece we take a look at the challenges the transition could present to the buy-side, regulatory considerations and how flexible architecture could present a solution to mitigating some of these challenges.

In this interview, Gus Sekhon, our head of product, sits down with Aviva Investors’ Michelle Calcutt and Andrew Morrison to talk all things customer experience related.

Investment fund infrastructure has not typically been optimised for the rapid exchange of information, but rather for functionality around a narrow set of instruments, vendor services and third-party administrators.

In today’s interview, Dermot Shortt, FINBOURNE Chairman sits down with Olivia Vinden, Alpha FMC’s Head of Fintech and Innovation. We discuss automation, how buyside firms are using data analytics in distribution as well as their investment processes and why ecosystems are so important today.

This post is about Weave, our customisations, and a Weave related production issue that FINBOURNE encountered and resolved in the last couple of months.

Last week we held a webcast with The Trade where we did something we think is unusual: we defined an Investment Book of Record (IBOR). Not by what it is – that’s a fairly commonplace categorisation – but by what it does.

This blog looks at the solution we implemented to fix an issue with the Python SDK which was very difficult to pinpoint.

In this piece we look at how the concept of the OMS became popular, what problems it sought to address, how today’s complex investment environment is testing the capabilities of the OMS and the alternative solutions available.

This week, I spoke on a panel at the HFM European Technology Summit about the future of hedge fund technology. Here are my thoughts following the panel.

FINBOURNE Technology has signed a partnership with TraderMade to make its data available on LUSID, the open investment data platform.

Legacy systems and data limitations are major barriers to implementing an effective machine learning strategy. In this blog post, we explore how the right technology can help investment managers overcome these barriers.

Increasingly diversified investment strategies, closure of mutual funds, the rise of passively managed funds and companies racing to consolidate. It’s easy to say the asset management industry is slow to change but when you look at it from the outside, it’s being pummelled by change in all directions. How do you adapt to external change… Continue reading Change is inevitable. Growth is optional

This post is the second in a series looking at investment data management topics that come up regularly in our work with fund managers. We’ve spoken with around 100 small hedge funds and asset managers specifically to learn about their experiences setting up platforms and operations, and growing the business. This post concerns the fund… Continue reading Fund start-up pain and making mistakes for the long term

The problems that an IBOR is trying to solve are well understood, but there are many shortcomings with the approach. The best analogy that we’ve come across came from a recent conversation with the CDO at a global investment firm. He compared implementing an IBOR with building a self-driving car. For a vehicle to be… Continue reading Do you even need an Investment Book of Record (IBOR)?

While retail banks have mostly been dragged kicking and screaming into the UK government-backed Open Banking initiative, the fund investment industry should treat it as an opportunity to remove unnecessary cost, connect more closely with their customers and build better services.

This is the first in a series of posts looking at some of the questions we’re regularly asked about improving the investment data management process. Today we’re looking at reconciliations.

Everyone knows that data is important, but do we really appreciate how important access to correct data is for the successful execution of an investment strategy?

Bitemporal data is a fundamental principle in our LUSID platform, yet the term is not very common amongst technologists nor business users. It can be a complex concept to describe, and I’ve been thinking of a simple example to help illustrate it…

FINBOURNE Technology launches LUSID™ a revolutionary replacement software system for the asset management industry.

Huge amounts of money are being spent on bolt-on regulatory technology. Why don’t we embrace the capabilities of our digital infrastructure and allow the data required by regulation to be gathered as part of the core business process. I worry that a lot of the RegTech industry is just barking up the wrong tree.

In our last piece, we said we would talk more about “transactions” being the meta-solution to a swathe of investment industry challenges

A big part of our story at Finbourne is maintaining an open communications channel with our customers, our partners and the community in general.

During the first quarter of 2017, European asset managers enjoyed inflows of EUR210bn – the highest in 5 years. This is great news and points to a wider theme that governments around the world are shifting responsibility for savings and retirement to the private sector – all good for investment managers.

Using nginx and oauth2_proxy to deliver S3 based content (and azure blob store)