Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Asset Servicing Solutions to Undergo Fundamental Shift in the Next 5 Years

Despite the great financial crisis of 2008 and various economic turmoil, a huge percentage of asset managers still fail to bring the future into focus, according to PwC’s “Asset Management 2020: A Brave New World.” However, the constantly changing industry landscape will continue to shape asset servicing solutions and they will be significantly different over the next five years.

The primary factor that could trigger the need for modernized asset servicing strategies is the increasing number of investable assets. PwC states that about $64 trillion worth of assets today could rise to $102 trillion by 2020, given a compound growth rate of almost 6%.  “As global economies become increasingly integrated and interdependent, regional AuM is influenced by GDP growth in other regions,” the report said.

While majority of the assets will still be concentrated in the United States and Europe, new star players include the SAAAME economies—South America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East—with mass affluent clients and the global middle class as the key drivers of growth.
“The global middle class is projected to grow by 180% between 2010 and 2040, with Asia replacing Europe as home to the highest proportion of middle classes, as early as 2015,” added the report.

Because of these factors, the industry is challenged to bring in new financial products for a young and growing constituency. Mutual funds are also expected to take center stage, fueled by the growing middle-class investors that are preparing themselves for retirement and wealth accumulation.

Aside from the rising number of assets, perpetually increasing operational costs are seen as inevitable forces that could change asset servicing landscape. Regulatory charges will remain at the core and AM fees will be questioned even more by discerning investors, despite the ongoing efforts of asset managers to increase transparency and comparability.

With this scenario, there will be greater need to invest on technology and data management. As a result, costs of asset servicing will continue to increase, but margins will remain lower. Profits today are still 15%–20% below their pre-crisis highs – according to industry analysis – and it is debatable whether they will have reattained these levels by 2020,” explained PwC.

In between the rising assets and costs is the stronger demand for risk management, and technology is seen as the saving grace of asset servicing solutions in the following years. Cloud computing and more transparent online dashboards will be more imperative to establish better communication between the investors and third-party vendors. However, the role of technology could even go beyond that.

“In reality, while risk analytics and decision support tools are part of the suite of systems that asset managers and asset owners use, a core function of asset servicing technology is to support a massive exercise in data management and information processing,” explained BlackRock.

With a more challenging landscape that the AM industry has to face, an ideal financial partner has a constant eye on the future, offering asset servicing solutions that utilize state-of-the-art-technology.

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Best Wedding Gowns for a Dreamy Hamptons, New York Garden Wedding

Hunting for the gown is no easy task for brides out, especially if it’s for an intimate garden wedding in US’ most romantic destinations like the Hamptons, New York. Women need to consider the weather, the motif of the wedding, and even the landscape or the location.

Below are the top wedding gown picks this season.

Halter wedding gown. Halter neck wedding gowns feature a classic cut that can be worn in  all seasons (but perhaps with a wrap for winter). This gown highlights the neck, the chest and the shoulders, creating an elongated illusion of the body and making it appear leaner. This gown can also be styled by adding a bolero or a cape, of a fabric that complements the bodice.

Empire cut chiffon wedding dress. This traditional style wedding dress puts the spotlight on the women’s upper body, with a cut emphasizing the lady’s chest area. There are different options for the decolletage: it can be a simple tube, sweetheart neckline, or v-neck, among others. If the bride has a smaller frame, an off-shoulder design will emphasize the shoulders and make the neck look longer. Brides who are expecting also favor this cut, since it does not create pressure on the abdomen and hip areas.

Scoop lace long wedding dress. This type of wedding gown is one of the most suitable wedding dresses for garden-themed weddings. With its light fabric and feminine detail, it lends the bride a sultry yet timeless look . The lace also works well with accessories like flower headbands, bracelet or corsages, which are staples for weddings scheduled during the warm seasons.

Crepe and tulle wedding ballgown. This run-down will not be complete without a crepe and tulle wedding gown in a ballgown cut. This gown is a favorite among younger brides as it brings a carefree vibe along with a royal or queenly touch to whoever is wearing it – just the way most of them want to feel on their big day. Crepe hugs the body in a flattering way, but it is light enough for the summer bride. Similarly, tulle creates volume, but does not add much weight, making it ideal for this season’s garden weddings in the Hamptons, New York.

The key is to strike a balance between comfort and style, while also allowing the bride’s personality to shine. This way, this most special of days can be both memorable and enjoyable.