Hedge IT Blog

We were recently asked by a COOConnect member about the best sources for information about the strengths/weaknesses of the various hedge fund applications including front, middle and back office.  Since we know many folks have this same question, today we are going to expand on the answer given by our expert, Mark Coriaty.

Now the way a hedge fund uses an application will vary based on its investment strategy, and therefore the perceived strengths and weaknesses may vary as well.  However, there are multiple ways to establish a baseline of strengths and weaknesses.

Service Provider Reports: Balancing Bias with Value

First up are free reports from hedge fund service providers such as Eze Castle Integration.  Each year we publish a benchmark study that outlines top applications used in select front, middle and back office categories by hedge funds.  This report will provide a baseline of the top three application vendors used in each category, but doesn’t dive into specific feature sets.  The report can be downloaded HERE.

Vendor reports can be helpful in getting an initial understanding of the most frequently used applications and top features used by firms.  You should always consider the source, as some vendor reports or whitepapers will be biased. 

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With mounting regulations, stringent reporting requirements and heightened investor expectations, we know that managers who are considering starting a hedge fund have a lot to think about. So, we joined forces with KPMG to host a jam-packed half-day seminar and networking event yesterday in New York City: Hedge Fund Launch 2.0: Navigating the New Environment.
 
During the event, we had the pleasure of bringing together over 100 investment management professionals for an exciting and educational day. Attendees heard from over 30 notable industry experts engaging in panel discussions on an array of topics related to launching a hedge fund.
 
Here’s a look at some of the insights and lessons learned from a few of our favorite panel discussions.

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Tomorrow, we are co-hosting an exciting seminar in New York City with our friends at KPMG on the topic of launching a hedge fund. The half-day event, Hedge Fund Launch 2.0: Navigating the New Environment, will feature expert panel sessions on variety of topics including technology, regulations, capital raising, application platforms and more.
 
One panel we’re particularly interested in – beyond the technology panels, of course – is Corporate Essentials, a program focused on the often forgotten-about aspects of launching a new business. These aspects include human resources, compensation, insurance and real estate. Here’s a sneak peek at some of the content our panelists will be discussing at tomorrow’s event:

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It is becoming cliché to say, but the investor due diligence process has truly evolved from a ‘check the box’ activity to a detailed and analytical process.  Today, hedge fund investors want to see a tested investment strategy coupled with institutional-grade business processes.
 
Here at Eze Castle Integration, each year we help more and more hedge fund clients complete the Technology portion of investor due diligence questionnaires (DDQ).  So we thought it would be helpful to share some of the more common technology related questions we are seeing.  Not surprisingly you’ll see security and disaster recovery questions on the list.
 
As you consider your responses to these questions, keep in mind that in some cases investors are more concerned with your decision process as opposed to seeing the “right” answer.  The reality is that often the “right” answer varies from firm to firm and depends on a number of factors, including investment strategy.

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In honor of the mobile phone turning 40 years old this week, today’s post is on the BlackBerry Z10.  (BTW: did you know the first mobile phone weighed 2.5 pounds and took 10 hours to charge?!)
 
Back to the topic at hand.  In January, when the BlackBerry Z10 was just officially unveiled, we took a look at the bells and whistles available on the device (Read: BlackBerry’s Reinvention: A look at BlackBerry Z10).  And now that the BlackBerry Z10 is available in over 35 countries, by all accounts it is just what the company needs if they have any hope of taking back market share from iPhone and Android makers. 

As part of its promotional push, BlackBerry is even letting iPhone and Android users test drive the new operating system by pointing their mobile browsers to BlackBerry.com/glimpse.    

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Cloud computing is becoming a standard IT deployment method for the investment management industry. In fact, our 2012 survey found that 8 in 10 investment management firms are either currently or planning to use a cloud service. So once a hedge fund or alternative decides to go cloud the next question is "why go Eze Private Cloud?"

Well, we have the perfect answer to that, and you can have it in just 60-seconds. Watch our quick video and learn why Eze Private Cloud is the investment industry standard for cloud services. 


 

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Today, we're excited be hosting the 2013 London Hedge Fund Cloud Summit at the Prince Philip House in London. The event features a variety of industry experts participating in thought-provoking panel disccussions focused on the cloud adoption trends shaping the investment industry. Conversations will touch on everything from the differences between public and private clouds to cloud security and application hosting.

In honor of this event and to provide a visual to help encapsulate the many benefits that come from leveraging a private cloud, we have published a new infographic entitled “You Might be a Private Cloud User If…” Check it out to see the top 10 signs that you are likely a private cloud user. For more information and details on the 2013 London Hedge Fund Cloud Summit please visit the event page. Also, be sure to look out for a recap of the event here on the Hedge IT blog next week!

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Yesterday our VP of client technology, Steve Schoener, presented on a California Hedge Fund Association webinar about building an institutional infrastructure at today’s hedge funds. A lofty topic (so consider this a basic primer), Steve focused on four key discussion areas, which we’ll recap here. They were:

• Investor Expectations of IT

• On-premise & Cloud solutions: Which is right?

• Security Risks & Best Practices

• Disaster Recovery How-Tos

You can watch the 30-minute webinar now or keep reading below.

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Last week, we hosted a webinar covering AIFMD’s impact on US based hedge funds. The event featured Bill Prew, Founder of INDOS Financial Limited, and provided a high level overview of the changes that AIFMD will potentially bring to the alternative investment industry. Prew specifically focused on how US based managers will be impacted by this legislation. Read on for a summary of the main topics covered during the event, including an overview of AIFMD and the considerations and upcoming changes for US managers.  

About the Expert
Bill Prew is the founder of INDOS Financial Limited. Before founding INDOS, he was the chief operating officer at James Caird Asset Management, a hedge fund with offices in London and New York. He has also served in various senior roles at Barclays Global Investors and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Following a summary of the information presented by Mr. Prew during our recent webinar.

 

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Last week, we hosted a webinar on the Hedge Fund Industry Outlook for 2013 with speakers Deborah Prutzman, CEO of the Regulatory Fundamentals Group, and Mary Beth Hamilton of Eze Castle Integration.  Following is a recap of the key topics discussed around operational due diligence, regulations and technology trends.

Insights from Deborah Prutzman, Regulatory Fundamentals Group
2012 was a year marked with significant regulatory changes in the world of investment management. So far, we’re expecting to see more of the same in 2013. This time, the direction and manner of change will likely be more predictable.  Some important themes we expect will permeate throughout the year include:

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