Knowledgent is committed to providing thought-provoking information management insights gleaned from advising some of the world's renowned companies.
Knowledgent Insights, a thought leadership series, offers business and strategic insights on the latest trends affecting information efficiency and management that drive strategic growth decisions.
Recent issues:
In the midst of the worst economic environment since the Great Depression, it seems reasonable to expect global financial institutions to achieve more for less. However, the need to provide clients with a pleasant and efficient onboarding experience still remains critical for exceeding bottom line expectations. With diminishing margins at stake, the current regulatory environment, as well as increased complexities of the client onboarding process, it is imperative for organizations to better manage, control, understand and improve the process. Click here >>
Signed into law in July 2010, the Dodd Frank Act is now a year old, and most of the comment periods for the proposed rules on the trading and clearing of over-the-counter derivatives (OTCD) have expired. While the regulators – Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) – have delayed the release of the final rules by the end of the year, companies impacted should start preparing themselves as they cannot simply operate as “business as usual” in the new OTC landscape. Although some details have yet to be worked out, Dodd-Frank has two key requirements for OTCD transactions: all standardized swaps to trade on swap execution facilities (SEFs) and all trades done on the SEFs to be cleared on designated clearing organizations (DCOs). How will these requirements alter existing OTCD practices? What are the challenges in meeting these conditions? This issue of Knowledgent Insights offers perspectives on some of the key implications on trading and clearing OTCDs when Dodd-Frank becomes effective. Click here >>
The erosion of positive customer attitudes and trust towards financial services firms, particularly those providing wealth management services, is driving firms to find innovative strategies to win back customer confidence and loyalty. On the surface this may appear to be an insurmountable challenge given the existing unfavorable sentiment towards the industry; however, opportunities exist. In fact, significant business opportunities exist for wealth management firms that can improve overall client experiences from the initial point of contact and throughout the lifecycle of the relationship. This will require a shift towards a client-centric model in which the client is king. Wealth management firms may need to modify the organization’s DNA to create and deliver remarkable client experiences that revolve around clients, click here. >>
The Department of Labor’s final regulations on service provider and participant fee disclosures attempt to provide greater transparency and empower both retirement plan sponsors and participants to make informed decisions concerning plan cost and investments. Furthermore, the regulations work to ensure that plan fiduciaries are acting prudently in the participants’ best interest. These changes, coupled with the continuing threat of litigation related to plan fees, will in turn impact the overall business model of many retirement service providers. To read more on how these changes are causing a ripple effect through the industry and how affected parties are responding, click here. >>