Are you keeping up with the rapid shifts in Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) markets?
The strategies driving innovation are reshaping how investment products are delivered and managed.
In this episode, Paul Fahey speaks with Phil Nanof, Head of ETF Services, Americas at Northern Trust, about the evolution of ETFs, particularly in the US. They explore the growth of active strategies, the impact of regulatory changes like SEC Rule 6c-11, and how automation and technology are shaping scalable operations.
Phil also highlights key operational strategies for supporting institutional clients and their evolving investment needs.
Phil highlights:
The rise of active ETFs capturing significant net new money each month
How SEC Rule 6c-11 simplified ETF launches and adoption of active strategies
Operational demands increasing with product innovation and market growth
Importance of automation for efficiency, transparency, and error reduction
Integration of ETF services into existing client platforms for seamless experience
Long-term investing is shifting, but what actually separates disciplined investors from the rest?
How are leading institutions balancing performance, risk, and innovation while managing growing complexity?
In this episode, host Paul Fahey speaks with Katie Pries, Country Executive for Northern Trust Asset Servicing in Canada, about how Canadian asset owners approach private markets, governance, and emerging technologies. They explore how the Maple Eight have shaped global investing practices, why climate risk is now embedded in decision-making, and how data challenges are evolving. Katie also shares how AI is being applied to improve efficiency without replacing human judgment, and why execution and governance are now the real differentiators.
Key takeaways:
Private markets treated as core portfolio building blocks tied to long-term liabilities and cash flow stability
Data challenges shifting from scarcity to overload, with a focus on timely, decision-ready information
Climate risk is integrated into governance frameworks and viewed as a financial and execution risk
AI is improving data processing, risk monitoring, and workflow efficiency without replacing human oversight
The Canadian model stands out for disciplined execution, governance, and a long-term investment mindset
Economic pressure rarely comes from a single source. It builds through policy shifts, innovation waves, and global relationships that test long-held assumptions.
In this episode, host Paul Fahey speaks with Carl Tannenbaum, Chief Economist at Northern Trust, to reflect on the forces that defined 2025 and what they signal for the year ahead. They examine trade policy shifts, geopolitical strain, and the unwinding of global supply chains. The conversation also explores fiscal pressure across advanced economies, inflation expectations, and the evolving role of central banks. Together, they look at how artificial intelligence is influencing productivity, labor markets, and long-term investment decisions heading into 2026.
Key takeaways:
Why trade policy changes and tariffs reshape investment decisions and supply chain planning
Global security concerns are influencing fiscal priorities and cross-border cooperation
AI-driven productivity gains alongside labor market disruption for early career workers
How the rising debt burdens and interest costs are pressuring government budgets
How inflation trends, wage pressures, and central bank independence shape market outlooks
The world of institutional investing continues to grow more complex, and many organizations are turning to outsourced chief investment officer (OCIO) partnerships to help them navigate that complexity.
In this episode, host Paul Fahey is joined by Anwiti Bahuguna, Global Co-Chief Investment Officer Asset Management & CIO Multi-Asset Investment, to explore how the OCIO model is evolving and why it’s becoming an essential component of modern investment governance. Drawing on her deep experience in multi-asset management, Anwiti explains how institutions can balance transparency, technology, and tailored strategy in an increasingly dynamic market environment.
Here’s what you can expect from the episode:
The evolution of the OCIO model from smaller mandates to billion-dollar portfolios
How technology, data, and transparency are redefining investment oversight
What distinguishes an effective OCIO partnership in today’s market
Where the OCIO model is heading over the next decade
Factor models can seem intimidating, but when applied effectively, they transform how investment teams understand risk and return.
In this episode, host Paul Fahey interviews Sandeep Varma, Co-Founder and CEO of Equity Data Science (EDS). Paul and Sandeep discuss how factor modeling reshapes decision-making, performance analysis, and collaboration for managers. Sandeep shares his journey from quant to entrepreneur, why visualization and artificial intelligence (AI) matter, and how EDS empowers firms to integrate research and risk seamlessly.
Sandeep discusses:
His journey from Wall Street quantitative analyst to founding Equity Data Science (EDS)
How EDS combines research and risk tools to enhance investment management
The evolution from simple alpha/beta models to advanced multi-factor frameworks
The role of visualization, AI, and real-time collaboration in turning data into insights
Why managers should embrace factors as tools for consistency and better communication with investors
Sandeep Varma co-founded Equity Data Science in 2017 and serves as the company’s Chairman and CEO. His unique experience includes computer science, fundamental analysis, and data science. Prior to founding EDS, Sandeep was a quantitative analyst at Bridger Capital and a quantitative and fundamental analyst at Herring Creek Capital, a hedge fund founded by Steve Galbraith, where he developed a proprietary quantitative platform for idea generation and risk management. Prior to that, he was a quantitative analyst at Credit Suisse, where his responsibilities included portfolio and risk analysis and quantitative modeling for the Prime Brokerage and Securities desks. Before joining Credit Suisse in 2008, Sandeep developed and managed trading and risk management systems at Lehman Brothers and UBS. Sandeep received his Master of Engineering in Computer Science from Cornell University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
The OCIO Evolution and What’s Next with Katherine McCabe (Video)
In this episode of Faster Forward by Northern Trust Asset Servicing, host Grant Johnsey, Head of Market Solutions at Northern Trust, sits down with Kate McCabe, Head of Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) Solutions at Northern Trust, to explore the dynamic growth and transformation of the OCIO space. From the rise of multibillion-dollar plans to the increasing demand for transparency, technology, and global expansion, Kate shares insights from decades of experience and Northern Trust’s recent “Asset Owners in Focus” global peer study.
Tune in to hear more about:
Why OCIOs are scaling rapidly and attracting larger, more sophisticated asset owners
How consolidation is reshaping the provider landscape
What asset owners are demanding in terms of data, governance, and investment access
How Northern Trust is evolving its service model to meet the needs of both OCIOs and asset owners
In this episode of Faster Forward by Northern Trust Asset Servicing, host Grant Johnsey, Head of Market Solutions at Northern Trust, sits down with Kate McCabe, Head of Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) Solutions at Northern Trust, to explore the dynamic growth and transformation of the OCIO space. From the rise of multibillion-dollar plans to the increasing demand for transparency, technology, and global expansion, Kate shares insights from decades of experience and Northern Trust’s recent “Asset Owners in Focus” global peer study.
Tune in to hear more about:
Why OCIOs are scaling rapidly and attracting larger, more sophisticated asset owners
How consolidation is reshaping the provider landscape
What asset owners are demanding in terms of data, governance, and investment access
How Northern Trust is evolving its service model to meet the needs of both OCIOs and asset owners
The pressure on asset owners is mounting, but so is their influence.
With shifting regulations, growing data demands, and interest in alternatives, institutional investors across EMEA are being pushed to rethink their strategies from the ground up.
In this episode, host Paul Fahey chats with Mark Austin, Pensions and Insurance Executive, EMEA at Northern Trust, to explore findings from Northern Trust’s global asset owner peer study, “Asset Owners in Focus”. They discuss rising priorities such as liquidity, outsourcing, and data integration, and examine how shifting expectations are redefining strategy in the pension and insurance space across EMEA.
Mark discusses:
How asset owners are rethinking liquidity needs amid volatility and alternative investments
The growing demand for integrated, timely, and accurate data to support portfolio decisions
The evolving role of outsourcing in driving efficiency and value recognition
Government-driven consolidation in the UK pension space and its operational consequences
Why asset owners are beginning to shape pricing and dictate terms with asset managers and other providers
Superannuation funds in Australia are evolving rapidly, finding new pathways to optimize returns and manage risks.
How are they leveraging size, adapting their operations, and enhancing their data strategies for better investment outcomes? What can other regions learn from their focus on private markets and technology investments?
In this episode, host Paul Fahey speaks with Leon Stavrou, Head of Australia and New Zealand at Northern Trust, to discuss key findings from Northern Trust’s asset owner peer study, “Asset Owners in Focus”. They explore emerging trends in the superannuation sector, shifts in strategies, and the growing role of technology and data in transforming investment approaches.
Leon Stavrou discusses:
The increasing allocation of superannuation funds to private markets, including infrastructure and private credit
Challenges and strategies in managing liquidity amid growing investments in less liquid assets
Impacts of fund consolidation on insourcing versus outsourcing operational and investment activities
How technology and data solutions are enhancing decision-making and operational efficiency
The growing interest in alternative assets, including crypto and physical gold, and their integration into portfolios
In this episode of Faster Forward, host Grant Johnsey sits down with Melanie Pickett, Head of Asset Servicing, Americas, to unpack the latest findings from Northern Trust’s global asset owner survey, “Asset Owners in Focus”. Their discussion dives into how institutional investors around the world are adjusting their strategies amid a rapidly changing landscape.
They also touch on the topic of cryptocurrency. While some clients are receiving crypto through gifts or distributions from private equity funds, Melanie notes that strategic asset allocation to crypto remains uncommon, though it’s a trend worth watching.
Looking ahead, Melanie emphasizes the growing influence of geopolitical events and tax policy on portfolio construction. Asset owners are shifting from regional allocations to more granular, country-specific strategies. Even traditionally tax-exempt institutions are paying more attention to after-tax investment outcomes due to changing tax treaty landscapes.
Key highlights include:
The surprising levels of cash reserves that asset owners are maintaining
The move towards strategic liquidity management amid market volatility
The significance of operational efficiency in managing diverse portfolios
A snapshot of regional variations in sustainable investing practices
Melanie joined Northern Trust in January 2017, charged with creating a new line of business centered on meeting the portfolio management and technology needs of complex asset allocators around the globe. In late 2018, Melanie led an equity investment in Parilux Investment Technology and built Northern Trust’s first cloud-native software business. In early 2019, Melanie increased Northern Trust’s equity stake in Parilux to a majority position and launched Northern Trust’s Front Office Solutions. Since launch, the platform has grown to serve over $550BN in AUM. Northern Trust fully acquired Parilux in April 2021. Melanie also serves as the global product executive for alternative investments, directing capital and strategy to the firm’s investments in services for limited partners, inclusive of a multi-year digitization initiative utilizing groundbreaking machine learning capabilities.
In January 2021, Melanie took responsibility for the firm’s not-for-profit, healthcare, public pension, and Taft Hartley businesses, and in January 2022, she added responsibility for the insurance and large corporate businesses, as well as Northern Trust’s Canada business.
Melanie’s remit now spans the entirety of the Asset Servicing business in the Americas, directing the bank’s strategy, growth, and delivery of all firmwide products & services for asset owners and asset managers in the Americas region.
