Tag: Northern Trust

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Making Factor Models Work for Investment Teams with Sandeep Varma

Making Factor Models Work for Investment Teams with Sandeep Varma

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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

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About Sandeep Varma:

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.

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The OCIO Evolution and What’s Next with Katherine McCabe (Video)

The OCIO Evolution and What’s Next with Katherine McCabe (Video)

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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

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About Kate McCabe:

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The OCIO Evolution and What’s Next with Katherine McCabe

The OCIO Evolution and What’s Next with Katherine McCabe

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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

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About Grant Johnsey:

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About Kate McCabe:

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Reshaping the Investment Model: Challenges and Shifts for EMEA Asset Owners with Mark Austin

Reshaping the Investment Model: Challenges and Shifts for EMEA Asset Owners with Mark Austin

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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

Resources: 

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Navigating Complexity: How Super Funds are Responding to Market Shifts with Leon Stavrou

Navigating Complexity: How Super Funds are Responding to Market Shifts with Leon Stavrou

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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
  • And more!

Resources: 

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What Asset Owners are Thinking: Key Insights from Our Latest Peer Study with Melanie Pickett

What Asset Owners are Thinking: Key Insights from Our Latest Peer Study with Melanie Pickett

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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 

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About Melanie Pickett:

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.

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From Risk to Resilience: Cybersecurity & AI in the New Era of Finance with Tom South

From Risk to Resilience: Cybersecurity & AI in the New Era of Finance with Tom South

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Our host Marc Mallett, Chief Strategy Officer, Asset Servicing at Northern Trust, sits down with Tom South, Chief Information Officer at Northern Trust, to chat about the evolving cybersecurity landscape. They speak about the growing role of AI – both as a potential weapon to commit cybercrime as well as a powerful tool for defense against cyber attacks – and discuss strategies to protect the financial services industry from increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

Key Highlights:

  • The evolving nature and complexity of cyber threats in the financial services industry 
  • The transformative impact of AI for both cybercrime as well as enhanced security measures 
  • The importance of continuous testing and adaptive, multi-layered cybersecurity strategies
  • Effective data protection approaches, including encryption, access control, and vigilant monitoring
  • Collaboration across the financial ecosystem to strengthen defenses and promote responsible security practices
  • And more!

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Looking Back, Looking Ahead: 2024 Reflection & 2025 Outlook with Carl Tannenbaum

Looking Back, Looking Ahead: 2024 Reflection & 2025 Outlook with Carl Tannenbaum

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Host Marc Mallett, speaks with Carl Tannenbaum, Chief Economist at Northern Trust, about what 2025 holds for the global economy. Carl unpacks the major trends that defined 2024 and shares key themes that he expects to take shape in 2025.

Key Highlights:

  • The influence and ramifications of 2024 global elections on economies 
  • How immigration policies around the world may impact productivity and economic growth with a new regime in many countries
  • The delicate dance with inflation and its ripple effects on major economies, analyzing the ongoing impact of inflationary pressures and interest rate adjustments
  • Highlights from Northern Trust’s 2025 Global Economic Outlook, which identifies four key themes that will occupy the world’s attention in the coming twelve months
  • Frequently asked questions that Carl has received from clients around the current economic landscape  
  • And more!

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Setting the Standard: Corporate Sustainability

Setting the Standard: Corporate Sustainability

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Kim Evans, Head of Corporate Sustainability, Inclusion & Social Impact at Northern Trust, joins Faster Forward for a deep dive into the importance of sustainability, and its connection to diversity, equity, and inclusion and social impact in any corporation. In this episode, Kim touches on the risks and opportunities that have emerged within the financial services industry recently, how the space has evolved, and some of the exciting initiatives where Northern Trust is engaged and committed to drive long-term value for its stakeholders. 

Key insights from this conversation include:

  • The critical role of sustainability, DE&I, and social impact in Northern Trust’s business strategy
  • Insights into how emerging regulations have impacted how the financial services industry has evolved in this space
  • The influence of clients and regional differences on sustainability efforts
  • Practical advice on embedding sustainability from a people, profit, and planet perspective into daily business operations
  • And more!

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About Kim Evans:

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The Road to Institutional DeFi

The Road to Institutional DeFi

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As a space that is expected to take off in coming years, the road to utilizing decentralized finance (DeFi) for regulated financial activities is under construction. Dan Sleep of Northern Trust and Boon-Hiong Chan of Deutsche Bank examine key driving forces in the DeFi domain and assess what lies ahead for the institutional investment industry on the road to institutional DeFi.

Key Highlights:

  • Understand the current state of DeFi and how it is being used in financial services today
  • Learn about the benefits of DeFi in institutional investing and how it can change the industry
  • Hear about DeFi in action through current projects and use cases 
  • Learn about the regulatory and cybersecurity risks and what institutions can do to build robust frameworks that ensure trust and security
  • Discover why collaboration between financial institutions, regulators, and tech companies is crucial to developing standards and ensuring seamless integration of decentralized and traditional systems
  • And much more!

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