The SME Forum Member Site

Webinar: Maximizing Distribution Intelligence in 2024!
2024-10-10 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Webinar: Maximizing Distribution Intelligence in 2024!

Olmstead is back with insights from their latest 2024 Distribution Intelligence Survey, building on key findings from 2022 and sharing what has changed as well as where the industry is trending. Join us as we explore how the landscape has evolved, the increasing role of AI, and where companies are achieving real results.

What’s New in 2024?

Data quality improvements
More companies leveraging AI for predictive analytics and lead generation
Reduction in manual data wrangling

Key Takeaways:

AI’s expanding role in distribution intelligence
Real-world results: how organizations are maturing through data
Strategies to boost data accessibility and quality

📅 Date: Thursday, October 10th
⏰ Time: 12noon EST/ 9am PST/5pm GMT
📍 Register Here

Don’t miss out on this exclusive look at how distribution intelligence is evolving.

Unlocking Generative AI in Asset Management with AWS
2024-09-25 13:00 - 14:00
Join our upcoming webinar to discover how AI and Generative AI can transform the asset management industry, with experts from AWS, The SME Forum, and Vertical Relevance sharing real-world examples and actionable strategies. Learn how these innovative technologies can benefit both your business and technology teams, with an interactive Q&A to engage directly with our speakers. Whether you’re new to AI or looking to deepen your knowledge, this session will provide the insights you need to navigate the future of asset management with AWS.

Event Closed

Speakers

Nilanjan Sen
Solution Partner Vertical Relevance
Nilanjan is a dynamic leader with a unique ability to bridge the gap between business and technology within the financial services industry. His deep expertise in asset and wealth management, coupled with a strong command of AWS cloud solutions, has driven successful transformations for top financial institutions. Known for his strategic insight and execution, he excels in navigating complex regulatory landscapes while delivering innovative solutions that enhance operational efficiency. Nilanjan’s leadership has consistently resulted in significant revenue growth and successful project delivery across diverse financial sectors.

Ruben Falk
Capital Markets Specialist Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Ruben is a Financial Services Specialist focused on generative AI, machine learning, and data platforms. He is responsible for driving cloud adoption through the implementation of modern data architecture and GenAI-ML applications such as knowledge worker platforms, call center intelligence, and investment product development. Ruben joined AWS from S&P Global Market Intelligence where he was Global Head of Investment Management Solutions. Previously Ruben was a Director with UBS Investment Bank and also spent time as a management consultant. Ruben has a Computer Science degree from Brandeis University and an MBA from UC Berkeley.

Hazem Gamal
COO The SME Forum
Hazem Gamal is a founding member of The Forum and has been a continual driver of its growth and maturity since its inception in 2003. Initially the senior representative for OppenheimerFunds until 2017, he grew to be a leader in the development of the original Siebel CRM user group, its long-time incarnation as The CRM Forum and now as The SME Forum. Throughout this time, he has provided guidance, mentorship, facilitation, and participation in various aspects of the organization’s events and services over the years. In 2018 Hazem took over leadership and primary responsibilities for running the organization from Tony Busacca, also an original and founding member.

Quarterly Trends Briefing: September 2024, Nasdaq eVestment
2024-09-10 11:00 - 12:00
Each quarter, Nasdaq eVestment mines its data to brief asset managers on the most recent trends in the global institutional market. This quarter’s webcast will cover:

A look at the most recent trends in the institutional market globally, including:

Where assets are moving and the key flow drivers by universe and geography
Where abrupt changes in flows direction may indicate inflection points
Where investors in North America, Europe and APAC are concentrating their research activity, in advance of allocation decisions
The state of ESG: AUM, flows and allocator interests

A recording of the briefing will be available online after broadcast, and the slides will be distributed automatically to registrants.

Featuring

Evan Walker
Manager Research Consultant, RVK, Inc

Matt Sturdivan, CFA
Manager Research Consultant, Director of Traditional Markets, RVK, Inc.

Yanni Angelakos
Head of Content Strategy, Investment Intelligence, Nasdaq

Russ Elliott
Head of Asset Management Market Intelligence Nasdaq eVestment

One Webcast,three convenient times
APAC10 September 202411:00 AM HKT
EMEA10 September 202411:00 AM BST
AMERICAS10 September 202411:00 AM EDT

Click Here to Register at Nasdaq eVestment

Unlocking the Untapped Potential of Data with AI: Turning your data into your most powerful asset: The SME Forum and HSO
2024-09-05 14:00 - 15:00 | Webinar
Asset managers are inundated with data from a myriad of sources—internal, external, and everything in between. Yet, despite the abundance of this data at their fingertips, many firms struggle to harness its full potential, leaving valuable insights on the table that can lead to improved business outcomes.

Join us for an insightful webinar, “Unlocking the Untapped Potential of Data and AI in Asset Management,” where we’ll share how leveraging advanced AI technologies can transform your data into a powerful tool for strategic decision-making, customer engagement, and operational efficiency.
This session is designed specifically for asset management professionals looking to overcome the challenges of data fragmentation and underutilization. HSO’s Jonathan Tripple and Tom Berger and The SME Forum’s Hazem Gamal will guide you through practical steps to integrate AI-driven solutions into your existing infrastructure, helping you turn disparate data into a unified, actionable source of truth.
Key Takeaways:

Articulate the Current Data Landscape: Learn how data fragmentation affects your firm’s ability to make informed decisions and the risks of underutilizing valuable information.
Harness the Power of AI: Discover how AI can revolutionize the way you interact with data, driving better outcomes across customer engagement, sales strategies, and regulatory compliance.
Overcome Common Barriers: We’ll address the most common challenges asset managers face when investing in a comprehensive data strategy—and how to overcome them.
Realize Your Data’s Full Potential: Learn how firms that embrace a robust data strategy are not just surviving but thriving in today’s competitive environment.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain a competitive edge by unlocking the hidden potential within your data. Whether you’re just beginning your AI journey or looking to refine your existing strategy, this webinar will equip you with the insights and tools you need to stay ahead of the curve.

Who Should Attend?This webinar is ideal for asset management professionals, including data management roles, data analysts, sales and marketing teams, and executives interested in maximizing the value of their data and driving their firm’s success through AI.
Click Here to Register at HSO.com

WalletShare Activity Consortium Webinar - SS&C
2024-06-25 14:00 - 15:00 | Webinar
As discussed at the recent SME Forum in Charlotte, NC, the Activity Breakout Session had several topics that were top of mind for distribution intelligence leaders:

Are Financial Advisors taking meetings?
Activity share, is it what you expect?
Rankings at the asset manager level & firm level.
How many data points are gathered per interaction?

Continue the review of activity data with the WalletShare team. Dave Nicholas and Jeff Strange will provide an overview of the WalletShare Activity Consortium and discuss the following: How effective are your Wholesalers vs. the industry? Are they meeting with the right Financial Advisors? What is your Wholesaler penetration at a specific Broker Dealer?
The WalletShare Activity Consortium webinar will cover the following:

WalletShare Activity Consortium Overview
Wholesaler activity benchmarking using analytics
Wholesaler activity Hot Spots report
Current status of the WalletShare Activity Consortium.

Register Today at the SS&C Website

2024 Global SME Forum
2024-06-18 08:00 - 2024-06-19 17:00 | DoubleTree by Hilton London – Tower of London, 7 Pepys St, London EC3N 4AF, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
About this Global SME Forum:
We are kicking off a multi-forum topic that we will pursue into 2025. While we don’t want to make these about “Artificial Intelligence”, unlike at our April 2023 Forum in Scottsdale, there was a significant change in receptiveness from the membership to explore AI (and we will use this term VERY broadly to be as inclusive and thoughtful about the domain) in November, 2024. So we built programming that infuses, takes into consideration and deliberates HOW artificial intelligence can be effectively applied to our businesses in practical and realistic ways. This, of course, will supplement our many staple topics that broadly include Marketing, Distribution, Institutional and Wealth, Data, Practices, etc.
The summer 2024 Global Forum in London is entitled “First Things First” because we have curated a selection of working breakout sessions, guest speakers and discussions that revolve around exploring what it takes and how best to consider your existing resources, tools and tech in consideration of any AI efforts you may be thinking about undertaking. The consequences of getting ahead of ourselves are worse than being properly prepared first. Join your peers from the UK, European, APAC and US for this annual intimate and deep gathering of industry colleagues to share, explore and consider your own situations and how best to move forward.
As we concluded in November at The Forum, “AI will be a topic and feature of almost every conversation we have going forward just as data has become so ubiquitous. BUT, it is never really about the data or AI, we are always working to ensure that we keep our eye on the ball which is HOW does data (and now increasingly AI) play into our efforts to deliver business value and address our various business goals and objectives.
Location:
DoubleTree by Hilton London – Tower of London7 Pepys St, London EC3N 4AF, United Kingdom

Institutional Trends Quarterly Webcast: June 2024, Nasdaq eVestment
2024-06-13 11:00 - 12:00 | Webinar
Each quarter, Nasdaq eVestment mines its data to brief traditional managers on the most recent trends in the global institutional market. This quarter’s webcast will cover:

Get This Quarter’s Analysis on Institutional Trends:

Asset class return recap
How institutional assets are moving
Focus areas in research conducted by asset owners & Mercer
The state of ESG
Search trends & areas of opportunity for managers

A recording of the briefing will be available online after broadcast, and the slides will be distributed automatically to registrants.

Featuring

Richard Dell, CFA
Head of Equities, Mercer

Yanni Angelakos
Head of Content Strategy, Investment Intelligence, Nasdaq

Russ Elliott
Head of Asset Management Market Intelligence Nasdaq eVestment

One Webcast,three convenient times
APAC13 June 202411:00 AM HKT
EMEA13 June 202411:00 AM BST
AMERICAS13 June 202411:00 AM EDT

Click Here to Register at Nasdaq eVestment

2024 Spring SME Forum - Delivering Actual Intelligence: Pursuing Business Value
2024-05-14 08:00 - 2024-05-15 17:00 | Charlotte, NC
Location: Charlotte, NC

Registration Is Closed (5/7/2024)

We are kicking off a multi-forum topic that will we will pursue into 2025. While we don’t want to make it about “Artificial Intelligence”, unlike at our April 2023 Forum in Scottsdale, there was a significant change in receptiveness from the membership to explore AI (and we will use this term VERY broadly to be as inclusive and thoughtful about the domain) in November. So we are going to build programming that infuses, takes into consideration and deliberates HOW artificial intelligence can be effectively applied to our businesses in practical and realistic ways. This, of course, will supplement our many staple topics that broadly include Marketing, Distribution, Institutional, Data, Services and Subscriptions, etc.
As we concluded in November at The Forum, “AI will be a topic and feature of almost every conversation we have going forward just as data has become so ubiquitous. BUT, it is never really about the data or AI, we are always working to ensure that we keep our eye on the ball which is HOW does data (and now increasingly AI) play into our efforts to deliver business value and address our various business goals and objectives.
Hotel reservations are now available at the Hilton Charlotte Uptown at our SME Forum group rate. Forum is all day Tuesday and Wednesday with the Leadership Council meeting on Thursday morning. Most arrive on Monday but we encourage you to arrive earlier and enjoy Charlotte as well.

Microsoft Copilot Studio: How AI is Boosting Speed to Knowledge in Asset Management Firms - HSO and Microsoft Webinar
2024-03-20 12:00 - 12:30
What does a better customer experience look like for you?
How does operational efficiency improve your day?

As the asset management industry pivots towards innovative AI solutions, Microsoft Copilot Studio emerges as a natural language interface that allows your internal and external customers access to existing data and knowledge bases, increasing operational efficiency and enhancing customer experience.
HSO and Microsoft invite you to an educational webinar on Wednesday, March 20th @ 12 PM ET, 9 AM PT. This event will demonstrate how Copilot Studio puts information truly at the fingertips of your employees and customers. Please click the button below to register on HSO’s website.

Click Here to Register at HSO Website (will open in new window)

Presenters

Tom Berger, HSO
VP, Financial Services

Mike Hammons, HSO
Senior Functional Solution Architect

Erol Atac, Microsoft
Power Platform Specialist | AI & Copilot

Making Data Work - Instead of You Working on Data
2023-12-19 14:00 - 15:00
Learn to harness the true potential of data with our upcoming webinar, “Making Data Work – Instead of You Working on Data,” Tuesday, December 19th.

In this session, we will explore data and analytics elements that go beyond the math and the technology, and focus more on the human and practical aspects of managing change.
Join us and industry expert Neeraj Arora as we share strategies and frameworks designed to ensure that your investments in data and analytics work for you.

Key Discussion Points:

Ask the Right Questions:
A shift in perspective can help clear the way!

Alignment with current state of execution:
Focusing on what can actually be done today helps to build trust as well as momentum for the big leaps for tomorrow.

Easy = Acceptability = Adoption:
We are tempted to go for the “advanced” solution, but the real objective is to keep it simple

Optimize Team Placement:
Delve into the organizational structure and discover if there’s a more effective “place” for your data and analytics team within the company.

Don’t ignore defining Ownership:
Uncover the critical question of data ownership and evaluate whether the output is being effectively “product managed.”

Don’t miss your chance to be part of this insightful conversation. Register now for “Making Data Work” and learn where data doesn’t just inform decisions but drives success.

Neeraj Arora
Head of Insights and Analytics North America, Invesco

Neeraj is an analytics and change management expert with over 20 years of experience in leadership roles across Asset Management, Consumer Finance, Insurance and Advertising. Over the past 15 years, Neeraj has successfully led teams of data scientists, analysts, management consultants, and visualization experts to foster a comprehensive data-driven decision-making mindset within organizations. Alongside this, Neeraj has maintained a strong focus on change management aspects. He has been invited to speak at numerous conferences, specifically addressing cultural and operational challenges related to adopting analytics and AI.
Most recently, Neeraj spearheaded the Analytics and Insights charge at Invesco. Neeraj helped to enhance net sales growth by gaining a deeper understanding of clients and their interaction with the company’s products, supporting the organization’s ongoing commitment to client-centricity. His team strategically utilized data, business intelligence, and advanced analytics across wealth management and institutional business in North America, enhancing effectiveness and efficiency through a combination of analytical insights, visualization, and on-the-ground implementation.
Before Invesco, Neeraj was a senior consultant at Citibank for their US Retail Bank and Credit Card business. Prior to that, he spent over a decade in leading the development of analytics as well as optimal infrastructure for data driven decision making at Farmers Insurance, AIG and Capital One.

Institutional Trends Quarterly Webcast: December 2023 - eVestment, a part of Nasdaq
2023-12-05 14:00 - 15:00
Each quarter, eVestment mines its data to brief traditional managers on the most recent trends in the global institutional market. This quarter’s webcast will cover:

Where assets are moving and the key flow drivers by universe and geography
Where abrupt changes in flows direction may indicate inflection points
Where investors in North America, Europe and APAC are concentrating their research activity, in advance of allocation decisions
The state of ESG: AUM, flows and allocator interests
New facets of ESG data, including universes ranked by carbon emissions

A recording of the briefing will be available online after broadcast, and the slides will be distributed automatically to registrants.

Commentary from Marquette Associates
This quarter, Nat Kellogg will provide perspective on evolving investor interests, ESG, diversity, and inclusion, and guidance on how managers can best engage Marquette.

Nat Kellogg
Director of Manager Search Marquette Associates

Moderated by Nasdaq eVestment

Russ Elliott
Head of Asset Management Market Intelligence Nasdaq eVestment

Michele Shauf
Head of Client Experience Strategy Investment Intelligence, Nasdaq eVestment

One Webcast,three convenient times
APAC5 December 202311am HKT
EMEA5 December 20232pm GMT
AMERICAS5 December 20232pm EST

Click Here to Register at Nasdaq eVestment

SS&C Technologies: National Accounts Roundtable (NYC)
2023-11-28 08:00 - 12:00
National Accounts
In-person event in NYC for Heads of National Accounts (Limited to one attendee from each participating firm)
Wednesday, November 28th, 2023
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Eastern

Keynote presentation by Matt Fronczke, Director of Research & Consulting, SS&C
Roundtable discussion moderated by Lee Kowarski, VP, Head of Distribution Solutions, SS&C

Use link to register.
For more information, email Lee Kaworski

2023 Fall SME Forum: Institutionalized Asset Management: Bridging the Gaps
2023-11-13 08:00 - 2023-11-15 17:00
Although the SME Forum was originally founded by mostly intermediary sold retail asset managers, most of them also had Institutional divisions or have since developed them into formidable branches of their businesses. Simultaneously, the number of Institutional-only firms joining the community has been increasing over the years. While we always include topics and sessions geared toward this growing sector of our industry, the Fall 2023 SME Forum is dedicating itself towards our community members who are part of and support the Institutional aspects of their businesses across our typical topics of discussion across Operations, Technology and especially Marketing.
Begins on Monday evening, November 13 at 6pm with a welcome reception hosted by Kyloe Digital and carries through the end of the day Wednesday, November 15. The Leadership Council breakfast and roundtable are Thursday morning and ends by 11am.

Forums are open to any and all employees of a member firm – no restrictions
Non-member participants in the Asset Management industry are also encouraged to participate at your invitation
Attendees are typically drawn from team leads to C-Suite leadership executives in both Retail and Institutional Asset Management
Our topics focus on global Marketing, Sales/Distribution, Operations and Technology interests with emphasis on best practices and application.

Anyone that has been to one of our Forums knows the enduring value of attending SME in-person meetings, roundtables and conferences. All are intimate affairs (limited to a total of 120 participants) that help you Learn, Connect, Grown and Solve your needs through peer to peer engagement and subject matter expertise. Whether it is an Interactive Session, Client Showcase, Forum Workshop, a Member Social you will be able to engage with the session leaders, fellow participants, and the broader SME Forum community before, during, and after each session. This proven approach is designed to help ensure you are getting the most out of the event and your continued membership with The Forum. Our sessions promise to deliver on the core tenets of our in-person conferences that you’ve come to expect: new learning, introductions to peers to build your networks of help, and insights that you can share with your teams and across your organization to support your goals and objectives.

SS&C Technologies: Distribution Technology Trends (virtual panel)
2023-11-08 13:00 - 14:00
Distribution Technology Trends
Virtual panel: “Scaling Engagement with Technology” (Unlimited attendance from participation firms)
Wednesday, November 8th, 2023
1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Eastern

Moderator: Lee Kowarski, VP, Head of Distribution Solutions, SS&C
Panelists: TBD – previous years’ panelists have represented AdvisorTarget, American Funds, Invesco, John Hancock, Lord Abbett, PIMCO, Putnam, & Seismic

For more information, email Lee Kaworski

SS&C Technologies: Business Intelligence Roundtable (Austin, TX)
2023-10-22 08:00 - 2023-10-24 17:00
Business Intelligence & Distribution Strategy/Ops
In-person event in Austin, TX for Heads of Distribution Strategy, Distribution Ops, and Business Intelligence as part of SS&C’s Deliver conference (Limited to one attendee from each participating firm – additional attendances to the Deliver conference available for a fee)
October 22-24, 2023

Keynote presentation by Matt Fronczke, Director of Research & Consulting, SS&C
Roundtable discussion moderated by Lee Kowarski, VP, Head of Distribution Solutions, SS&C

Part of SS&C’s larger Deliver Conference
For more information, email Lee Kaworski

SS&C Technologies: Future Leaders Roundtable (virtual event)
2023-09-26 14:00 - 16:00
Future Leaders
Virtual keynote: “Managing Growth in a Dynamic Environment ” (Unlimited attendance from participating firms)
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Eastern

Moderated by Lee Kowarski, VP, Head of Distribution Solutions, SS&C

For more information, email Lee Kaworski

SS&C Technologies: Future Leaders Roundtable (virtual)
2023-09-26 13:00 - 13:45
Future Leaders
Virtual keynote: “Managing Growth in a Dynamic Environment ” (Unlimited attendance from participating firms)
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
1:00 – 1:45 p.m. Eastern

Presented by Matt Fronczke, Director of Research & Consulting, SS&C

Virtual roundtable Discussion for the Next Generation of Asset Management Leaders (Limited to one attendee from each participating firm – attendees should be “up-and-comers” from sales, marketing, or BI/strategy)

For more information, email Lee Kaworski

SS&C Technologies: Roundtable for Distribution & Marketing Leaders (NYC)
2023-09-11 18:30 - 2023-09-12 12:00
Dinner and Roundtable
In-person event in NYC for Heads of Distribution and Marketing (Limited to one attendee from each participating firm)
Monday, September 11, 2023
6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Eastern

Dinner & discussion with representatives from leading broker/dealers

Tuesday, September 12, 2023
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Eastern

Keynote presentation by Matt Fronczke, Director of Research & Consulting, SS&C
Roundtable discussion moderated by Lee Kowarski, VP, Head of Distribution Solutions, SS&C

For more information, contact Lee Kaworski

Get Your Enterprise Ready for Microsoft OpenAI: Webinar with HSO
2023-08-16 11:00 - 11:30
This webinar we will explore the potential of OpenAI services: Overcoming challenges and maximizing benefits in enterprise implementation.
What to expect:
Are you interested in harnessing Microsoft’s OpenAI and LLM models like ChatGPT for the enterprise?
While the process of setting up CoPilot and small POCs is straightforward, preparing for a large-scale rollout in an enterprise environment brings forth numerous challenges that are causing difficulties for everyone involved.
Join HSO’s Asad Mahmood, VP of Data & Analytics on Wednesday, August 16th at 11 am ET as we discuss the enablement and roadmap to prepare your enterprise to harness the full power of generative AI.
During the session, we will focus on:

Exploring real-life experiences with data and AI readiness: We will touch on real-world examples of organizations preparing their data infrastructure for generative AI.

Enabling productivity tools in AI: Understand how integrating AI into productivity tools can unlock new functionalities and enhance user efficiency.

Assessing existing data infrastructure: Recognize the importance of evaluating your current data infrastructure to determine its readiness for generative AI.

Ensuring data security: Address the critical aspect of data security in generative AI. Explore measures and strategies to safeguard sensitive information and ensure compliance with privacy regulations.

Live Q&A session: We will leave some time at the end of the session to address your queries, concerns, and specific challenges related to preparing data infrastructure for generative AI and enabling AI in productivity tools. If we don’t get to your question during the session, we will follow up with you individually afterward.

By covering these topics, attendees will gain practical insights, real-world examples, and actionable strategies to prepare their data infrastructure and unlock the full potential of generative AI within their organizations.

Register Now at HSO's Website (link will open new window)

Event Facilitator

Asad Mahmood
VP of Data & Analytics, HSO

Are Your Systems Ready? 6 Questions to Answer About Implementing the Tailored Shareholder Rule. An Interactive Webinar with Synthesis and Red Oak Compliance
2023-08-02 11:00 - 12:00
In July 2024, the SEC’s Tailored Shareholder Rule (TSR) will go into effect.
The TSR represents a sea change in how ’40 Act funds report to their shareholders. How?
The TSR mandates something less like a shareholder report and more like a traditional institutional fact sheet: clear, concise, and emphasizing the essentials.
The TSR must provide shareholders with both the facts and the context that creates meaningful understanding of them.
It is a radical departure from the SEC’s prior reporting mandates, so ’40 Act funds have their work cut out for them insofar as infrastructure and compliance are concerned. IIn this webinar, John Toepfer, CEO of Synthesis Technology, the industry’s most innovative provider of content and data automation solutions, Cathy Vasilev, COO of Red Oak Compliance, a leading provider of outsourced compliance solutions for the asset management industry, and Girard Healy, Managing Director in Accenture’s North America Asset Management practice (retired), focused on advisory and consulting services for asset managers, global custodians and service providers, team up to provide marketing, compliance, data, and reporting teams with the technological and compliance-based context they will need as they plan and execute their TSR strategy for 2024:

How will reporting change?
Under-the-radar compliance issues to know?
Systems capabilities?
Evaluating solutions?
Project management considerations?
Effective strategy execution?

Register Now at Synthesis' Site (will open a new window)

Speakers and Moderators

Daniel Quinn
CMO of Blue Horizon/Synthesis Technology
Daniel will be the moderator

Cathy Vasilev
COO Red Oak Compliance

John Toepfer
CEO Synthesis Technology

Girard Healy
Managing Director, North America Asset Management practice, Accenture (retired)

2023 Global SME Forum: London
2023-06-12 08:00 - 2023-06-13 17:00
Connecting the Data

Click here to Learn More and to Register

“Connecting The Data” is the overall theme of the conference but we mean it from the broad perspective of how fundamental data is to all our roles and objectives in the Marketing, Sales, and Operations of our global asset management firms. Our four key note speakers will offer perspectives on how data is driving new possibilities for our industry while each of the nine breakout sessions will focus on the practical matters of how emerging and best practices are being applied today to achieve our goals.
Begins on Monday afternoon, June 12 at 1pm and carries through the end of the day Tuesday, June 13 at 5pm

Forums are open to any and all employees of a member firm – no restrictions
Non-member participants in the Asset Management industry are also encouraged to participate
Attendees are typically drawn from team leads to C-Suite leadership executives
Our topics focus on global Marketing, Sales/Distribution, Operations and Technology interests with emphasis on best practices and application

Anyone that has been to one of our Forums knows the enduring value of attending SME in-person meetings, roundtables and conferences. All are intimate affairs (limited to a total of 75 participants) that help you Learn, Connect, Grown and Solve your needs through peer to peer engagement and subject matter expertise. Whether it is an Interactive Session, Client Showcase, Forum Workshop, a Member Social you will be able to engage with the session leaders, fellow participants, and the broader SME Forum community before, during, and after each session. This proven approach is designed to help ensure you are getting the most out of the event and your continued membership with The Forum. Our sessions promise to deliver on the core tenets of our in-person conferences that you’ve come to expect: new learning, introductions to peers to build your networks of help, and insights that you can share with your teams and across your organization to support your goals and objectives.

Location:
DoubleTree by Hilton London – Tower of London
7 Pepys St, London EC3N 4AF, United Kingdom

How Asset Managers Can Modernize Their Distribution Using AI: Webcast
2023-05-23 13:00 - 14:00
Many of our SME Forum members have been reaching out to learn more about Tifin with their AI and machine learning solutions that are helping Asset Managers to position their products much more efficiently and effectively in front of the right advisors. Now this is no magic bullet, but Tifin has been working in this space for a long time and more recently working directly with asset managers. We will spend time with their chief Data Scientist, Nikhil Nawathe, to get under the hood of what makes this platform so intriguing to asset managers. In this webcast learn more about Tifin’s background and accomplishments, focus in on the most appropriate solution for SME Forum members (Tifin AMP), and hear from current users of the solution about their experiences.

– Over the hour, we will discover how asset managers can modernize their distribution using AI
– We will be joined by three industry leaders – John Halaby, Head of Distribution at Harbor Capital, Sam Browning, Director of Growth Partnerships at TIFIN, and Nikhil Nawathe, Head of Data Science at TIFIN AMP.
– As key partners for the past 2 years, John, Sam, and Nikhil will share how TIFIN works with asset managers like Harbor to modernize distribution with data science, machine learning and artificial intelligence.
– Part of the discussion will include a demo of TIFIN’s Asset Manager Platform

Recommended for Distribution, Product and Marketing. Register here: Attend Tifin AMP Webcast on Tue, May 23 Please feel free to share this with others in your organization that may find value from attending.

Register here: Attend Tifin AMP Webcast on Tue, May 23

Nikhil Nawathe
Head of Data Science, TIFIN
Nikhil Nawathe is the Head of Data Science at TIFIN AMP. He joins from Meta, where he spent the last eight years at Meta building and leading a team focused on marketing science research and driving impact to end clients.
Nikhil oversees the development of intelligent algorithms within TIFIN AMP to address the modern data and distribution frictions in the asset management industry.
He holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from Cornell University.

Sam Browning
Director of Growth Partnerships, TIFIN
Sam Browning is the Director of Growth Partnerships at TIFIN AMP where he is responsible for partnering with our Asset Manager clients to optimize their Distribution efforts, powered by AI.
Prior to joining TIFIN, Sam was a Senior Partner and Executive Director at a global asset and wealth management consulting organization, Alpha FMC. Sam is an industry thought-leader in data-driven distribution and sales enablement, and has extensive experience supporting global asset managers.
In his decade of experience in the industry, Sam has worked with over 50 investment managers, leading strategic and operational transformation across Sales & Marketing Strategy, Data Science, Machine Learning, Analytics, Enterprise Data, CRM, Distribution Technology, Front Office and Enterprise IT.
Sam holds an economics degree from the University of Bristol, where he focused on systems thinking, game theory and behavioral economics.

John Halaby
EVP, Head of Distribution, Harbor Capital
John Halaby joined Harbor in 2018 as executive vice president and head of distribution. He is accountable for developing and implementing overall business strategy for distribution and leads the key account, sales, and marketing organizations. Prior to joining Harbor, John was the Head of Financial Institutions Group – U.S. Intermediaries at T. Rowe Price.
He earned a B.A. from Cornell University. John is a CFA charterholder and a member of the CFA Institute.

Webcast: Improving Event ROI
2023-05-17 14:00 - 15:00
In a sales environment that is increasingly competitive for meaningful in-person engagement, marketers and their distribution partners continue to struggle with their participation at industry events. Most asset managers can’t even tell which events all their sales and marketing organizations have participated in. To be fair, the issues are multi-tiered and complex:

What are all the events that are potentially available to you
Which are most appropriate for your particular strategies
How can you best match your resources with the right events
Who is best poised to represent your capabilities
Where are you spending your money and what is the ROI

These are seemingly basic questions of any go-to-market effort, yet asset managers on the whole have a very hard time being able to answer these with any sense of confidence or consistency over time.
The SME Forum is pleased to introduce Function4 (F4) in this webcast designed to explore how the events space in Financial Services is changing, reveal the tens of thousands (yes!) events, speaking slots and sponsorships that are available from nearly 10,000 client firms all across the world. No wonder we are having a hard time navigating these target rich waters! This webcast is organized for decision makers in Marketing, Sales and Distribution, Strategy and Finance at any retail, alternatives, and institutional asset managers. As several SME Forum member firms have already subscribed and use F4’s services, this is proving to be a serious source of intelligence to help asset managers make informed choices about how to best deploy your very limited and precious resources and, perhaps even more importantly, be able to see how you are benefiting from the investments you are making in each event you choose to participate in.

Recommended for Marketing, Events, and Distribution.
Click this link to register by email
Register here: Attend Event ROI on Wed, May 17
Please feel free to share this with others in your organization that may find value from attending.

2023 Spring SME Forum
2023-04-18 08:00 - 2023-04-19 17:00
Registration now open through April 14- McCormick Ranch room block is available until March 27

This forum will be the last of the three part series we launched last year focusing on the inter-connectedness of the Distribution and Marketing organizations at asset management firms. The closing theme for this topic in Scottsdale will center around Rethinking Sales & Marketing Collaboration for Results. By this we are focusing on how the balance between an increasingly interdependent sales and distribution relationship can (and more recently broadly proven) that both organizations must play a part in the entire client journey and lifecycle to help deliver the kinds of results that they are looking for. While this is a broad perspective, it is designed to help direct our session development and guide our choices of main stage presentations and discussions. You all are heavily involved in this shift of capabilities across these two areas and the implications it has on the operations and technologies necessary to support these new collaborations. With the state of the market, budgets for programs will get scrutinized even more in the coming few years, so the conclusion to this series is focused on Rethinking Sales & Marketing Collaboration for Results.

Begins on Monday afternoon, April 17 and carries through the end of the day Wednesday, April 19
Forums are open to any employee of a member firm. There is also limited access for non-members (feel free to invite)
While we typically reserve two seats for each firm, this forum will not have those restrictions
Attendees are typically drawn from team leads to C-Suite leadership executives
Our topics focus on global Marketing, Sales/Distribution, Operations and Technology interests

Anyone that has been to one of our Forums knows the enduring value of attending SME in-person meetings, roundtables and conferences. All are intimate affairs (limited to a total of 120 participants) that help you Learn, Connect, Grown and Solve your needs through peer to peer engagement and subject matter expertise. Whether it is an Interactive Session, Client Showcase, Forum Workshop, a Member Social you will be able to engage with the session leaders, fellow participants, and the broader SME Forum community before, during, and after each session. This proven approach is designed to help ensure you are getting the most out of the event and your continued membership with The Forum. Our sessions promise to deliver on the core tenets of our in-person conferences that you’ve come to expect: new learning, introductions to peers to build your networks of help, and insights that you can share with your teams and across your organization to support your goals and objectives.
Still not sure? Call us at +1-917-561-9553 or write to SMEForum@TheSMEForum.net for help thinking through who best to attend based on content, opportunity and what is happening at your firm. Let’s get the right people to participate.
Location:
The McCormick Ranch
7505 E McCormick Pkwy, Scottsdale, AZ 85258

Learn More and Register Now (will open in new browser)

Sales Activity Benchmark Webcast
2023-04-05 15:00 - 16:00
Wholesaler distribution has undergone a tumultuous 3 years, subjected to (1) a ~40% loss of advisor mindshare in 2020 made more difficult with an inability to meet in person, then (2) a struggle to engage with them in 2021 with ~35% unreached, and finally (3) a ~75% rise of in-person engagement, but at the expense of other traditional sales channels.
Join us on Wednesday afternoon April 5th to kick off a three-part discussion where we dive deeper into the source of these insights and how they are helping asset managers improve coverage strategies and the resounding implications for what we must do next.
In part one, we provide an introduction to the consortium that has come together to develop these industry insights and assess how coverage strategies are evolving through use cases (Virtual Discussion, April 5th)
In part two, we look to collaborate with you and capture your most pressing distribution needs – an output that will directly inform the future roadmap of which coverage/distribution problems we tackle over the next 2 years (Breakout Session at SME Forum, April 18th)
In part three, we look back at the past 3 years and assess how distribution has evolved and the implications to asset managers. As we look to the future, we will also leverage early changes in healthcare as a proxy for how asset managers may address the trends we are contending with, today (Presentation at SME Forum, April 19th)
Consortium overview:

An expanding consortium of asset management firms, currently accounting for ~700 active wholesalers across 7 asset managers
ZS collects, anonymizes, and aggregated wholesaler activity data to develop insights on wholesaler activity, attained firm/advisor share of voice, and channel preferences
Historically, the consortium has accounted for 241k unique CRDs and 2.7 million+ unique touchpoints
Our insights are focus on BD (expansion into RIA planned for 2023)

Register Here and the meeting credentials will be sent to you as confirmation. Please be sure to share this with any of your colleagues that will have an interest. There is no limit to member participation.

SS&C Technologies: Product & Platform Trends (virtual panel)
2023-04-04 13:00 - 14:00
Product & Platform Trends
Virtual panel: “Investment Platform Developments & Model Portfolios” (Unlimited attendance from participation firms)
Tuesday, April 4, 2023
1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Eastern

Moderator: Lee Kowarski, VP, Head of Distribution Solutions, SS&C
Panelists: TBD – previous years’ panelists have represented AssetMark, Bank of America Merrill, Edward Jones, Envestnet, Morgan Stanley, Russell, and Wells Fargo Advisors

For more information, contact Lee Kaworski

Interactive Webcast: Salesforce.com Mobile Platform
2023-03-23 15:00 - 16:00
Continuing our work with SFDC from our working sessions in Atlanta this past fall, we will be holding an interactive update, Q&A, demo and feedback session for the SME Forum members currently using and interested in the SFDC Mobile solution.
In the breakout session this fall, there was a wide gap of familiarity with the platform along with a palpable interest in leveraging the capability as field sales personnel get back out in their territories and are increasingly spending more time away from their offices. We will be joined by Andrew Mangano – Director, Product Management and Urvin Thakkar – Senior Director, Product Management of the Mobile platform. We will do a quick recap on the platform, talk about more recent changes that address our concerns raised in Atlanta, as well as discuss on going and future enhancements that are relevant to the asset management industry. This will cover technical, administrator, as well as end user perspectives. All are welcome and there is no limit to participation from any member firm so feel free to share with your teams and colleagues.
Register Here via email and the meeting credentials will be sent to you as confirmation.

SS&C Technologies: Remote & Virtual Sales Roundtable (virtual)
2023-03-15 14:00 - 16:00
Virtual roundtable Discussion for Heads of Remote & Virtual Sales Teams
(Limited to one attendee from each participating firm)
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Eastern

Moderated by Lee Kowarski, VP, Head of Distribution Solutions, SS&C

For more information, email Lee Kaworski

SS&C Technologies: Remote & Virtual Sales Roundtable (virtual)
2023-03-15 13:00 - 13:45
Remote & Virtual Sales
Virtual keynote: “Alignment of Asset Management Sales Resources” (Unlimited attendance from participating firms)
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
1:00 – 1:45 p.m. Eastern

Presented by Matt Fronczke, Director of Research & Consulting, SS&C

For more information, contact Lee Kaworski

SS&C Technologies: Wealth Management Trends (virtual panel)
2023-02-28 13:00 - 14:00
Wealth Management Trends
Virtual panel: “The Implications of the Evolving Wealth Management Landscape for Asset Managers” (Unlimited attendance from participation firms)
Tuesday, February 28, 2023
1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Eastern

Moderator: Lee Kowarski, VP, Head of Distribution Solutions, SS&C
Panelists: TBD – previous years’ panelists have represented Bank of America Merrill, Commonwealth Financial Network, Edward Jones, Fidelity Investments, LPL, Morgan Stanley, Raymond James, and UBS

For more information, contact Lee Kaworski
