TIFIN, the wealth AI platform known for its engaging experiences to enable better outcomes, has launched a new platform, TIFIN AMP, that addresses distribution frictions in the asset management industry. This new platform combines marketing, data science and sales enablement capabilities to drive more intelligent and modern distribution. The asset management industry is facing multiple challenges with the rapid proliferation of investment products, fee pressures and increasingly fragmented sales channels. As firms grapple with these challenges compounded with constrained sales capacity and limited integration between marketing, data, and sales efforts, TIFIN is introducing an interconnected AI-powered SaaS platform that integrates data from marketing and awareness activities, CRM information, and other data feeds, to generate actionable signals to fuel lead generation, qualification, nurturing and optimization in a firm's sales efforts. "Historically, distribution intelligence has been largely limited to data analytics and summary of purchased data feeds." said Dr. Vinay Nair, Founder & CEO of TIFIN.

Artificial intelligence is taking over almost every industry. The investment and finance industry is no exception. In Deloitte's 2019 report, the firm reveals that AI is transforming the financial ecosystem to reduce costs and make operations more efficient by providing automated insights and alternative data, analysis and risk management. Technology such as AI has digitized the finance sector, ranging from payments and remittances to lending. However, asset management is still in the nascent stage of digitization, according to the chief strategy officer and co-founder of Akros Technologies, Jin Chung.

According to PwC, we are on the precipice of $30 trillion transfer of wealth from baby boomers to generation X and Millennials. Of this, US$4.1 trillion are anticipated to change hands over the next ten years alone, specifically within the ultra-high net worth (UHNW) segment . The demographic inheriting this windfall loves technology and embraces change and disruption. Yet at the same time, "wealth management is one of the least tech-literate sectors of financial services". This is a clear red flag for traditional service providers who must evolve to remain competitive.

Launched in December 2018, this fund invests in international equities. It is first thematic fund to invest in artificial intelligence, using artificial intelligence (AI) in its investment process. Nicolas Chaput, global CEO and co-CIO of ODDO BHF Asset Management, said: "This fund represents a breakthrough innovation in the asset management industry. We have built a unique investment process, artificial intelligence and many years of know-how in the asset management industry quantitative equity management. Our goal is to provide our customers with an innovative solution for long-term alpha generation.

Asset managers are looking toward AI, blockchain and cloud computing -- among other technological advances -- as key drivers of change in the industry. Tech-savvy firms are establishing a competitive advantage and are prepping for disruption in online fund distribution, digital advice and micro investing, according to Deloitte's 2019 Investment Management Outlook. "Artificial intelligence has graduated from a buzzword to an enabler that offers differentiated capabilities across the investment value chain," notes the report, using as an example Morgan Stanley's predictive analysis program that helps its advisors offer more-customized advice. BlackRock's ETF suite, launched last year under its iShares Evolved brand, uses natural language processing technology to scan regulatory filings and create a proprietary index, notes the report. BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, now uses AI capability in place of its index provider, which allows it to offer funds at a relatively lower cost.

I Know First was selected from over 200 companies to be part of the fintech showroom in Tokyo, Japan on May 23rd, 2018. The showroom event, as well as a housewarming party, were hosted by JIAM (Japan International Asset Management Consortium, where I Know First presented their Algorithmic AI solutions using machine-learning algorithms. As part of the showroom event, I Know First gave a short pitch under 5 minutes followed by a deeper dive and demo if visiting client were interested. JIAM are a not-for-profit organization, which assists international asset management firms, asset management technology firms and talented financial professionals in tapping into the Japanese market. Through collaboration with Japanese government agencies (primarily the Tokyo Metropolitan Government) and industry associations, JIAM's goal is to bolster the Japanese asset management industry and support firms and individuals associated with it.

We are in the midst of a technological revolution. The increased use of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, blockchain, and big data technologies is rapidly changing the asset management industry. A recent survey on the future of the hedge fund industry by the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) found that new "statistical and computational tools, including advanced quantitative techniques and artificial intelligence is forcing hedge fund firms to re-evaluate how they operate and invest." So how are manager selection and due diligence changing as a result of these new technologies? For insight on this question, we met with Michael Oliver Weinberg, CFA, chief investment officer of MOV37 and Protégé Partners, to discuss the evolution of the manager selection and due diligence processes. Protégé and MOV37 are specialized asset management firms that invest in smaller hedge funds and selected emerging managers. Founded in 2002, Protégé has been a key market player in supporting the growth of the hedge fund industry through seed deals and capital allocations to discretionary managers.

The asset management industry is currently facing an era of rapid transformation that has the potential to change it out of all recognition. For many fund management firms, there will be a choice between embracing such change, or becoming redundant. We have already seen similar revolutions in other sectors: Amazon has completely re-written the rules of the book retailing world, Netflix has put the video store out of business, and Uber is in the process of revolutionizing the way we use taxis. For many businesses in these sectors, there was a hard choice to be made – adapt or die. Such revolutions tend not to emerge from the established companies that dominate sectors. In my father's business, airlines, the dominant players hoped to shield themselves through established practices that made it tougher for upstarts to change the way the aviation industry served its clients: the rise of the low-cost airline has forced airlines to adapt, many of them launching their own low cost carriers.