Latest news with #wealthmanagement
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
FNZ partners with Microsoft to enhance wealth management through technology
Wealth management platform FNZ has entered into a five-year global strategic partnership with Microsoft to advance the wealth management sector through technological innovation and AI-driven solutions. This collaboration merges FNZ's expertise in wealth management and its global presence with Microsoft's capabilities in AI, cloud infrastructure, and engineering. The integration of Microsoft Azure AI Foundry into FNZ's platform is expected to enhance interactions among financial institutions, advisors, and clients, providing more tailored and efficient digital wealth management experiences. FNZ anticipates that this partnership will enable quicker market introductions of new solutions, improve client outcomes, enhance advisor productivity, and foster innovation within the industry. Microsoft worldwide financial servicescorporate vice president Bill Borden said: 'Together, we are not just upgrading technology. We are setting a new standard for how wealth management is delivered. 'Partnering with Microsoft further advances our mission to open up wealth, by making investing more accessible to more people worldwide.' The collaboration aims to enhance the advisor and investor experience by integrating Azure AI Foundry capabilities and improving data analytics applications with Microsoft Fabric. It will also engage joint engineering initiatives to develop innovative digital wealth solutions. Additionally, FNZ plans to implement Microsoft 365 Copilot and intelligent agents to streamline operational processes. The partnership will also involve coordinated global marketing initiatives and participation in industry events to promote modular wealth solutions through various channels, including the Microsoft Marketplace. FNZ Group president Roman Regelman said: 'FNZ has always been at the forefront of innovation in wealth-management technology. 'Partnering with Microsoft allows us to accelerate our AI-led roadmap and enhances our ability to deliver personalised, intelligent and resilient solutions to our clients, strengthening our position of leadership.' FNZ currently partners with over 650 financial institutions, serves more than 26 million end investors, and manages nearly $2tn in assets. It is supported by major institutional investors such as Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Generation Investment Management, and Motive Partners. "FNZ partners with Microsoft to enhance wealth management through technology" was originally created and published by Private Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
iA Financial to buy wealth management firm RF Capital
Canadian company iA Financial has agreed to acquire RF Capital Group, a wealth management-focused company, in a deal valued at around C$597m ($435.1m). The deal will see iA purchase all outstanding common shares of RF Capital for C$20 each. The purchase price includes a C$370m valuation for RF Capital's fully diluted equity and C$227m in financial obligations, such as revolving debt and preferred shares. The acquisition will be financed through iA's existing cash reserves. iA Financial Group president and CEO Denis Ricard said: 'This acquisition aligns with iA's unique model, the iA way – highlighting our strategic approach to sustainable growth – by expanding our reach in target segments and enhancing our scalable distribution model. 'We strongly affirm our commitment to the value of advice by empowering advisors with best-in-class tools and preserving their independence so they can assist clients feel secure about their financial future.' RF Capital, operating under the Richardson Wealth brand, is an independent wealth management firm in Canada, managing over C$40bn in assets. The firm focuses on providing tailored financial advisory services to high-net-worth clients and has 23 offices across Canada. RF Capital president and CEO Dave Kelly said: 'This milestone marks an exciting new chapter for RF Capital. By joining forces with iA, we unlock powerful opportunities across technology, product innovation, and operational scale—enhancing the advisor value proposition through expanded capabilities and support.' 'Our advisors will continue to operate independently under the Richardson Wealth brand, backed by the financial strength and stability of iA Financial Group, and remain fully dedicated to delivering trusted, personalised advice to their clients.' The completion of the acquisition is anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2025. CIBC Capital Markets is serving as the exclusive financial advisor to RF Capital, with Goodmans LLP providing legal counsel. National Bank Financial is advising iA, with McCarthy Tétrault LLP acting as its legal counsel. "iA Financial to buy wealth management firm RF Capital" was originally created and published by Private Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
The Herald
19 hours ago
- Business
- The Herald
Up to 50% of affluent South Africans' portfolios are held abroad, says FNB
More South Africans are looking to international banking to cushion themselves against global volatility, FNB says, as the bank marks the 10th anniversary of its international banking and savings operations in Guernsey. Speaking during the 10-year anniversary on Monday, CEO of FNB Guernsey Aneesa Razack said South Africans were increasingly looking to international banking as a hedge against market volatility, currency depreciation, geopolitical instability and changes in tax trends. 'Today, 30%-50% of affluent South Africans' portfolios are held abroad and we're witnessing a significant increase in clients seeking ways to externalise their wealth and hedge local risk without physically emigrating,' she said. Established to primarily service high-income and high-net-worth customers, FNB's business on the English Channel island has managed to acquire £1bn (R23.99bn) in deposits. Razack said Guernsey had evolved into a highly-respected, transparent and forward-looking centre for international companies. 'When we first set out on this journey, our ambition was simple, to help globally-minded Africans unlock the freedom of a financially-connected world. We believed then, as we do now, that going global should not be complicated or out of reach, but responsible, smart and within grasp for anyone with the vision to grow borders,' she said.
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
BNY Mellon Wealth CIO Shares One Quiet Power Behind Smart Investing
Sinead Colton Grant - Chief Investment Officer BNY Mellon poses in NYC - 2025 As a child growing up in 1980's Ireland, Sinead Colton Grant didn't dream of a career in finance. Instead, her journey to the top ranks of Wall Street started with an unexpected monetary gain. She was a college student headed to Italy on a summer trip when she noticed a pleasant surprise in her finances. The devaluation of the currency just before she left, meant she had a little more Italian lira than she expected. For Colton Grant, this little holiday windfall sparked a lifelong fascination with global finance and smart investing, that would see her rise from FX sales on a London trading floor to become the first female Chief Investment Officer in BNY Mellon's Wealth Management history. Her role oversees key decisions at one of the world's largest private banks. But she shares, that for her, the numbers and portfolios have only ever been part of the story. 'Investment isn't just about returns,' she says. 'It's about trust. Without trust, even the best strategies fall flat.' While she crafts strategies for some of the world's wealthiest people and foundations, she's equally attuned to the changing face of wealth, who's wielding it and how that changing client profile makes trust more important than ever before. I sat down with Colton Grant to discuss her rise through the ranks of an industry where she has often been the only woman in the room, her take on the current investment landscape and how she is witnessing and championing a historic shift in who holds financial power. From Dublin to Wall Street: A Global Journey In Smart Investing Colton Grant's career path has followed the broad arc of globalization and financial markets. After beginning in FX trading and currency management, she pivoted into asset allocation and multi-asset portfolios, before joining Barclays Global Investors and then BlackRock. She views those early years as formative, not just in building technical knowledge but in realizing that at the heart of strong investment strategies is the necessity of clear, human communication. 'You can have an amazing investment process, but if you can't articulate it in a way people understand, no one is going to invest with you,' she shares. That skill, which in practice means translating complex systems into human stories, became a cornerstone of her leadership style and one that would see her move between locations and offices before landing in Mellon Capital. There, she helped develop one of the ten largest liquid alternatives mutual funds in the U.S., before joining BNY Mellon as Deputy CIO and stepping into the CIO seat in 2020 at the height of a global pandemic. Sinead Colton Grant, Global Head of BNY Mellon Investor Solutions Smart Investing: Trust, Representation, and Legacy Coltan Grant shares that while on reflection the pandemic era feels like a fever dream, it marked a unique moment in the investment ecosystem, when the personal, political, and economic suddenly converged. For a leader like Colton Grant, who had built her career on human connection and trust, her appointment as CIO couldn't have come at a more defining moment. "Managing wealth, is above all, a human business with trust at the center,' she shares, 'Our clients aren't just investing for themselves. They're thinking about the financial legacy of their families, often over generations.' Increasingly, she notes, those conversations are being driven by a new generation, and a new type of investment profile - women. It's a shift Colton Grant sees first hand, with a front-row seat to a growing wealth transfer, marked by a significant increase in female participation in angel investing, venture capital, and broader financial decision-making. She shares that this represents more than just a demographic shift. 'I meet with more women thinking about the financial legacy of their families, often over generations. It's a mindset shift, and one that's starting to show up in how capital moves and who's deciding where it goes. We are now at a time when most of the wealth from the Silent Generation and Baby Boomers is moving into the hands of women,' she continues. 'That means more women will be making, or solely responsible for major financial decisions, many for the first time.' Catherine Keating CEO BNY wealth and colleagues Ring bell at NYSE 2022 Smart Investing: Women, Wealth, and the Power of Asking Questions For Colton Grant, this means that representation isn't merely a moral imperative, it's a strategic advantage. "Our clients want to see themselves reflected in the people managing their money. Diverse leadership teams make better decisions. It's that simple." That also means that helping more women step into investing has become both a personal mission and an economic imperative. 'Money means freedom," she says. "Our financial markets have built tremendous wealth over time, and it's important that more women participate in that wealth creation by investing. I understand why it makes people nervous, but it doesn't have to be complicated. You can start small, with methods like a low-cost S&P index exposure which can generate strong returns over time." What she wants women to realize is that the ripple effects of investing extend far beyond individual portfolios. Women's increased participation creates a flywheel that benefits the broader macroeconomy. "The data shows that more female investors also lead to more female founders receiving seed capital for their businesses. This is vital given that only 2% of overall venture capital dollars go to female-founded start-ups." Asked about her advice to women with the resources to invest but not sure how or where to start? Her reply echoes the age old investment mantra: there will never be a perfect moment. "Time in the market beats timing the market. So just get started," she says. The Investment Landscape Ahead As for this moment we are in right now, marked by an unprecedented level of workplace and market uncertainty, Colton remains bullish on U.S. markets, citing strong underlying fundamentals, backed by innovation capacity, productivity growth, and healthy earning margins. Her investment philosophy doesn't listen to political noise. "You don't invest with your politics," she says, "You focus on the fundamentals." Sinead Colton Grant, chief investment officer, was featured on Fox Business 'Making Money with ... More Charles Payne' discussing her market outlook and the future of US exceptionalism. July 1, 2025 The AI Tailwind, and What Comes Next In Smart Investing When asked where she thinks the opportunity lies, she shares that there are some clear emerging trends reshaping the industry. Private markets, which have long been the exclusive domain of institutional investors, are now more accessible through evergreen investment vehicles. Digital assets are gaining traction, particularly among younger generations, and, of course, artificial intelligence is a key factor. "2025 will be a 'show me' year," she predicts. "It's not just about tech companies, it's about how AI-driven productivity starts to ripple through sectors like healthcare, energy, and beyond." When asked what advice she'd offer women entering finance, Colton Grant boils it downto three things: Speak up, advocate for yourself- don't assume people will notice your work. Go before you're ready- don't wait to tick every box. Know the difference between mentors and sponsors - mentors offer guidance, but sponsors open doors. Above all, however, Colton Grant shares that her trajectory - from a curious college student intrigued by currency shifts, to a leader at the forefront of finance's biggest transformation - boils down to one undeniable truth: success and smart investing hinges on trust. As she puts it, 'people buy people. Trust is everything.' For Sinead Colton Grant, aligning trust is more than virtue, it's a movement led increasingly by women like her who are reshaping finance from every role: client, leader, founder, and investor.
CTV News
a day ago
- Business
- CTV News
iA Financial buying RF Capital Group for $370 million
Bank skyscrapers are seen from Bay Street in Toronto's financial district, on Wednesday, June 16, 2010. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrien Veczan QUÉBEC — iA Financial Corp. Inc. says it has reached a deal to buy RF Capital Group Inc., which operates under the Richardson Wealth brand, for $370 million. Quebec City-based iA Financial says it's paying $20 per common share in cash for the independent wealth management firm, while financial obligations including debt and preferred shares bring the total consideration to $597 million. iA Financial says the deal will expand its national footprint and adds more than $40 billion in assets under administration to the firm. It says the purchase price represents a 102 per cent premium to RF's 30-day volume weighted average share price on the TSX. iA Financial says the deal brings the total assets under administration in its wealth division to about $175 billion and creates scale advantages. Founded in 1892, iA Financial Group says it is one of the largest insurance and wealth management groups in Canada. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 28, 2025.
