Page 24 - Investment Advisor - September 2023

Financial & Investment Innovation

tion process paired with quantitative and qualitative technology, a that provides wealth managers access to investment options
simplified operational workflow and high-touch support beyond within a fluid, end-to-end workflow that eliminates disparate
the point of sale. Under Brod’s leadership, the Crystal investment “edge-to-edge” legacy platforms. A white-label, customizable
team carefully curates the platform’s roster based on the merit solution for wealth management, it ensures smooth onboard-
of a manager’s strategy and his or her proven ability to perform ing, and features high-quality model presentation capabilities
throughout multiple market cycles. Crystal is not compensated for and a customizable RTQ and model risk scoring system. It also
the distribution of any funds on the platform. enables proposal generation, performance reporting, billing and
portfolio comparison.
Matt Brown, CAIs
After spending some 30 years at the intersection Julie Littlechild, Absolute engagement
of wealth management, alternative investments Julie Littlechild is a recognized expert on how
and platform design, Matt Brown founded CAIS client engagement is being disrupted and has
in 2009 to democratize access for financial advi- shared that knowledge broadly. Her ongoing
sors by breaking down the barriers that prevent them from con- investor research focuses on how the needs and
necting with the best alternative asset managers. Without access priorities of individual investors are changing, and through her
to alternatives, independent financial advisors have fewer solu- writing and speaking, she helps advisors translate the data into
tions to deliver enhanced returns, diversify risk and supplement meaningful engagement strategies. Her industry volunteer activ-
income for their clients when compared with institutional inves- ities reflect her deep commitment to advisors and to the indus-
tors. Having access proved critical in 2022 as advisors increas- try. Littlechild was the visionary behind Absolute Engagement’s
ingly turned to alternative investments when they witnessed recent transformation that culminated in the rollout of inno-
one of the lowest annual performance of the 60/40 portfolio in vative technology that will change how advisors engage with
two decades. prospects and clients.

Lawrence Calcano, iCapital eric Poirier, Addepar
Under Lawrence Calcano’s leadership, iCapital’s Eric Poirier has leveraged his strategic vision to
offerings have transformed the alternative invest- develop technology at Addepar that addresses
ing process for the asset and wealth management scale challenges with data in the financial ser-
industries through expanded product access, vices industry. Today, under his leadership,
intuitive technology and education for RIAs, wirehouses and some 850 clients in more than 40 countries use Addepar
private banks. Its technology breaks down the historical barriers to manage and advise on upward of $4 trillion in assets.
to investing in alternatives. Calcano leads a team of some 1,100 Investment professionals at RIAs, family offices, private banks,
employees in offices across the globe. The firm has grown from the broker-dealers and institutions deploy the firm’s technology
ground up to now service more than $150 billion in global client to empower them with the data and technology they need to
assets across more than 1,200 funds. deliver insights and advice to their end clients, and grow
their business.
Ben Cruikshank, Flourish
Ben Cruikshank leads Flourish’s forward-facing Craig ramsey, Advisorengine
client relationships by managing sales and sup- Craig Ramsey spearheaded a complete transfor-
port. Flourish has on-boarded more than 100 RIAs mation of the company’s brand and market pres-
in the last year, accounts have increased and assets ence. He laid the groundwork to transition the
under custody have achieved record growth. Despite intense 20-year-old Junxure brand into AdvisorEngine
scrutiny and volatility, Flourish-Crypto has remained a secure and CRM, overseeing every detail through online and physical brand-
compliant investing platform. And with the recent upheaval in ing, including AdvisorEngine’s online presence, product messag-
the banking market, Flourish Cash is steadfast and reliable, with ing and convention booths, and co-founding Action! magazine, the
elevated FDIC insurance and competitive rates. The number of company’s thought leadership publication.
Flourish Cash accounts has tripled, while the firm has maintained Ramsey conceived a new set of product ideals to focus
the trademark white-glove support its clients expect. AdvisorEngine’s development of powerful technology solu-
tions for financial advisory firms: personal, scientific and
Mark Healy, FusionIQ beautiful. “Personal’” emphasizes individual, human con-
In the past year, Mark Healy successfully took a nection; “scientific’’ elevates the use of data and is hypoth-
product-centric approach to meeting emerging esis-driven; and ‘’beautiful’’ is about the experience — not
needs in the B2B financial advisor marketplace. simply look-and-feel, but what people feel when they use our
FusionIQ launched a new finTAMP in 2022 technology products.

22 Investment AdvIsor September 2023 | thinkAdvisor.com