European Customer Summit approaches

There are markers in the calendar, we each have them. They range from Birthdays of the people we're close to, hallmark events from Valentines to Father's day and of course the big religious festivals. I am not going to suggest that our Customer Summit ranks among these for you (it does among my marketing team I can tell you) but it's amazing to me how quickly these same markers come around. A year cycles so quickly. Our ECS is on May 27th this year and I reflect on all that has changed in the past 12 months. We heard last week for example that the FSA removed it's head from the noose. Speaking of nooses, the hung parliament has had a positive outcome for the regulator and many see this as an important development given a market that is bouncing back and forth. We're now seeing a shift from countries bailing out banks to banks bailing out countries. One of the big developments we've seen in these past 12 months is the notion that there needs to be a cleaner and more transparent relationship between market or operational risks and the underlying regulatory risks that inevitable surround them. Our panels at the customer summits will bring together leading authorities and practitioners and among the topics we'll be debate the very idea that while the idea of this connection is enticing, firms and people are not able to fully comprehend the linkage and skill sets that will be required to achieve them. Complinet is working hard with firms to risk map their various product, and the markets they serve with an underlying regulatory frame work. A sort of live health check for measured risk taking. Complinet TV will also be there filming the event, conducting interviews and broadcasting a number of views from the floor. Read More!

SIFMA Compliance and Legal on the hill.

It's that time of year again. Legal and Compliance experts within the broker dealer community congregate once again to discuss regulatory frameworks, firm's approaches to managing risks, trends in the industry and generally work on building some form of consensus on how best to address and adhere to the rules of the road. I've been to the SIFMAC&L events for a number of years and the first thing that struck me was how these were always a well balanced blend of serious debate and activities by the golf course or near the pool. Unlike some who may think this is a jolly, the fact is that risk and compliance folks are really, now more than ever, at the sharp end of the risk management game and don't necessarily get the same financial rewards. So, I always felt SIFMAC&L was a suitably nice way to give this group of stressed out practitioners a little time to unwind while hearing where the next body blows will hit. I was therefore a little surprised to see that this year's event is in our nation's capital. I wondered if this was a statement about the importance now that central government are playing in shaping the regulatory reforms or if this was to deal with the fact that firms are still reluctant to shell out for airline tickets for compliance staff. I really hope it's to do with the former. I like that this year the Compliance and Legal event (attracting some 1400 people) is in close proximity to where the rules are being laid down. I wondered too if Mary Shapiro will be in attendance having moved from FINRA to the SEC. Where ever this event is, it's important that risk, compliance and inside counsel remain up to speed with the latest issues, techniques and approaches and share perspectives on the market, where the next set of operational challenges will be and how best to prepare. I do wish the UK had a similar body with the same clout. Complinet will be there on booth 4 to demonstrate it's policy management system, regulatory tracking system and information services stream to help larger firms connect rule changes with internal systems and controls. See you there. Read More!