The Joint Committee of the three European Supervisory Authorities – EBA, EIOPA and Esma – has opened up a debate about the risks and benefits of robo-advisors in financial markets.

The Joint Committee of the three European Supervisory Authorities – EBA, EIOPA and Esma – has opened up a debate about the risks and benefits of robo-advisors in financial markets. 

The interest of regulatory authorities in the use of computer technology to provide automated investment advice to consumers comes as more banks pile into the market, sensing an opportunity to cut costs and take on a new generation of wealth management firms such as Wealthfront, Betterment, Personal Capital, and FutureAdvisor who are already luring away clients with the promise of no-frills, low cost, advisory services.

Steven Maijoor, chair of the joint committee, says: “Financial innovation is important and, at its best, contributes to economic growth. However, this can only be achieved and sustained where consumers have confidence in such innovations.

PWC produces report titled "Alternative Asset Management 2020: Fast Forward to Centre Stage"

To help alternative asset managers plan for the future, PWC has produced a research report titled "Alternative Asset Management 2020: Fast Forward to Centre Stage". The report explores the likely changes in the alternative asset management industry landscape over the coming years and identifies six key business imperatives for alternative asset managers. The report then examines how alternative fund managers can implement and prosper from each of these six imperatives.

Over the past several years, rapid developments in the global economic environment have pushed asset management to the forefront of social and economic change. An important part of this change – the need for increased and sustainable long-term investment returns – has propelled the alternative asset classes to centre stage. To help alternative asset managers plan for the future, we have considered the likely changes in the alternative asset management industry landscape over the coming years and identified six key business imperatives for alternative asset managers.