New York, Nov. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Monday, November 5, CFA Society New York (CFANY) hosted its second Annual FinTech Symposium: A Look into the Future. Held in tandem with the CFA Institute’s Equity Research and Valuation Conference, the event utilized CFANY’s position as the premier forum for financial professionals to explore upcoming changes and challenges in the investment industry.
The event featured a roster of trailblazing fintech innovators, investment practitioners, academics and industry thought leaders who shared their research and ideas for the future of the investment industry. Nearly 200 participants gathered to hear key strategies from the all-female group of speakers, which featured top executives from many of the sector’s top firms.
Maria Weitzer, CFA, Director of Portfolio Management at TAG Associates, LLC, delivered the opening remarks, followed by a welcome from Carole K. Crawford, CFA, Founder and Managing Partner at fincap360, LLC. Meltem Demirors, Chief Strategy Officer at CoinShares, delivered the keynote address.
The event’s sessions covered potential risks and returns emerging in the industry through two expert panels, which aimed to help attendees gain insight into the advancement and development in equity research techniques, valuation, and portfolio management. The event also focused on building an understanding of the areas of financial services impacted by blockchain, data science, and digital platforms.
The first panel, Innovators & Incumbents, covered the technological advancements and platforms that impact finance. Mee Warren, CFA, CAIA served as moderator. Panelists included Danielle Kuchinskas, CFA, Accenture Banking & Capital Markets Strategy; Alessia Falsarone, FSA, Managing Director, PineBridge Investments; Katya Chupryna, Chief Strategy Officer, Thinknum; and Beatrice O’Carroll, Head of Institutional Sales, Circle.
The second panel, Investors, was targeted towards venture capital, and was moderated by Irina Tanenbaum, COO, HomeoLux. Panelists included Selena Singleton, Director, New York Life Ventures; Anna Garcia, CFA, Co-Founder and Partner, Runway Venture Partners; and Kristy Gilbert, Investment Partner, Sightway Capital.
Following the event, guests enjoyed a catered networking reception, which provided a unique opportunity for connection and discussion amongst practitioners in this highly specialized field.
The event’s success was a testament not only to the immediate relevance of the topic, but also to CFANY’s growing sphere of influence; over the last five years, the group’s membership has skyrocketed to over 12,000 members, making it the largest CFA local society in the world.
“As the fintech sector continues to evolve at an increasing rate, events like these are crucial for investment industry practitioners,” said CFANY Board of Directors Chair Philip J. Taylor, CFA. “We are taking a critical look not just at the emerging technologies themselves, but also how best to incorporate them.”
“This symposium was a truly remarkable event. It is so impressive that the organizer, Carole Crawford, was able to produce an extremely high caliber Fintech Event with 10 women speakers. Events such as this serve the crucial function of bridging the gap between the theoretical and the practical, and that is absolutely essential for professionals in this industry,” Taylor said.
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About CFA Society New York
Since 1937, CFANY has sought to raise the standards of the investment industry through global insight, a dynamic community of local investment management professionals, and thought leadership. CFANY’s mission is to raise the bar in investment management wherever possible and help establish the course for where the investment industry is headed.
CFANY is a leading voice within a network of CFA Societies in 150 countries, representing over 145,000 CFA Institute members world-wide. CFANY works in conjunction with CFA Institute to develop the industry’s future professionals and to raise the standards of professionalism in the investment management industry.
With over 12,000 members, CFA Society New York is the largest CFA Institute member society in the world.
About CFA Institute
CFA Institute is the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence and credentials. The organization is a champion for ethical behaviour in investment markets and a respected source of knowledge in the global financial community. The end goal: to create an environment where investors’ interests come first, markets function at their best, and economies grow. CFA Institute has over 145,000 members in 159 countries and territories, including 139,000 CFA charterholders, and 152 member societies.