Klarna has cut its marketing spending significantly, with AI helping reduce costs by about 37%. This shows how technology can make businesses more efficient.
The company's focus has shifted to creating high-quality, personalized content instead of relying on a lot of medium-quality output. They believe fewer workers can achieve more with the right tools.
Despite cost cuts, companies like Klarna still rely on paid media for reaching their audiences. Traditional media channels are struggling to keep up with changing consumer habits.
Many oil shareholders are not changing their views on climate proposals, even amidst protests. They tend to vote for management's put forth resolutions rather than the more aggressive ones suggested by other investors.
The 'silent majority' of shareholders may not actively voice their opinions, but their votes can heavily influence outcomes at shareholder meetings. This often leads to management proposals winning significantly.
Recent studies suggest that 'nudging' people toward certain decisions might not work as well as thought. Those nudged may not stick with their choices as much as those who decide independently.
Clients prefer meeting face-to-face rather than just digital communication. They find personal connections make a big difference in their experience.
There is a growing concern about the quality of online content due to AI. People are worried that much of what they see is just generic and not engaging.
In the world of crypto investments, people care more about seeing prices go up than deep storytelling. Investors are often just looking for quick gains.
Media coverage is really important for investment firms. Good press can lead to more money coming in, especially for smaller funds.
Having a strong 'thought leader' in the media can boost a company's image and stock price. For example, Jamie Dimon's influence seems to have helped JP Morgan's stock rise significantly.
Companies like Robinhood are starting their own media outlets to control their press coverage. This trend shows how important it is to own the narrative in finance.
ESG funds are losing popularity, and some companies are dropping the 'ESG' label from their investment products. This shift reflects growing political pressure and changing market attitudes.
New trends in investing might focus on 'net-zero' goals, emphasizing investments in companies working toward reducing carbon emissions. This could be a fresh way to attract investors concerned about climate change.
Tokenization is on the rise, with firms like BlackRock launching tokenized funds. This means using blockchain technology to manage investments, which could change how investors engage with financial products.
Big investing trends often fade after they get popular. Stocks that turn into acronyms, like FANG, usually see a surge before they become well-known but may not do so well afterward.
Passive investing can skew markets. Wealth managers might end up buying overvalued stocks just to keep up with benchmarks, which can hurt their performance.
When naming investment funds, it's important to choose names that are close to the brand name. Funds with more relatable names attract more investors and show better performance.
More employees in asset management are speaking up about their workplace issues. This change is happening because of struggles within the industry and the willingness to share grievances online.
Companies like Jupiter and Citigroup are facing internal conflicts that are spilling into the public eye. Instead of just keeping things quiet, these issues are being reported, highlighting struggles between management and their internal teams.
There may be some benefits to this openness, as leaks about misconduct could lead to improvements in industry practices. By exposing problems, employees hope to push for better working conditions and accountability.
Niche-building is important for gaining attention and can lead to better business outcomes. When you focus on a specific area, you can connect more directly with your audience.
Bill Ackman is launching a new investment fund aimed at regular investors, showing that there are ways to attract clients beyond traditional marketing methods. This move highlights the potential of directly engaging with customers.
Many businesses fail because they try to be everything for everyone instead of specializing. By owning a niche and providing quality information, companies can create a loyal customer base and stand out in the market.
Investment managers are increasingly drawn to private investments due to demands for higher returns and the rise of passive strategies.
Family offices are shifting more towards investing in private equity, venture capital, and private debt over publicly traded stocks.
Asset managers face challenges in managing and communicating about illiquid investments, as clients and industry experts raise concerns about monitoring such assets.
Using Generative AI can save a lot of time when creating drafts for legal documents. Lawyers at Ashurst found they could save up to 80% of the time on some tasks.
The accuracy of AI-generated content can be surprisingly high compared to human output, but it still requires careful review. Lawyers found it hard to tell whether some AI outputs were made by a human or the AI.
When pitching to fund selectors, having a clear story and understanding your audience is key. Many pitch decks fail because they don't address who their target customers are or why now is the right time for their proposal.
Active funds are struggling because investors prefer passive options like ETFs. Some fund companies are not offering either right now, which could hurt them in the long run.
Vanguard became successful by creating a special share class for ETFs linked to their mutual funds, which allowed them to build a good track record. Other companies are now trying to replicate this model after Vanguard's patent expired.
There's a growing tension between shareholders and company boards over how businesses should be run, especially regarding social responsibility. Shareholders want more say and might push for changes through lawsuits.
Investment consultants are becoming very influential in the market, with 85% of large investors relying on them for manager selection. This shows they play a key role in guiding investment decisions.
The top twenty investment consultants control a large portion of the industry, making it easier for them to shape which managers are chosen by clients. This concentration means fewer choices for investors.
Investment consultants warn that trendy investment options, like private assets, can be risky and often lead to disappointing results for late investors. It's important to be cautious and think long-term.
Investment research is becoming less useful because many managers found alternatives, like news or blogs, to get the information they need.
While regulations may allow investment research to be bundled again, the actual spending on it has dropped significantly, showing that its value has decreased.
Market forces can lead to changes like bundling or unbundling, impacting sectors like renewable energy, where clearer reporting standards can increase investment.
Meme-stock frenzies can happen anytime, not just during lockdowns. Recent IPOs like Reddit and Truth Social show that excitement doesn't depend on boredom.
Retail investors often face big losses during these frenzies. The story of FTX highlights how quickly a large amount of money can vanish, leaving many people with nothing.
Investment management can benefit from retail excitement by offering new products, like ETFs. Companies like Goldman Sachs are helping clients create these investment options quickly.
The UK is struggling to attract more companies for stock listings, with many businesses opting to go private or list in the US instead. This means the government needs to find ways to make UK listings more appealing.
Private equity firms are currently sitting on many unsold companies and need to sell some off to make way for new investments. This situation could create opportunities for fresh listings in London.
There's a rise in private equity interest as firms look to offload poorly performing companies. This could help provide the market with new companies to list and boost UK stock market activity.
The European ETF market is heavily dominated by a few large players, with JP Morgan capturing a significant share. This raises concerns about the level of competition available for smaller ETF issuers.
Larger firms often copy niche products from smaller issuers, making it hard for the latter to succeed. This behavior can limit innovation in the ETF market.
Investment consultants prefer funds that are just above certain asset thresholds, affecting how funds are shortlisted and their potential inflows. Being over a $500 million mark can lead to more investment opportunities.