AssetLink, an AI-powered distribution platform for asset managers and RIAs, received a U.S. patent protecting its proprietary AI systems and methods.
AssetLink’s approach to automated, AI-driven correlation and its workflows interprets complex language, sentiment and context across the financial ecosystem. Its tech can uncover nuances in advisor preferences, client needs and product characteristics, according to the firm.
“This patent moves financial services beyond outdated, manual prospecting and into an era of intelligent, predictive matchmaking,” AssetLink founder and CEO Devon Drew said in a statement. “By understanding the nuance behind advisor needs, product characteristics and market signals, AssetLink empowers firms to precisely align products with opportunities and identify top talent at scale, significantly reducing the need for human intervention in routine tasks.”
SEI Hires BlackRock Exec to Lead Investment Product Development
SEI has added Robert Hum as head of investment product development and activation. Hum will lead the development and execution strategy for investment products and models, with a focus on existing client segments and new markets.
Hum will report to Michael Lane, head of SEI’s asset management business.
Hum most recently served as managing director and U.S. head of factor, outcome and alternative ETFs at BlackRock, leading overall product strategy across distribution, marketing, product innovation, thought leadership, technology and analytics. Prior to joining BlackRock, he was a senior research analyst and portfolio manager at Ladenburg Thalmann, managing more than $2 billion in global, multi-asset mutual fund and model portfolios. He began his career as an associate at VanEck Global, where he supported the distribution of mutual funds and ETFs to financial advisors.
To support this new team, Heather Corkery has transitioned from her role as managing director of client service in SEI’s institutional business to director of investment product development and activation. She’s focused on developing a comprehensive product activation strategy, including go-to-market planning and user experience optimization.
PNC Bank to Use MSCI Wealth Manager
PNC Bank has penned an agreement with MSCI Inc. to provide its advisors access to MSCI Wealth Manager, a digital platform with analytics, portfolio management tools and research.
MSCI Wealth Manager connects advisors and investment teams through an ecosystem built on MSCI’s multi-asset class risk model. The system is designed to illustrate risks in a client portfolio by identifying assets that are outliers based on the client’s risk appetite. Furthermore, advisors can compare, align and personalize their clients’ portfolios around recommended asset allocations on the MSCI Wealth Manager platform.
Brightwave Launches AI Research Agents
Brightwave, an agentic AI research platform, introduced research agents, enabling users to control fleets of autonomous research agents from a single, unified control plane. This release launches multi-agent research systems.
Brightwave’s agentic technology “allows the system to spawn long-running workers that can perform complex, open-ended tasks autonomously without interrupting users’ research flows.”
Using data from sources like whitehouse.gov, public filings and regulatory disclosures, Brightwave will produce a research report asynchronously. From there, users can continue to ask questions, edit and refine the substance of the report itself, or deepen their understanding of the primary sources.
iCapital Taps Bloomberg Correspondent as Chief Investment Strategist
Alternative investment platform iCapital appointed Sonali Basak, a former lead Wall Street correspondent for Bloomberg Television, as chief investment strategist.
Basak will help develop and deliver the firm’s thought leadership across public and private markets.
“The wealth industry is undergoing a significant transformation, and individual investors should have increased access to the same private market opportunities that have driven institutional returns for decades,” Basak said in a statement.
Basak will lead and articulate iCapital’s investment outlook, data-driven content and support client decision-making.
Proterra Acquires Farmland Investment Platform AcreTrader
Proterra Investment Partners, a Minneapolis-based alternative asset manager focused on private equity and private credit investments across the global food value chain with over $3.4 billion in assets under management, has acquired AcreTrader, a farmland investment platform, from Acres.com.
“This sale marks a pivotal milestone for both companies,” said Carter Malloy, founder and CEO of Acres.com and AcreTrader. “We built AcreTrader to make farmland investing more transparent and accessible. Proterra accelerates that mission as their reach and expertise equips AcreTrader to further scale its platform, broaden access and deliver greater value to both farmers and investors in the years ahead.”
Since 2018, AcreTrader has provided investors access to farmland investments while connecting farmers to equity capital. The platform has enabled investment in over 140 farmland properties spanning 44,000 acres across 20 states, with its investment management arm, Acretrader Management, delivering net IRR ranging from 9.4% to 30.3% on realized deals.
Cache Raises $12.5M in Series A Funding
Cache, a firm that specializes in exchange funds, has raised $12.5 million in Series A funding.
The round was led by Bill Trenchard at First Round Capital, with participation from solo investors from across technology and finance.
The funding comes as Cache has surpassed $625 million in total assets just over a year since launch.
Cache’s exchange funds allow investors to swap concentrated stock positions for diversified portfolios tracking major indices like the Nasdaq-100 and S&P 500, while deferring capital gains taxes until they choose to sell. The platform requires $100,000 minimums with fees of 0.4% to 0.95%.
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