Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Financial Technology - an Important Business Trend in Global Economies


For Colin Robertson, a banking executive at Northern Trust in Chicago, work is almost as enjoyable as play. Colin Robertson carries over his work for clients in Chicago and beyond to his favorite after-hours entertainment – pursuing knowledge about business and financial trends relevant to clients and economies inside and outside the United States.

On March 9, 2017, the US Federal Trade Commission held the third in its series of three public forums on financial technology at the University of California, Berkeley. The forum, Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain, focused on the consumer implications of these developing technologies and examined how they may be used to serve and protect consumers.

In November 2016, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) held a financial technology public forum at its Washington, DC, headquarters. The SEC says that the forum was designed to foster collaboration among regulators, entrepreneurs, and industry experts, and to evaluate how government regulations can best address innovations in the financial services industry.

The World Economic Forum follows this trend at the global level. The nonprofit organization, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, recently identified the world’s financial technology hubs as demonstrated by market size, investment, and staffing. The United Kingdom tops the list, followed by California, New York, Singapore, Germany, Australia, and Hong Kong.

Saturday, April 1, 2017

Three Investment Tips for First-Time Investors


Colin Robertson is a banking executive in Chicago who currently works as the Managing Director of Fixed Income at Northern Trust Global Investments. Even outside of work, Colin Robertson considers investing and keeping up with the stock market a hobby. 

If you have never invested in the stock market, it can seem like a confusing, daunting challenge. These three tips will help ensure you are off to a good start. 

1. Consult a Professional - Even after studying the stock market and learning the lingo, speaking to a pro can help you determine your options. Investment advisors and professionals will be able to give you in-depth information regarding the types of accounts to open and different investment methods, illuminating the benefits and drawbacks of each. 

2. Leave Emotion Out of Investing - Successful long-term investments often require the ability to control your emotions and avoid acting on fear, rumors, or speculation. Company stock prices often reflect a right-now mentality. If investors are worried about the future of the business, stocks lower. If the future looks bright, share prices rise. Before investing, determine your expectations regarding return. Know at what point you will sell, either at a loss or profit, to avoid having to make that decision later when emotions are high. 

3. Start Now - Whether you are a 20-year-old student working as a barista at the local coffee shop, or a highly-successful executive on a six figure salary, now is the time to start investing. Generally speaking, the longer you invest, the more money you will make. Thanks to compounding rates of return, investing $25 a month now would likely provide higher returns than waiting and investing more later in life.