Member Spotlight -Infinite Investment Systems (IIS)

Meet Ali Zahedi, Funder and Managing Director of Infinite Investment. We asked Ali to tell us about his firm and how they are using emerging technology to advance their product 
Ali, Tell us a little about Infinite Investment Systems and why you got into this space

Infinite Investment Systems (IIS) developed Harmony as an all-in-one portfolio management system which clients could comfortably rely on for all of their operational and administrative needs. From its core portfolio account and valuation capabilities to the extensive CRM now present in the application, we have always strived to deliver more and more functionality on a platform that continues to evolve. Put simply, clients had to shop for various modules or augment ‘comprehensive’ platforms with spreadsheets and we wanted our clients to get the breadth and depth of functionality they needed on one system, Harmony.

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Who are your clients and what types of regulatory challenges are they facing? 
We typically work with mid-sized and large investment management firms who are looking for greater data autonomy, process automation and operational streamlining. The regulatory burden has increased but with a better ‘data foundation’ you have more tools that you can leverage. With our compliance tools, our focus has been to empower clients with the functionality to account for regulatory responsibilities but to also effectively manage client portfolios and relationships to achieve better outcomes and growth. Clients use our portfolio monitoring to measure portfolios against asset-class and risk targets. They can also create individual portfolio restrictions that become red flags on both a pre- and post-trade basis. In short, we recognize that the regulatory burden has increased, and that compliance needs to be efficient and effective. Our tools allow users to gain peace of mind knowing that pro-active efforts are being taken. 

What type of emerging technology do you think will have the greatest impact on your business (industry)?

Any new technology can cause a disruption. An example is the influx of robo-advisory platforms and digital front ends which have certainly dominated many of the technology conversations in the last few years. We believe that while helpful, these technologies and platforms are not a means to an end. Our view is that regardless of the latest new technology trend, data integrity is where all things begin and end and that is why we lean into our core accounting and valuation capabilities as the foundation of successful operations. If the financial data is transparent, traceable and easily understood, you can apply many layers on top but that does not work in reverse. In that vein, blockchain technology has the potential to really move the dial on accounting and transparency even further because it provides a trusted, transparent irrevocable ledger without the need for a central authority

Why did you join the CRTA?  
We are strong advocates when it comes to associations or groups which add value to our clients and to our industry. In a time where technology and product development have become top-of-mind for most firms, and particularly RegTech and Fintech systems or tools, we believe there is benefit in focusing and unifying the discussion around topics and challenges that firms commonly encounter. We really feel like the CRTA can be that collective voice which enables firms to leverage technology in a more efficient way.