Whitepapers from Confluence

Our subject matter experts understand your reporting challenges. Whether the focus is on a current regulatory change or a current process that can be simplified, Confluence whitepapers are written with the intent to provide information that fund administrators can use to do their jobs.

Money Market Mutual Fund Reform Rule:

An Administrator's Guide to Money Market Mutual Fund Reform Reporting

This guide provides an overview of the reporting implications of the recently adopted Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) release IC-29132, which mandates money market mutual fund reform. Specifically, this guide addresses the impact on money market fund portfolio reporting and provides fund administrators with guidelines for facilitating timely and accurate compliance with the reporting requirements.

Written by Scott Powell, Senior Market Analyst
Published April 22, 2010

 

XBRL and More: Winning the Game of Tag

A Comparison of XBRL Content Tagging Models

This whitepaper offers fund administration technology decision makers insight into escalating demands for standardizing fund data delivery. In particular, the paper identifies and compares two strategies for XBRL preparation and their impact on the cost efficiency, risk management and scalability of fund administration back-office operations.

Written by Scott Powell, Senior Market Analyst, and
Joan Tesla, Vice President of Marketing Communications

Published January 14, 2010

Hedge Fund Reporting:

The Change Imperative

The impact of the credit crisis is having a dramatic effect on hedge fund reporting; the ensuing demand for greater transparency and due diligence is producing a perfect storm in the hedge fund back office. This whitepaper explores the forces that are creating the perfect storm and offers practical advice to help hedge fund companies consider moves to ensure that their reporting processes provide the speed, control and flexibility to weather a new era of hedge fund administration.

Written by Scott Powell, Senior Market Analyst, and Joan Tesla, Director of Marketing

Published April 30, 2009

Controlling Fund Expenses

Taking Charge of the Expense Management Process

For more than a decade, new technologies have been introduced into the securities industry allowing fund managers to improve their mission-critical operations as well as their routine housekeeping functions. But the practice of managing a fund’s internal operating expenses remains rooted in last-century methodologies. As investors clamor for more efficiently-run funds, automation and process control become increasingly vital to fund administrators. By automating the expense management process, fund companies can reap the benefits of cost savings, controlled expenses and accurate data, virtually eliminating the risks associated with a fund’s failure to effectively manage these essential activities.

Written by Rick Krumenacker, Confluence Business Analyst

Updated March 6, 2009

Reporting Derivatives Disclosure

An Administrators Guide to FAS 161

Effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008, the new Financial Accounting Standard 161 (FAS 161) has a significant impact for fund administrators and the preparation of financial reports.
This FAQ provides an overview of the new rule and the derivative securities it impacts. It also provides useful guidelines for steps fund administrators need to take to ensure compliance with the new ruling.

Written by Confluence

Published December 15, 2008

Market Dynamics Underscore Demand for Back-Office Data Consolidation and Automation

In the wake of uncertainty and evolving market dynamics resulting from the credit crisis, this paper takes a look at the multiple reasons why data consolidation and automation continue to top the list of initiatives for strategic risk control, cost reduction and scalability in the back office.

Written by Dan Torrens, Confluence Vice President of Product Management

Published December 3, 2008

 

Eight Points to Consider When Selecting Financial Reporting Software

Because selecting a technology partner is a major strategic economic buying decision, this paper offers practical advice to fund administrators as they conduct their search for a financial reporting solution. Choosing the right partner will position your organization for long-term opportunity and growth – but the wrong decision can have the opposite impact, jeopardizing your business, client relationships and employee morale. This paper outlines eight key points to consider when making a decision to license software.

Written by Confluence

Published September 10, 2008

 

Seven Rules of Thumb for Post-Trade Compliance

What Fund Administrators Need to Know

A growing body of regulations governing investment portfolio management has expanded both the scope and frequency of portfolio compliance testing. This paper is intended to provide fund administrators with guidelines for implementing an effective post-trade compliance program that will meet the increased demand for more frequent testing, scalability and control.

Written by Lynn Majetich, Confluence Product Manager

Published February 11, 2008

 

Reporting Fair Market Value

An Administrators Guide to FAS 157

Reporting Fair Market Value provides managed investment administrators with an overview of the Financial Accounting Standard Statement 157 (FAS 157), its impact across their organization, and the specific implications to them.

Specifically, the whitepaper focuses on the following.

  • What is FAS 157
  • What Reporting Disclosures are Required
  • What Records Need to be Retained
  • What FAS 157 Means to the Fair Value Committee
  • What FAS 157 Means to the Back Office
  • How to Implement a FAS 157 Readiness Plan
  • How Fund Administrators Can Tackle FAS 157

Written by Scott Powell, Confluence Product Manager

Published November 28, 2007

 

XBRL FILING:

New Options for Mutual Fund Managers

The purpose of this whitepaper is twofold: to help mutual fund professionals understand the significance of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s XBRL filing initiatives, and to present the various filing options available in voluntary XBRL programs. It provides a non-technical explanation of XBRL, explores the evolving impact of XBRL on the mutual fund community, and evaluates the merits of four approaches to XBRL filing—from manual to fully automated.

Written by Gregg Smith, Confluence Program Manager

Updated August 2008