In this episode, Institutional Investor’s Sam Knox and SS&C Advent’s Valerie LaBarge unpack findings from a new research study on how investment management firms are approaching technology today. They explore where firms feel the most pressure, how teams are prioritizing modernization, and why integration and data management are rising to the top of tech roadmaps.
Sam breaks down the key insights from the survey and executive interviews, while Val shares real-world client perspectives on modernization mindsets, alignment across teams, and the growing demand for personalization. Together, they highlight the trends shaping the next generation of investment technology and what firms should consider as they plan ahead.
To dive deeper into the data, be sure to read the full research report, The Next Generation of Technology for Investment Management.
Speakers
Trent Berry
Host | SS&C Advent
Informally known as ”The Voice of University,” Trent Berry joined SS&C Advent at the turn of the century in 2000, having previously worked in Support and Consulting before occupying his current long standing role as Advent’s Senior Instructional Designer As such, he is responsible for client and employee training for products such as APX, Axys, and Geneva. In his spare time when not working or perfecting French cooking techniques in his kitchen, Trent owns and operates Dreamrack Studios, a professional recording studio in San Francisco where he can be found producing and engineering music for various artists.
Valeria LaBarge
Sr. Director, Client Success, SS&C Advent
Valerie LaBarge is a Senior Director of Client Success at SS&C. In this role, she leads the team that provides strategic guidance, consultation, and advocacy for investment and asset management clients in North America. Valerie joined SS&C in 2017 as a relationship manager. Prior to joining SS&C, Valerie held several roles at buy-side firms, including managing an operations team at Boston Trust Walden and managing investor and consultant reporting at Anchor Capital Advisors. Valerie started her career in planning and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®. She holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Wesleyan University and a Master of Business Administration from the F.W. Olin School of Business at Babson College.
Sam Knox
Institutional Investor
For more than a decade, Sam served as managing director of Institutional Investor’s Custom Research Lab, the premier resource for primary research and insight for institutional investment professionals around the world. Recently, Sam became a contributing editor and research director at ProSight, a financial services industry association focused on banking and risk management. Before joining Institutional Investor, Sam was senior vice president and director of research at CFO Publishing LLC, which publishes CFO magazine. Prior to CFO Publishing, Sam worked as a researcher, writer, and product manager for business information publishers, software companies, and professional services firms. Sam holds a B.A. in American History (with honors thesis) from NYU and an M.B.A. from the Yale School of Management, where he was a lead editor on the Yale Journal on Regulation.