FROM THE RESEARCH DESK

Cybersecurity as a Fiduciary Duty: Protecting HNW Assets in the Age of AI-Driven Fraud ​​Wealth management firms sit on a treasure trove of sensitive financial data, so it’s no surprise they’re a favorite target for cybercriminals. If you’re advising high-net-worth clients, they expect you to defend not just their portfolios, but their personal details, logins,…

The 2026 NYC Guide to ‘Insurance-Grade’ NYDFS Part 500 Certification NYC wealth managers, the clock’s ticking-just one week left before the NYDFS Part 500 certification deadline hits on April 15, 2026. Miss it, and you could be looking at more than a slap on the wrist. There’s a real risk of fallout that goes way…

NYDFS Part 500 Compliance Standards, IT Prerequisites, and Strategies to Lower Your Cyber Premiums. For financial advisors in New York City, cybersecurity insurance is no longer a “check-the-box” expense-it is a rigorous audit of your firm’s technical maturity. As of April 2026, insurance carriers have aligned with NYDFS Part 500 and SEC Regulation S-P amendments,…

Beyond Rule 4370: A Cybersecurity and Compliance Guide for Broker-Dealers Broker-dealers face strict technology and security standards from FINRA that go beyond basic IT management. FINRA compliance IT requirements include specific rules for business continuity planning, cybersecurity protocols, vendor oversight, and customer data protection that firms must follow to avoid regulatory penalties. Understanding these requirements…

Investment advisors face a complex web of SEC cybersecurity requirements in 2026, with multiple regulations now in full effect. The SEC has significantly expanded its cybersecurity framework through Regulation S-P updates, Regulation S-ID requirements, and the 2023 Cybersecurity Risk Management Rules. These rules work together to create comprehensive obligations for protecting client data and reporting…

Financial services firms in New York City handle sensitive data every day, from client portfolios to transaction records. Even the most skilled IT teams can fall into backup traps that put this critical information at risk. Your firm might have backup systems in place, but hidden weaknesses could leave you vulnerable to data loss when…

Financial and legal leaders in New York City are facing their biggest compliance challenge yet. NYDFS cybersecurity regulation amendments took effect in November 2023, with phased compliance deadlines running through November 2025. NYDFS has active enforcement authority and may impose significant civil penalties for cybersecurity violations, with amounts determined based on the nature and severity…

Regulators aren’t asking if companies use AI-they’re asking how they control it. Financial services firms face mounting scrutiny from FINRA and the SEC as artificial intelligence transforms everything from client communications to investment advice. These agencies apply existing compliance rules to AI tools, meaning firms must maintain the same standards of supervision and transparency regardless…

Your employees may already be exposing client data – without knowing it. A financial advisor copies a client’s portfolio into ChatGPT to create an investment summary. An analyst pastes confidential earnings data into Bard to generate a quick report. These actions seem harmless, but they represent one of the biggest hidden threats facing financial firms…

Growing financial firms in Manhattan face high costs when managing in-house IT teams. Hiring staff, ongoing training, and maintaining infrastructure add up quickly. Outsourced IT through Managed Service Providers (MSPs) often lowers these expenses by sharing resources and expertise across clients. MSP-managed IT offers scalability, letting firms pay only for the services they need. This…

The advantages of digitization in banking have contributed significant strides of development within the financial industry. With mobile apps, e-bill payments, and online deposits becoming the new standard, we’re now seeing hefty digital disruption. Digital banking is widespread these days, with fintech, new mobile banks, and incumbents offering efficient and accessible banking experiences. The advantages…

Non-profits have been trying to introduce progressive grant-making changes for a long time. However, foundations were forced to modify their rules because of the coronavirus pandemic. Hence, a recent study of approximately 300 grantmakers has shown that several organizations have reversed some of the changes. Let’s explore the differences, what the situation is like now, and…

With the unprecedented shifts in the global economy, financial advisors are transitioning to financial forecasting models. Financial forecasting is a process detailing the economic vision for the future of any company. In other words, it usually involves forecasting the expectations of future results. In contrast, financial modeling consists of taking these assumptions and calculating the…

Leveraging Big Data in Finance for a Win There is a deep relationship shared between big data and finance, one that has often been qualified as being “two sides of the same coin”. Recently—and despite it being one of the most competitive markets across the world—the finance industry is facing a new generation of disruptions,…

This was one of our most popular blog posts of 2018. We’ve updated this post with new information to continue providing valuable content. There’s been a lot of chatter, online and off, about the new tax law. Here’s what everyone needs to know about how it affects FinTech (financial technology). How The New Tax Law…

This was one of our most popular blog posts of 2018. We’ve updated this post with to continue providing valuable content. Artificial intelligence is on the rise and changing how historically human-powered business is done. One example of this is the effect of AI on trading. The Coming of Age of Artificial Intelligence Chances are you use forms of AI every day. Talking to the virtual assistant in your phone or home to get the weather or figure out the name of that actor who’s

This was one of our most popular blog posts of 2018. We’ve updated this post with new information to continue providing valuable content. Blockchain technology is changing the face of financial technology, or FinTech. What is Blockchain and why does it work so well in the finance sector? That’s what we’re unpacking today on the Computer…

The cloud is a scalable, cost effective, secure solution for business and nonprofits. It is also making inroads in government. The cloud eases operations within local government. The Cloud in Local Government It may be surprising, but governments adopt the cloud at about the same rate other industries. Nationally, businesses spend 20.4% of their IT…

FinTech was late to the cloud game. Now, they’re pretty much proclaiming from the rooftops, “We’re here!” and are likely to pave the way for others to do the same. Here’s what you need to know if you’re still on the fence about cloud-based financial management with Office 365. If Microsoft 365 Is Good Enough…

The Financial Benefits of Outsourcing IT Services for Businesses Big and Small Outsourcing IT services may seem counterintuitive from a budgetary standpoint, but savvy CFOs are realizing the benefits of this strategy. Managed IT services can significantly reduce costs to businesses while giving them a competitive edge.