Latest: Leonteq collaborates with fund manager, expands AMC offering

Under the partnership, part of Leonteq’s long-term strategy to enrich its thematic investing universe, the Swiss structured products specialist firm will have exclusive distribution rights for the entire range of Ixios funds into Switzerland and selected EEA countries.

Through this collaboration, Leonteq clients will have access to a specialised range of thematic long-only Ucits funds including Ixios Gold, a global equity fund which invests in gold mining companies; Ixios Recovery, a flexible, cross asset, multi-thematic fund with a strong focus on undervalued assets; and Ixios Energy Metals, an equity fund which invests in companies mining and producing the metals which will enable the energy transition.

The expansion of our offering is a key aspect of our Growth Strategy 2026 and of the development of our ecosystem - Alessandro Ricci, Leonteq

Additionally, Leonteq and Ixios will be launching thematic AMCs to seize more tactical market opportunities.

‘The expansion of our offering is a key aspect of our Growth Strategy 2026 and of the development of our ecosystem. As a highly specialised asset management company with a focus on investment themes, Ixios brings extensive knowledge and very credible offerings in this area,’ said Alessandro Ricci (pictured), head investment solutions and member of the executive committee of Leonteq.

Boston manager launches structured notes website

Patrick McNamara, a certified financial planner and senior vice president at US registered investment advisor (RIA) Claro Advisors, has launched a new website, www.structurednotes.com, as a resource for investors to ‘protect and enhance their investment portfolio returns, especially during market declines’.

‘With cash yields close to zero, dismal fixed income returns, and heightened downside risk with the equity markets, I needed to find alternatives that could help my clients achieve their goals,’ said McNamara (right).

McNamara is an experienced advisor and planner to business owners, affluent families and retirees, having worked in wealth management at Morgan Stanley, the Private Client Group at Goldman Sachs and Fidelity Investments. 

McNamara wants investors to know that changing economic conditions aren't a time to panic, but rather to plan and to deploy investment capital efficiently and strategically. 

‘Periods of inflation and even recession are when really talented investment professionals step up,’ McNamara said. ‘Almost anyone can ride a wave of economic expansion.  When there's a downturn, that's when resourceful financial planners and wealth managers get their chance to shine.’

Halo Investing adds strategic advisor

Structured products technology platform Halo Investing has added Charles Roame, founder & managing partner of Tiburon Strategic Advisors and Tiburon CEO Summits, to its advisory board.

Halo provides financial advisors and investors with access to structured notes, market-linked CDs, buffered ETFs, and annuities, as well as a suite of tools for protective investment products to suit their unique portfolio needs.

Tiburon was formed by Roame (right) in 1998 and offers market research and strategic consulting, especially for fintech firms. The firm acts as an advisor to CEOs, senior executives, and boards of directors in the wealth and investment management world. Prior to forming Tiburon, Roame served in similar capacities as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company, and later as a business strategist at the Charles Schwab Corporation.

Roame joins a pool of advisors including Jeb Bush, 43rd Governor of Florida; Dr. Neal M. Soss, former vice chairman of investment strategy and research and global chief economist for Crédit Suisse Group; and Jack Selby, a founding member of PayPal and managing partner at Thiel Capital Management.

Roame also serves on the board of directors at Edelman Financial Engines, Facet Wealth, Allspring Global Investors, DPL Financial Partners and Lefteris Acquisition Corporation.

Julius Baer spins off markets unit into separate division

Swiss Private bank Julius Baer is turning its Markets unit into a separate division which will be led by the head of markets, Luigi Vignola (right), who also joins the bank's executive board. This is effective 1 July.

‘This organisational restructuring and appointment reflect the importance of the Markets division for Julius Baer in providing a leading wealth management offering to its clients,’ the bank said in a statement.

Julius Baer’s markets division has been led by Vignola, the former global head structured products, since October 2019 when it was consolidated under the leadership of the CFO, along with treasury and credit management.

Vignola joined the bank's structured products unit in 2009, moving to Singapore in 2012 to lead the Asian products teams, expanding the business in the region. In 2017, he returned to Switzerland to take over as the global head of structured products and took over the Markets unit in 2019.

Prior to joining Julius Baer, Vignola was a managing director at Deutsche Bank for three years starting in 2006, and he also spent six years at the ZKB as head of structured products and equity derivatives.

NBO launches private banking platform

National Bank of Oman (NBO) has launched a private banking platform to expand the offering for its high-net-worth (HNW) customers.

The new proposition will provide banking and financial advisory support to the bank’s customers by offering them ‘comprehensive and holistic solutions’ including global investment funds and structured products.

NBO’s private banking platform will roll out a spectrum of investment and wealth management products and services that will enable customers the opportunity to invest in a range of products to leverage market opportunities, according to the head of private banking Ali Mustafa Al Lawati (right).

‘Our premium banking services are designed to meet the unique wealth management requirements of our customers, offering personalised wealth advisory with exclusive access to the latest investments and products,’ he said.

Additionally, the platform will offer products and services such as securities brokerage, systematic investment plans, global investment advisory, trade execution, wealth planning, trust services and financing across a range of options.