Week InReview

Robot Managers

"What managers do mostly is identify potential, build teams, assign tasks, measure performance and provide feedback. Generally speaking, humans aren't very good at these tasks," said Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, a professor of business psychology at University College London. "Someday, we might not need managers anymore."

- The Wall Street Journal
Fri Dec 15, 2017
Let's recap
In case you missed it . . .
The assets of U.S. indexers may surpass active managers in 2019, signaling the end of an era for stock pickers (Dec 14)

Institutional investors call for climate action
Institutional investors around the world have launched a new initiative calling on the globe's worst polluters to take action on climate change (Dec 14)

The definitive list of asset managers that will pay for research
MiFID II: How asset managers will pay for research (updated Dec 14)

Industry opponents urge appeals court to rule on DOL fiduciary rule
Plaintiffs cite two provisions of the regulation that became effective in June; claim they are 'imposing direct, substantial and continuing burdens on appellants' members' (Dec 11)

Banks reject aggressive buyout loans
Bank lenders to European leveraged loans are increasingly rejecting deals due to aggressive pricing and documentation, but are being quickly replaced by institutional investors targeting higher-yielding term loan B paper (Dec 11)
The Cyber Cafe
Cybersecurity news every Friday
Resist phishing attacks with 3 golden rules
Like any classic hustle, phishing has staying power. The fake emails and texts that lure you into a digital con -  Free cruise! Act now! -  may not comprise a very technical hack, but the attackers behind them still put a lot of resources and expertise into giving their cons as much authenticity as possible.
- Wired

Regulators see cybersecurity as top financial industry risk
In report, Financial Stability Oversight Council also says cryptocurrencies should be monitored closely

FINRA: Firms begin to heed cybersecurity, but have much to do
Vulnerabilities include access-management systems and people processes, according to report on exam findings.
Rethinking financial regs
FSOC addresses 'increased compliance costs'
(Dec 14) -- The panel created to monitor financial stability is now urging regulators to review how rules are holding banks back. In its annual report - known for identifying risks such as cyberattacks and financial industry reliance on short-term funding - the Financial Stability Oversight Council advised agencies to address outdated and overlapping rules that could subject the industry to "increased compliance costs and regulatory burdens." 

Binge reading disorder
Hand-curated, chosen with love.
Your brain can only take so much focus
The problem is that excessive focus exhausts the focus circuits in your brain. It can drain your energy and make you lose self-control. This energy drain can also make you more impulsive and less helpful. As a result, decisions are poorly thought-out, and you become less collaborative.

70% of value in tech is driven by network effects
If you know the network effect playbook, you shouldn't be shocked at tech companies' rapid growth. But it's surprising how few people do. Many still confuse it with viral effects. Many know it's important, but don't know what it means.
- Medium

The 50 best wines under $50
Wine critic Elin McCoy has spent a year drinking the most delicious wines in the world - and not all of them will break the bank.