CAIS Launches First Online Exchange For Wealth Management Industry

NEW YORK, Dec. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- CAIS, the financial-technology solutions provider, has launched the CAIS Exchange, the first online alternative investment marketplace designed for the wealth management industry. The CAIS Exchange (CAIS-X) offers access to a broad menu of top-tier funds and products, independent due diligence reports provided by Mercer, portfolio construction and analytics tools and an electronic subscription and redemption process for streamlined trade execution. CAIS-X is the first complete solution to offer access, oversight and execution in a single venue, empowering wealth management professionals with institutional quality products coupled with time-saving operational efficiency.

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The funds and products that list on CAIS-X represent a broad range of alternative investment strategies and disciplines including hedge funds, private equity and physical precious metals. The growing menu is designed to provide a prequalified, competitive offering of primary investment opportunities that are actionable and useable across a large client base.   

CAIS-X remains unbiased as to product structure, focusing instead on a variety of advisor-friendly formats that address investment minimums, price transparency, taxation and investor qualification. In all circumstances, CAIS-X seeks to leverage the aggregate strength of the platform and reduce the product cost borne by the end client. "CAIS has established a meaningful dialogue with the wealth management community, understands its needs, and will continually strive to address them with new products, tools and services," said Matthew Brown, Co-Founder and CEO of CAIS.  

CAIS is a business-to-business service provider and CAIS-X Member Firms include registered investment advisors, broker-dealers, private banks and other qualified financial intermediaries. The streamlined CAIS-X membership process begins with an online application through www.caisgroup.com. Members receive no-fee access to an extensive range of product information on CAIS-X, including independent due diligence reports. 

"Depending on the needs of a Member Firm, CAIS-X can serve as a complete solution or provide a customized product menu," said Rafay Farooqui, Co-Founder and President of CAIS. "CAIS-X can tactically support the efforts of a centralized investment team with one-off products or provide a holistic solution for a broad advisor base," Farooqui continued.

CAIS-X allows advisors to execute primary transactions online while positions seamlessly integrate through the DTCC-AIP protocol with custodians including Fidelity, Pershing, TD Ameritrade and Charles Schwab, among others.  CAIS-X uses technology to relieve pain points and friction at every step of the alternative investment process, making what was once time-consuming and costly seamless and efficient.  The CAIS-X open-architecture technology enables compatibility with various operating environments, allowing CAIS-X Members to maintain all existing service relationships. 

CAIS maintains an unwavering commitment to best practices and to delivering institutional functionality and reliability. Mercer and State Street further this commitment by bringing global scale and oversight to the Exchange. CAIS is an independent, advisory-only service provider and avoids key conflicts of interest by not engaging in wealth management activities or managing proprietary funds or products. The firm's neutrality allows CAIS to provide an unbiased and transparent alternative investment marketplace for the global wealth management community.

About CAIS
CAIS, the New York-based financial-technology solutions provider, operates the CAIS Exchange (CAIS-X), the first online alternative investment marketplace for the wealth management industry. CAIS-X offers improved access to a broad menu of top-tier funds and products, independent due diligence reports provided by Mercer, portfolio construction and analytics tools and an electronic subscription and redemption process for streamlined trade execution.   

A true partner to the global wealth management industry, CAIS-X empowers registered investment advisors, broker-dealers, private banks and other financial intermediaries to compete for clients while delivering a robust level of service. CAIS is an independent, advisory-only service provider and avoids key conflicts of interest by not engaging in wealth management activities or managing proprietary funds or products. The firm's neutrality allows CAIS to provide an unbiased and transparent alternative investment marketplace for the global wealth management community. CAIS is a NFA member with securities offered through CAIS Capital LLC, member FINRA, SIPC.

For more information, please visit www.caisgroup.com.

SOURCE CAIS