The Wandering CIO

Like many people in the Technology world I watched Apple’s iPad announcement this week with intense interest.  Unlike most people I am interested not in the consumer space  – but rather how could this device be used for business.  How could a new category like this be used?

Opportunities for the iPad in financial services:

Those who stand to benefit the most from the iPad are financial advisers who are constantly meeting clients on the go, says Doug Dannemiller, senior analyst at Aite Group.

For advisers, data visualization and presentation are key. And one of the most interesting aspects of the iPad is its zoom and flip page capabilities, which means it can be shared with a client more easily than a laptop, Dannemiller points out.

“I see the laptop as not a good collaborative tool,” he explains. A laptop computer acts as a barrier between the adviser and client, since it is only one person (presumably the adviser) who will handle the keyboard, hit the return key and flip the computer round to face the client. (continue reading…)

My assistant Kathy told me today about donating to Haitian relief efforts by simply sending a text message from my cellphone.  The Red Cross, via a company called mGive, has got the major U.S. carriers on board to allow people to very easily donate $10 to the Red Cross via a simple SMS text message. 

This led to an “unprecedented mobile response,” and has raised over $10 million in relief for Haiti.  With text donations peaking at a rate of 10,000 a minute, at $10 per donation, this is raising $100,000 per minute!

I had been watching the news about Haiti and was heartbroken at what they are going through.  I wanted to help.  But did I?  Not until I just spent 27 seconds sending a text message. 

Wanting to donate and actually donating are two different things.  Finding the right charity, deciding the amount, finding my checkbook, writing a check, finding an envelope and stamp, addressing the envelope, mailing it – well frankly it was exhausting just typing all those steps.  Not only that but I can’t even imagine finding 30 minutes in my day to actually do it!  This new process cut that time down to less than 30 seconds!

 [NOTE: If you want to donate simply text HAITI to the number 90999. A $10 charge will be added to your next cellphone bill.]  (continue reading…)

I work for a large financial services company.  We take our responsibilities for protecting and enhancing our client’s wealth exceedingly seriously.  We are also one of the most highly regulated Industries – and of course we all expect that to become even truer in the aftermath of the recent recession.

When faced with new technology we always have to look at both how it can be used positively and also assess the risks it poses.  Social networking technology is one of those types of technologies that seem to have what I call a “bar bell” shaped profile: It has some incredibly strong benefits, and at the other end of the spectrum, some very big risks.  Technologies with these profiles are among the most difficult to manage because people really want to use them and the risks are very difficult to mitigate.

Since our industry is very risk adverse we always seem to focus on the risks first – so let’s look at the basic risks:  (continue reading…)