State Street Investment Management has appointed Kevin Peña in Miami as Vice President of US Offshore Distribution, according to a post published by the professional himself on LinkedIn and later confirmed on the same platform by Heinz Volquarts, Managing Director, Head of Americas International (Canada & LatAm) at the firm.
In his new role, Peña will cover the US Offshore, LatAm, and Canada segments.
“I’m very excited to announce that I’ve started a new role at State Street Investment Management as Vice President of US Offshore Distribution,” wrote Peña. “Thank you to Aberdeen Investments for the last 6.5 years and the opportunity to work with great colleagues. I look forward to continuing to serve the incredible advisors in the offshore space and beyond!” he added.
Volquarts shared the post on his own profile, adding: “Welcome to our team! We’re excited to have you on board.”
Based in Miami, Kevin Peña most recently held the position of Director – US Offshore & Latin America Sales at Aberdeen, after previously serving as Associate Director and Business Development Associate. Earlier in his career, he was a Private Banker Associate at UBS and an Investment Analyst Intern at FitzRoy Investment Advisors.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Florida International University (FIU), is a CIMA (Certified Investment Management Analyst) through the Investments & Wealth Institute, and holds FINRA Series 63 and 7 licenses.
Central banks are in the spotlight this week with a very full calendar, as the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) speaks tomorrow, the Bank of England (BoE) on Thursday, and the Bank of Japan (BoJ) on Friday. These meetings follow last week’s European Central Bank (ECB) decision and come alongside macroeconomic data that will frame monetary policy decisions in the coming days.
“Beyond these three central bank meetings, the economic data agenda is fairly light. On Monday, manufacturing data was released in China, while Tuesday will bring industrial production figures in the EU and the ZEW business climate index in Germany. Thursday will see the release of weekly jobless claims in the U.S., which will likely attract attention following the recent weak labor report. After all, the Fed’s mandate includes ensuring full employment and price stability,” states Hans-Jörg Naumer, Global Head of Capital Markets & Thematic Research at Allianz Global Investors.
Following the Jackson Hole symposium, the Fed’s FOMC meeting is undoubtedly the most notable. BofA experts forecast a 25 basis point cut, bringing the rate to 4%-4.25%, with the 2026 median still reflecting two more cuts. “Powell’s press conference will echo labor market developments and provide insights into the tariff impact on production and prices. Rates and the exchange rate could be interpreted as an aggressive cut. In principle, ‘we rule out any possible appreciation of the dollar,’” states Bank of America’s outlook.
Regarding the data on the FOMC’s table, experts at the firm predict a solid retail sales figure for August, above consensus, which should keep uncertainty alive about the strength of spending and weakness in labor data. “Moreover, we forecast that unemployment claims will fall to 240,000 in the week ending September 13, as the previous week’s increase was mainly due to the deadline for filing claims related to flooding in Texas,” they note.
BoE: Rates to Remain Unchanged
Regarding the BoE meeting, which remains highly attentive to CPI and employment data, the bank’s experts anticipate it will maintain its stance with a 7–2 vote, with a risk of a more dovish voting pattern. “The benchmark rate will remain at 4% on Thursday. The recent emphasis by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) on elevated inflation expectations suggests a risk that policy will remain unchanged for the rest of the year. This week’s releases on the labor market and CPI will be key. The pace of quantitative tightening (QT) for 2025/26 will also be announced: annual sales are expected to drop from £100 billion to £75 billion, with risks skewed toward a greater reduction,” states Shaan Raithatha, Senior Economist and Strategist at Vanguard.
BofA shares a similar view: “The July labor market report should show a stable unemployment rate at 4.7% (with upside risks) and further progress in wage growth (with private sector wages growing at 4.7% year-on-year). We expect UK CPI inflation to decrease slightly to 3.7% in August, and services inflation to fall from 5% to 4.7%.”
According to Raithatha, the short-term outlook has turned more hawkish. “Upward revisions to payroll declines suggest the labor market is weakening rather than collapsing. And the MPC signaled a change in tone at the August meeting, with a renewed focus on second-round effects of elevated inflation expectations (see chart). Thus, our forecast for one more cut before the end of the year is at risk. We are inclined to postpone it until 2026 if the labor market and CPI data (due Tuesday and Wednesday) broadly meet expectations,” he explains.
In the view of David Rees, Head of Global Economics at Schroders, stagflationary pressures would also prevent the BoE from implementing further interest rate cuts. He explains that it is unlikely GDP growth will exceed 1% significantly, but capacity constraints mean even such modest growth rates will keep inflation elevated for some time.
“In fact, we fear inflation will exceed 4% in the coming months and remain above 3% at least until mid-2026. Without a sharper weakening in the labor market or fiscal tightening in the autumn budgets, it is likely that the bank rate will remain at 4% in the immediate future,” notes Rees.
BoJ: Waiting for Its Moment
In Japan’s case, experts start from the premise that the country’s outlook is mixed, with growth supported by exports but moderate domestic demand. They also note that political uncertainty—the resignation of the prime minister—limits fiscal stimulus and structural reforms. In the view of Luca Paolini, Chief Strategist at Pictet AM, the BoJ is in a wait-and-see mode. “For now, with moderating inflation in services, there is no pressure to accelerate rate hikes. But it may carry out two rate increases in 2026, and its quantitative tightening will continue,” he notes.
Edmond de Rothschild AM highlights that headline inflation slowed from 3.3% to 3.1% but still remained above the Bank of Japan’s target, while core inflation held steady at 3.4%, giving the monetary authority room to maneuver.
“We expect the Bank of Japan to keep its official interest rate unchanged at 0.5%. We believe the bank will maintain its current message of closely monitoring data as of August and that the current political instability will not affect its rate hike decisions. We forecast that core CPI, similar to Japan’s measure, will decelerate further to 2.7% year-on-year, from 3.1% year-on-year. Core CPI, as defined by the BoJ (excluding energy), should also decelerate, as anticipated by Tokyo’s main CPI,” add BofA analysts.
BBVA Global Wealth Advisors has added Gastón Guerrero Betanzos to its commercial team in San Diego, California, as a financial advisor. He will serve clients from Mexico, according to the welcome post published on BBVA GWA’s page on the professional network LinkedIn.
“Based in San Diego, Gastón brings over 23 years of experience as a senior executive in global financial wealth management, with a proven track record in wealth management, business development, and private banking solutions for ultra-high-net-worth individuals,” the firm stated in its post.
“His leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, and deep understanding of domestic and international markets make him an invaluable addition,” it added. “We are incredibly excited about the expertise and vision that Gastón will bring as we continue to grow and deliver high-impact results for our clients,” the post concluded.
Guerrero Betanzos holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Corporate Financial Management from St. Mary’s University and possesses FINRA Series 7 and 65 licenses. Professionally, he has held roles at IPG (Investment Placement Group), Precise Securities (Division of Horwitz & Associates), Mercantile Capital Advisors, Mercantile Consulting Group, and PNC before joining BBVA GWA.
Global investment firm Carlyle and Invesco have announced an agreement under which Carlyle will acquire intelliflo, a UK-based provider of cloud-based management software for independent financial advisors (IFAs), previously owned by Invesco. According to the asset manager, this transaction includes intelliflo’s U.S. subsidiaries, including RedBlack, a provider of SaaS portfolio rebalancing tools, and intelliflo Portfolio, a portfolio management software solution for registered investment advisors (RIAs) in the U.S.
Regarding deal details, the firm states that the purchase price of up to $200 million consists of $135 million at closing and up to an additional $65 million in potential future earn-outs. As part of the transaction, intelliflo’s U.S. subsidiaries will be established as an independent company named RedBlack, managed by a separate leadership team. This separation will allow both companies to better serve their current clients and markets. intelliflo will focus exclusively on delivering leading software and innovation to the UK and Australian markets, while RedBlack will concentrate on serving RIAs and other financial advisors in the U.S. Carlyle will support the separation of both companies from Invesco and work alongside their respective leadership teams to execute their growth plans.
The investment will be funded through Carlyle Europe Technology Partners (CETP) V, a €3 billion fund that invests in technology companies across Europe. The CETP team has extensive experience in financial software, wealthtech, and sector-specific SaaS, with recent investments in companies such as SER Group, CSS, SurePay, and Calastone.
“intelliflo is a critical software provider in the UK wealth management ecosystem, with a deeply loyal client base. We are excited to partner with Nick, Bryan, and their team to unlock the full potential of the company and lead it into its next phase of growth,” said Fernando Chueca, Managing Director on CETP’s investment advisory team.
For his part, Nick Eatock, CEO and founder of intelliflo, commented: “This is a very exciting moment for intelliflo. Carlyle’s investment reflects their confidence in our business, and their extensive experience in scaling software companies makes them the ideal partner for our next phase of growth. With Carlyle’s support, we will remain focused on delivering strong value to our clients, with renewed momentum in developing innovative solutions for the evolving needs of our core markets in the UK and Australia.”
“Our team is highly motivated by the opportunity to focus all our energy on the U.S. market as an independent and agile company. RedBlack has a long history of delivering market-leading software solutions to our RIA client base in the U.S. We’re excited to have the backing of a partner with Carlyle’s reputation and expertise, which will allow us to continue supporting financial advisors in the best possible way,” added Bryan Perryman, CEO of the new RedBlack.
“As intelliflo and the newly formed RedBlack begin their next growth phases alongside Carlyle, we are confident that both companies are well positioned to continue their success and innovation in the wealthtech space. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with intelliflo and RedBlack through our shared relationship with wealth advisory clients,” concluded Doug Sharp, Senior Managing Director and Head of Americas and EMEA at Invesco.
Founded in 2004 and headquartered in London, intelliflo offers a comprehensive software platform used by over 30,000 professionals across approximately 2,600 advisory firms, supporting the management of around £450 billion in client assets. Its platform includes CRM, financial planning, client onboarding, compliance workflows, and reporting functions. Its cloud-native, client-specific SaaS architecture integrates with more than 120 third-party applications. The transaction aims to strengthen intelliflo’s leadership in the UK and accelerate its growth in Australia.
Binance, a global cryptocurrency exchange firm, and Franklin Templeton have announced a collaboration to “build digital asset initiatives and solutions tailored to a wide range of investors.” According to the announcement, they will explore ways to combine Franklin Templeton’s expertise in compliant asset tokenization with Binance’s global trading infrastructure and investor reach.
Specifically, their goal is to offer innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of investors, providing greater efficiency, transparency, and accessibility to capital markets, along with competitive yield generation and settlement efficiency.
“As these tools and technologies evolve from the margins into the financial mainstream, partnerships like this will be essential to accelerate adoption. We see blockchain not as a threat to legacy systems but as an opportunity to reimagine them. By working with Binance, we can leverage tokenization to bring institutional-grade solutions like our Benji Technology Platform to a broader set of investors and help bridge the worlds of traditional and decentralized finance,” said Sandy Kaul, EVP, Head of Innovation at Franklin Templeton.
According to the experience of Roger Bayston, EVP and Head of Digital Assets at Franklin Templeton, investors are asking about digital assets to stay ahead, but they need them to be accessible and reliable. “By working with Binance, we can deliver groundbreaking products that meet the requirements of global capital markets and co-create the portfolios of the future. Our goal is to bring tokenization from concept to practice so that clients can achieve efficiencies in settlement, collateral management, and portfolio construction at scale,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Catherine Chen, Head of VIP and Institutional at Binance, explained: “Our strategic collaboration with Franklin Templeton to develop new products and initiatives reinforces our commitment to bridging crypto and traditional capital markets and unlocking greater possibilities.”
An analysis of more than 2,500 components of the MSCI ACWI Index revealed that companies that more effectively managed their financially material sustainability risks attracted significantly greater indexed flows when assessed under MSCI’s Sustainability and Climate (S&C) Indexes.
Specifically, companies with an MSCI ESG Rating of AAA received 15 times more indexed capital than those rated CCC, normalized by market capitalization, according to a note signed by analysts Kishan Gangadia and Reil Abucay.
Similarly, companies within the MSCI S&C Indexes that exhibited a lower “MSCI Implied Temperature Rise (ITR)” were associated with higher indexed flows, again adjusted for company size. Companies with an ITR aligned to 1.5 °C attracted more than twice the passive flows compared to those with a misaligned ITR above 5.0 °C.
MSCI has long noted empirical, long-term evidence of the financial benefits for companies that effectively manage their sustainability risks, including outperformance in equity markets, lower option-adjusted credit spreads, and more stable revenues and cash flows. With over one trillion dollars in assets under management (AUM) now benchmarked to MSCI’s S&C Indexes, these reference indices are increasingly shaping actual capital flows.
Therefore, it is increasingly valuable for companies to understand how their sustainability profile compares with that of their peers and to identify improvements that could help capitalize on the potential financial benefits of index inclusion—from greater indexed flows to lower borrowing costs.
International asset managers believe that the European Central Bank (ECB) has entered a new pause phase. In its meeting this week, the monetary institution kept rates unchanged and, despite offering few clues, indicated that it would take more time to assess economic developments in an international context it acknowledges as complex.
“President Lagarde reiterated that future monetary policy decisions will depend on data, while emphasizing that current rates are within the range the ECB considers neutral. Growth forecasts for 2025 were revised upward to 1.2%. Regarding the political situation in France, President Lagarde stated that it is not a matter for the ECB to comment on, while conveying the message that fiscal responsibility is extremely important,” summarized Felipe Villarroel, partner and portfolio manager at TwentyFour AM (a Vontobel boutique).
For Forest, it is significant that the interest rate gap with the Federal Reserve is expected to narrow in the coming months. “With signs of a weaker U.S. labor market, the Fed could cut rates twice this year. However, price pressures related to tariffs could resurface, leaving Jerome Powell caught between political pressure from President Trump and a shrinking margin for maneuver,” explains the CIO of Candriam.
Despite political instability, this September meeting gives the impression that the ECB has fulfilled its role. “At a time when free trade is faltering, political tensions are resurfacing, and the independence of the Federal Reserve is being questioned, the eurozone can count on a credible central bank. It has managed to navigate smoothly through the turbulent environment of recent months,” notes Raphaël Thuin, head of capital markets strategies at Tikehau Capital.
Has Its Job Finished?
For Luke Bartholomew, deputy chief economist at Aberdeen Investments, the most relevant question is whether the ECB has truly concluded its easing cycle or is merely pausing before implementing further cuts in the future. In his view, the economic forecasts seem broadly consistent with the idea that this easing cycle has come to an end.
“We continue to believe that the next move is more likely to be a rate hike rather than a cut, although this may still take time to materialize. Of course, a sharp rise in France’s financing costs could still destabilize the eurozone economy and force new stimulus measures. However, an explicit ECB intervention in the French debt market still seems distant,” says Bartholomew.
In the opinion of Nicolas Forest, CIO of Candriam, with interest rates already at neutral levels, the European Central Bank has largely achieved its immediate objective of containing inflation. Although he acknowledges that, in the current scenario, the ECB is keeping all options open, its next decisions will depend on whether incoming data continue to show moderate improvements or whether U.S. tariffs and the deterioration of the Chinese economy weigh more heavily on Europe.
Irene Lauro, eurozone economist at Schroders, also sees the ECB’s decision as confirmation of her view that the easing cycle has ended. “With declining trade uncertainty, the eurozone recovery will accelerate. The risks for the eurozone have shifted from trade uncertainty to political instability, with France now in the fiscal spotlight. But the resilience of the economy and the strengthening of domestic demand mean that the ECB can afford to maintain its monetary policy unchanged,” she argues.
When it comes to cuts, Sandra Rhouma, vice president and European economist on the fixed income team at AllianceBernstein, believes there may be one more cut before the end of the year, although the monetary institution will need “compelling evidence.” Rhouma argues that the ECB is in “a good position,” as President Lagarde often repeats, which also means they could and should apply further cuts when necessary.
“I believe the data at the December meeting will be convincing enough, but we must acknowledge that the ECB’s current reaction function increases the risk that no further cuts will occur this year. Particularly given that they continue to ignore signs of falling below their medium-term target, as reflected in their own forecasts,” she adds.
In this regard, Guy Stear, head of developed markets strategy at Amundi Investment Institute, adds that by lowering the inflation forecast for 2027 to below 2%, the ECB could be paving the way for a rate cut before the end of the year. “ECB President Christine Lagarde is optimistic about growth, but we are concerned that all efforts to reduce deficits outside Germany may end up hurting consumer demand,” explains Stear.
Implications for Investors
Markets interpreted Lagarde’s comments as hawkish, further reducing expectations for an additional rate cut in the future. Following these statements, a modest bear flattening of the Bund curve occurred. “Given positioning tensions, we cannot rule out further modest flattenings in the 5–30 year segment in the short term, although we suspect that, once a rate cut is completely ruled out, the curve will begin to steepen again. The balance of risks suggests that curves will remain steep or steepen further in the medium term,” notes Annalisa Piazza, fixed income research analyst at MFS Investment Management.
According to Forest, this environment points to a period of higher volatility but also of opportunities: European growth, together with supportive fiscal measures, could sustain certain segments of equities and credit, while the prospect of rate cuts in the U.S. would increase demand for high-quality bonds.
According to David Zahn, head of European fixed income at Franklin Templeton, following the ECB’s September meeting, the decision to keep rates at 2% reflects stable inflation amid signs of slowing growth. “We consider monetary policy to remain broadly neutral, which favors short-duration bonds and high-quality defensive equities. The financial sector could come under pressure if rate expectations remain subdued, while geopolitical and energy risks require close monitoring,” says Zahn.
Some firms believe that fixed income is quietly recalibrating. According to Thomas Ross, head of high yield at Janus Henderson, investor confidence should be supported not only by the ECB’s benign view on downside risks to the economy, but also by the possibility of a new cut to add further protection and consolidate a low-volatility environment. “In our view, yield-capture strategies—such as securitized credit, corporate credit, and multi-sector income strategies—should attract greater interest from investors,” says Ross.
The wealth management firm Insigneo announced the appointment of Héctor Equihua as senior client associate, based in the Laredo, Texas office.
Equihua will report to Minerva Santos, and his addition reinforces Insigneo’s investment to expand its strategic presence in Texas and meet the growing needs of international clients in the border region between the United States and Mexico, the company said in a statement.
“Héctor brings to our firm a unique combination of local knowledge and international perspective, and he will be supporting the daily operations of our team in Laredo while strengthening client relationships throughout the U.S.–Mexico region,” said Minerva Santos, managing director at Insigneo.
“I am convinced that this new role will allow me to continue growing, deliver impactful results, and contribute significantly to the success of the firm and our clients,” stated Héctor Equihua.
The newly appointed team member brings more than two decades of experience in the wealth management industry, having served at IBC Bank in Laredo, where he built a career focused on cross-border financial services, client relationship management, and operational excellence, Insigneo reported.
His professional background includes extensive collaboration with international clients, particularly in Mexico, as well as strategic initiatives in technology, regulatory compliance, and business development, the firm added.
Equihua also has a strong academic background. He holds a bachelor’s degree in financial management from the Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM, Guadalajara Campus, Mexico), an MBA from Texas A&M International University, and has completed executive education programs at the Southwest Graduate School of Banking (SWGSB).
A new report by TMF Group reveals that family offices are intensifying their efforts to diversify, professionalize, and align their investments with the values of the next generation, in response to geopolitical instability and regulatory changes that are transforming the global wealth management landscape.
The report, titled “Redefining Resilience: How Family Offices Are Adapting to Global Uncertainty and Next-Generation Priorities,” presents insights from leading private wealth and family office professionals and shows how political shifts in key jurisdictions have driven increased efforts in wealth relocation, restructuring, and corporate governance.
The study identifies several trends currently shaping family office strategies. Geopolitical volatility is encouraging diversification, with families entering new markets and industries—often beyond their traditional areas of expertise—to mitigate jurisdictional risks and capture growth in regions with strategic trade access or emerging economic hubs. Increasingly, decisions are based on scenario planning, using risk models that evaluate each jurisdiction’s resilience under various political and economic outcomes.
Jurisdiction selection is also evolving. While tax remains an important factor, institutional stability, legal system transparency, the depth of local capital markets, and the security of cross-border arrangements now carry more weight. Families are seeking predictable, agile regulatory frameworks that combine investor protection with operational efficiency.
The next generation of family leaders, meanwhile, remains focused on ethical investing. Interest is growing in socially responsible, environmentally sustainable, and well-governed assets. These priorities are an integral part of long-term strategy, with investments in sectors such as renewable energy, climate technology, and sustainable agriculture, accompanied by philanthropic projects aimed at generating measurable outcomes.
At the same time, the professionalization of family offices is advancing. The shift from informal advisory structures to fully integrated, multi-jurisdictional operations is accelerating, with the hiring of senior executives with international experience, the adoption of corporate-level governance frameworks, and the development of internal compliance capabilities to manage diverse regulatory standards across multiple territories.
“The private wealth management sector is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Families are not only seeking to protect their assets in a volatile world, but they are also actively redefining what resilience means, with a greater focus on diversification, operational excellence, and ethics. The most successful family offices will be those able to combine strategic agility with strong governance,” said Tim Houghton, global head of private wealth and family offices at TMF Group.
A Regional Perspective
The report also offers a regional overview. In the Middle East, investment strategies—particularly in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates—are becoming more sophisticated thanks to the professionalization of family offices, which are hiring senior executives to manage portfolios more effectively. This process requires attracting top talent with competitive incentives and benefits to retain them.
In Asia-Pacific, Hong Kong and Singapore remain leading hubs due to their connectivity with global capital flows. However, increasing requirements for due diligence and anti-money laundering compliance are lengthening onboarding processes and raising operational costs. Maintaining a strategic presence in these markets requires balancing access to regional wealth networks with growing regulatory compliance demands.
In North America, market conditions are prompting some family offices to reevaluate the geographic distribution of their portfolios and operational structures. Interest in alternative jurisdictions reflects a desire to diversify exposure and enhance flexibility in asset deployment.
Finally, in the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands, post-election reforms—including changes to non-dom rules and inheritance tax—are driving both inflows and outflows of wealth. Jersey, in particular, continues to strengthen its appeal through a solid legal framework and alignment with international transparency standards.
Iván del Río joins the Avantis Investors division of American Century Investments as VP, relationship director & investment specialist, according to a post he shared on his LinkedIn profile.
“I’m pleased to announce my new role as vice president, relationship director & investment specialist at Avantis Investors,” wrote del Río. “I look forward to reconnecting with my network and discussing the investment solutions we have available to offer!” he added.
Avantis Investors offers diversified, low-cost investment solutions through a combination of passive (indexed) and active strategies, backed by financial science. The firm provides both ETFs and mutual funds, across 38 strategies, and serves over 3,500 institutional and advisory clients, according to information published on its website.
Until February of this year, del Río served as VP, senior sales executive at Franklin Templeton. Previously, he was managing director at John Hancock Investment Management and VP, senior advisor consultant at Invesco, after working for seven years at OppenheimerFunds, among other professional experiences, always based in Miami. Academically, he holds a degree in business administration from Florida International University (FIU), is also a CFA and CAIA charterholder, and holds FINRA Series 63 and 7 licenses.
As part of American Century Investments, Avantis reached $75 billion in assets under management as of last June, in part due to the launch of UCITS ETFs in Europe, expanding its reach beyond the U.S. market. According to information obtained by Funds Society, del Río will offer UCITS products to offshore investors, though he will also serve domestic clients.
