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Andrew Crawford
Digital Assets thought leader and innovator.
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May 14, 2017
This has to be a unicorn. The business model escapes me. Here are my back of the envelope calculations: AUM = $750,000,000 Clients = 300,000 Avg. client account balance = $2,500 Capital Series A = $37,000,000 Client acquisition cost = $123.33 Avg. client revenue p.a. = $12.50 LTV @ 10% churn rate = $125.00 LTV @ 20% churn rate = $62.50 The client acquisition cost assumes (with no AUM increases or investment returns) that a client needs to stay on the platform for at least 9.9 years for them to break even. Given the nascient state of rob-advice. In my opinion wealthsimple doesn't really add any value ,other than a nifty front-end, and they are charging 50bp for model portfolios with no investment team or proper planning advice. The whole proposition doesn't look at all compelling, or defensible against lower priced competitors who offer actual value. Am I missing something here? If anyone can help me out I would be most appreciative. #roboadvice #wealthmanagement #ai #iot #robo #fintech #betterment #mint #futureadviseer #wealthsimple #robinhood #pulse #cnbc Wealthsimple
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May 14, 2017
Blockchain based technologies and wallet-based systems are causing a paradigm shift in asset management because they redefine how assets are created, managed, and transferred—ushering in a new era of transparency, efficiency, and accessibility. Digital Money, ie stablecoins and tokenized deposits integrated into digital wallets, will establish the beachhead. Key settlement, liquidity, collateral, trade finance, insurance, distribution, cross-border payment, and identity infrastructure will then be integrated or developed around this new mechanism to transfer value peer-to-peer. Then the assets held in traditional custodial structures, like funds, will migrate rapidly and digital assets will enter their growth phase. There are 6 key elements that will drive driving, namely: 1. Disintermediation Traditional asset management relies on layers of intermediaries (custodians, transfer agents, administrators) and multiple ledgers. Blockchain replaces these with a single decentralized ledgers, wallets and smart contracts, reducing costs and friction 2. Transparency Every transaction is delivered simultaneously to all stakeholder, recorded immutably and can be audited in real time. This builds trust among investors and regulators, especially in complex fund structures. 3. Automation Fund operations like NAV calculation, investor onboarding, and compliance checks can be automated. This reduces human error and accelerates settlement cycles. 4. Liquidity and Accessibility Tokenized assets can be traded 24/7 on global platforms, improving liquidity for traditionally illiquid investments - no more ‘9-to-5’. Fractional ownership and wallet-based infrastructure opens access to retail and underserved markets. 5. Security and Resilience Advanced encryption and decentralized architecture reduce single points of failure. Enable investors to retain self sovereignty of their data. Establish trust without disclosing your personal details. Blockchain mitigates risks of fraud and cyberattacks through tamper-proof records. 6. Interoperability Blockchain enables cross-border asset flows without relying on siloed infrastructure. Wallets composable financial products that can interact across jurisdictions and platforms In the near future, assets will be increasingly recorded on blockchain technologies. The trajectory is clear. Making the most of this paradigm shift, like when share trading went from voice to electronic, will create new market leaders who position themselves strategically today.
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August 15, 2025