Episode 2 of our new video series, Alphacution Riffs, picks up where Episode 1 left off – and begins to describe our research mission, modeling methodology and research workflow. We also begin to lay the foundation for our “T-Greeks” benchmarking framework that focuses on measuring and comparing “return on technology” (RoT) – otherwise known as “technical leverage” – for banks and asset managers.

Here, we describe how much of our core research effort is currently built on the basis of just 3 simple data points collected for a model library that currently represents 200 large banks, asset managers, hedge funds, and even certain proprietary trading groups, among others – more than 250+ FSI-related companies in all – and how each of those models covers several years, with many of our core models beginning in 2005. With these 3 data points and our 360-degree modeling strategy, we can move beyond the benefits of various market-sizing exercises to more impactful benchmarking exercises.

This tutorial is important for our clients and broader network because it is designed to expose some of the new language we use in much of our written material – comprehensive reports, case studies, and Feed posts – as well as the visual material that subscribers find in our exhibit library. What we are doing here is not so much about marketing or making a bunch of commercials; but, to help make seemingly complex topics easier to understand.

This video wraps up with a brief review of how both buyers and sellers of technology in financial services have used and benefit from our research output and advisory services in areas like sales enablement and competitive intellience…

For more of the video series strategy backstory, keep reading…


Alphacution is proud to launch its video series, Alphacution Riffs.

Not only bringing our clients new levels of intelligence – by quantifying and modeling and benchmarking the critical interplay between technology capital and human capital – for their digital transformations, we are “eating at our own kitchen” by leveraging tools and methods of the era to help make our research – and seemingly complex topics – much easier to understand.

The digital media landscape is a jungle – and we are not trying to compete in a popularity contest. However, in order to be successful, we do need to consistently identify our best audience and then consistently grab a slice of their attention.

Therefore, if you find the visual interpretation of what we are doing with traditionally dry and sometimes in-the-weeds research – like the website stylings and now the video series with its combined Rock n’ Roll and Silicon Valley sensibility – to be a bit different, please know that it is entirely on purpose. Sure, it would be easier to be “cookie-cutter,” but there doesn’t seem to be as much value in that path. The road not traveled is harder, but seems more valuable and, frankly, more fun…

One more thought about how the video series fits into Alphacution’s research strategy: Customized projects and select case studies notwithstanding, we will continue to develop deep and comprehensive sector studies like the global banking, IT services, and asset management reports we have developed so far to showcase our modeling methods and key findings from each sector exploration. (For 2018, we are working on a new sector study – Big FinTech – as well as deeper modeling for both global banking and asset management studies. Soon, will also get to our long-anticipated study on the global exchange sector, with emphasis on market data market sizing.)

Meanwhile, and though the digital library on our website is admittedly in need of both design and functionality tweaks, our goal to populate an easily searchable Getty Images- or Netflix-style exhibit library also remains intact. These exhibits are essentially the collection of pictures of our modeling output and other graphical interpretations of our observations that are found on our Feed and in our reports.

The video series is intended to represent the glue that holds deep-dive studies and the growing collection of exhibits together. In other words, the videos are designed to be like short tutorials that are occasionally punctuated by select case studies. We will continue to do our best to not only make complex topics easier to understand, but (slightly?) entertaining, as well.

Lastly, another critical aspect of the road to success is the development of a healthy feedback loop. Meaning: it’s important for our network – YOU, dear reader – to ask questions and send feedback. We’ve made that easy to remember how to do: feedback@alphacution.com.

Bottom line: We hope you find value in the videos.

Enjoy… And, if you like it, please share it.