Credit Sesame Raises $16 Million

From TechCrunch:

Personal finance company Credit Sesame is announcing today that it has raised an additional $16 million in an oversubscribed Series D round of funding, with plans to raise more – as much as $20 million – in the near future. The company, a prior TechCrunch Disrupt Battlefield participant, was one of the first to market with solutions that allow consumers to monitor their credit and score, protect themselves against identity theft, and reduce their debt through credit and loan management services.

The new round was led by Syncora Alternative Investments, with IA Capital Partners as its advisor, and also included participation from investors Menlo Ventures, IA Capital, Globespan Capital, Inventus Capital, and other high-profile angels. This brings Credit Sesame’s total raise to date to over $35 million.

While many in the personal finance space have focused on helping people manage their money and investments, Credit Sesame has instead targeted the liability side of the balance sheet, explains CEO Adrian Nazari. That has put it in competition with others offering consumer debt management or credit monitoring, like Credit Karma or ReadyForZero, for example.

Read the full press release on TechCrunch here

FolioMetrix and American Independence Announce Merger

May 12, 2015 , via American Independence: 

FolioMetrix LLC will merge with American Independence Financial Services, LLC (AIF) to create a new company, RiskX Investments, LLC, offering an array of risk-intelligent investment solutions. The transaction is expected to close in September 2015. Deal terms were not disclosed.

RiskX Investments will manage, post-merger, approximately $1.1 billion in funds and separately managed accounts, comprised of the American Independence Funds (single-manager sub-advised funds and separately managed accounts) and the FolioMetrix Rx Fund Series (multi-strategy tactical mutual funds).

American Independence Funds offer exposure to select sub-advisors of equity, fixed income, international, and risked-managed portfolios. The AIF management team averages over 25 years of experience building and distributing investment solutions to the financial industry. 

"The decision to merge with FolioMetrix was an easy one to make. Its team shares our dedication to continuously seeking new ways to deliver better investment outcomes during any market conditions," said John J. Pileggi, Managing Partner of American Independence, who will become CEO of RiskX Investments. "We are eager to join forces and deliver a wide array of risk-intelligent products to the marketplace as partners in RiskX Investments."

Read the full press release on American Independence's website

Don Putnam Interview in Institutional Investor

Managing Partner Don Putnam was interviewed by Imogen Rose-Smith for an article in Institutional Investor about the declining attraction of hedge funds to banks and reinsurers.  To read the full article, click here.

Welton GDP Wins “CTA Fund of 2014” at Investors Choice America Awards

via Welton.com

Welton Investment Partners, a leading U.S.-based quantitative investment manager, won the prestigious “CTA Fund of 2014” award for the firm’s Global Directional Portfolio (GDP) program. Welton’s selection was announced at the gala Investors Choice America Awards ceremony at the Pierre Hotel in New York on March 31, 2015.

To view the full press release on Welton's website, click here.

Manifold Partners' Simon Nocera: Thoughts on the Fed's Use of 'Patience'

Dr. Simon Nocera, Manifold Partners’ Chief Macroeconomic Strategist, had a strong opinion about the Fed’s likely actions ahead of the last meeting.

So what about the aftermath? Here is his initial note as well as his recap of events since last week’s historic meeting and since the question “What does ‘patience’ mean?”