As originally seen on BAI Banking Strategies The tired stereotype of banks handing out toasters to attract new customers is alive and well but in a more 21st Century form. One of North America’s largest retail banks recently lured potential new customers by offering free 28-inch Samsung televisions to anyone who opened a checking account. Add […]
Today’s smart technologies can literally impact every aspect of your life. From home automation and security, to automobiles and healthcare, the growth of smart IoT technology is rapidly increasing. The global smart home market alone is forecasted to reach $40 billion USD by 2020. In fact, many of you probably interacted with one or more […]
Throughout our lives we accumulate a wide-variety of important personal, financial and legal documents, accounts and information. From birth certificates and passports, to health records, tax returns, financial statements, insurance policies and wills, the amount of information you need to protect and keep track of increases substantially overtime. The challenge is that managing the volume […]
When it comes to our personal information, our physical and digital documents, files, and data are spread far and wide. From birth certificates and passports, to health records, tax returns, financial statements, insurance policies, and wills, the amount of information you need to protect and keep track of increases substantially over time. The problem is […]
Like many big ideas, FutureVault started on the back of a napkin in 2014, ironically with an inclination towards getting away from using paper. But first, let us back up a bit. FutureVault was founded by three colleagues who collectively had spent decades in technology, media, and finance. They had worked together for a number […]
FutureVault, a personal and business information management company, has named banking executive, lawyer, entrepreneur and investment professional John D. Orr as Chief Executive Officer. In addition to joining the management team, Mr. Orr has made a significant personal investment in the Company for a material ownership position.
Launched commercially in North America in late 2016 after two years of development, FutureVault has created an advanced cloud-based information management platform with patents pending. In an increasingly digital world, characterized by volume, complexity and risk, FutureVault’s secure platform provides both individuals and businesses with the tools and intelligence to select, retain and optimize all their information. The platform represents a new category: an intelligent, secure, encrypted, auditable repository for all the information in one’s life or business. FutureVault’s product suite and feature set accommodate a broad range of customer information management needs, from a relatively straightforward individual’s requirements to those of a multi-jurisdictional business or a large family office.
FutureVault’s core product, the Digital Collaborative Vault, is offered to individuals primarily through partner organizations. Partners are able to deepen relationships with target client segments while enhancing the efficacy and robustness of their client management and compliance regimes. Partner organizations will include wealth management firms, banks, credit unions, insurance companies, affinity groups, and educational institutions. The direct-to-business version of the product provides tailored solutions targeted at complex, high-value, multi-stakeholder verticals including financial services, real estate, automotive, dental, and luxury goods.
“While in its infancy, the category of secure, intelligent information management is poised to play a disruptive role across numerous sectors. With our proprietary, industry-leading technology having recently launched commercially, we set out to recruit a leader with the vision and management skills to guide the company to reach its incredible potential,” said G Scott Paterson, Executive Chairman. “John has extensive experience as well as tremendous entrepreneurial and investment acumen. John is universally regarded as a unique talent who always deals with a high degree of professionalism. We are delighted that he has agreed to join and lead our team.”
Mr. Orr has over 25 years of financial services experience. He currently serves as an advisor to the Arena Group, the Kessler Group, G2 Investment Group and Applied Data Finance. He is also Co-Chair of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s Corporate Cabinet.
Mr. Orr spent the majority of his career at CIBC, serving in the most senior leadership positions across the bank. His most recent role was as Executive Vice President responsible for the group’s strategy and corporate development functions and its merchant banking business. Previously, he served as a Managing Director in its investment bank and as the Chief Executive Officer of two subsidiary banks: Amicus bank, offering the President’s Choice Financial product suite and FirstCaribbean International Bank.
Before his work in banking, Mr. Orr practiced law in Toronto. Mr. Orr received a BA in Economics and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario and a law degree from Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
“Information is the next and ultimate asset class. The ever-increasing complexity of our digital world demands the creation of a category of products and services designed to properly manage information. Creating a dynamic platform for information management has been a personal goal for a very long time,” said Mr. Orr. “The development of solutions for the efficient and effective selection, retention, management and optimization of one’s information warrants the same level of focus and expertise as do solutions for the management of one’s financial assets. Information is an extremely valuable asset and should be managed and protected as such. Everyone understands what current cloud-based document management platforms provide, but when viewing information through the lens of an asset class, it is clear that these solutions were not designed to meet this need. At FutureVault, we have tasked ourselves to lead the creation of information as an asset class. Fundamentally, our role is to provide the tools and intelligence to allow individuals and businesses to optimize the value of their information. FutureVault is much more than simply a digital storage company; its robust, highly secure technology and uniquely experienced team provide the ideal platform to pursue this mandate.”
BlueRock Wealth Management Inc., a trusted wealth management firm that provides personalized financial advice and services, has announced that it is offering FutureVault’s Digital Collaborative Vault – called the BlueRock Vault – as an exclusive service to its executive and high-net-worth clients.
The BlueRock Vault was introduced today at a private client event, where attendees received free access to their new personal information management platform. The new service will allow BlueRock clients to securely deposit, store and manage important financial, legal and personal documents. FutureVault’s patent-pending Trusted Advisors feature will enhance the sharing and fiduciary tracking of vital documents between BlueRock clients and staff in addition to a client’s external network of Trusted Advisors (i.e. lawyers, accountants, insurance brokers, etc.) providing complete transparency and new levels of trust.
“While the transition to digital documents has made sharing documents infinitely easier, managing disparate accounts in a secure fashion has become laborious. How many times have you gone hunting for an email attachment or important document?” said Neal Owen, President, BlueRock Wealth Management. “What BlueRock is now offering, using FutureVault’s platform, is a one-stop destination that acts as an intelligent filing cabinet for all of our clients’ important financial, legal and personal documents. The professional, secure and diligent management of our clients’ assets is our top priority – now, we’re helping protect our clients’ information with the same steadfast approach as their assets.”
The BlueRock Vault will be available to select members via the BlueRock Wealth Management site. Members can access their important information at any given time. Additional key features include bank-grade security and privacy, optical character recognition (OCR) with smart-filing technology, pre-configured digital filing cabinet with a flexible infrastructure for folders, documents and document forms.
“Executives and high-net-worth families have unique needs when it comes to document storage and management. With our highly structured taxonomy, ease of use, and our Trusted Advisor functionality, BlueRock clients now have access to a platform that will forever change the way they do business,” said G Scott Paterson, Executive Chairman, FutureVault. “The BlueRock Vault will become an indispensable tool that will save clients not only time, but will provide peace of mind that all of their documents are organized, secure and easily accessible at all times.”
About BlueRock Wealth Management
For more than 30 years, successful professionals, entrepreneurs and their families in the Georgian Bay area have turned to BlueRock Wealth Management for personalized financial advice and services because we focus on helping them attain the financial means to live their lives to the fullest. The BlueRock team of knowledgeable advisors offer a full suite of financial services, from retirement and estate planning to lending services, all focused on creating a practical road map to help you reach your financial destination.
C-Suite Network, the world’s most trusted network of C-Suite leaders, has announced that it is offering FutureVault’s Digital Collaborative Vault – called the C-Suite Vault – as a premier value-added service to its network of c-suite executives.
The announcement was made at the C-Suite Network Conference in Dallas today, where more than 200 members gathered to network and share best practices around fueling growth. The C-Suite Vault provides members with a sophisticated cloud-based information management platform, where they are able to securely deposit, store and manage important financial, legal and personal documents.
At the core of FutureVault’s offering is its patent-pending Trusted Advisors feature which allows for the sharing and fiduciary tracking of vital documents. This ultimately increases trust and transparency between C-Suite members and their network of Trusted Advisors (i.e.: attorneys, accountants, wealth managers, insurance brokers, etc.) by simplifying document and asset management. Members are able to partially outsource the filing of important documents to their Trusted Advisors who, in turn, leave a digital trail showing which documents are being reviewed and how they are being used.
“Access to vital documents is not always easy for busy executives, as they have a complex network of advisors, attorneys, accountants and bankers, resulting in mounds of paper with no time to organize,” said Jeffrey Hayzlett, chairman of the C-Suite Network. “FutureVault understands the needs of our members and with the most robust, secure vault available, we are certain that our members’ lifestyle and business needs will be met.”
FutureVault’s cutting-edge offering will be available to members and integrated into the C-Suite Network Membership site where members will be able to log in and access their information. Key features include, bank-grade security, proprietary Optical Character Recognition and smart-filing technology, pre-configured filing structure with 1,300 suggested folders, documents and document forms, easy file uploading through drag and drop & email, custom reminders, and robust search functionality.
“C-Suite Network has recognized a critical gap in how C-level executives need to organize their complex business and personal lives. FutureVault’s intelligent filing system and unique collaboration features with Trusted Advisors allow for the management of documents and information to be outsourced, optimized and organized,” said G Scott Paterson, Executive Chairman, FutureVault. “We are excited to partner with C-Suite Network and provide its members with a solution to save time, increase productivity and provide new levels of security and peace of mind.”
About C-Suite Network
C-Suite Network is the world’s most trusted network of C-Suite leaders, with a focus on providing growth, development and networking opportunities for business executives with titles of vice president and above.
C-Suite Network brings leaders together through a private online community for executives. C-Suite Network also offers invitation-only conferences held three times per year, custom-tailored content on the C-Suite Network blog, C-Suite TV, C-Suite Radio, C-Suite Book Club, and educational programs from C-Suite Academy.
Secure digital filing cabinets are the future of personal data management and, in the very near future, these solutions will be a standard offering at every financial institution. Toronto-based boutique wealth management company, 33seven, has announced that they are the first company to offer FutureVault’s Digital Collaborative Vault as a premiere value-added service to its network of ultra high-net-worth clients. By being one of the first companies to utilize this technology, 33seven is differentiating itself in the market by delivering an entirely new level of customer service – they are providing their clients invaluable peace of mind by helping them digitize and organize their most important documents.
33seven’s clients will now have access to the most sophisticated, secure, digital filing cabinet and safety deposit box ever built, allowing them to digitally deposit, store and manage important financial, legal and personal documents through a cloud-based, SaaS platform. 33seven is the first wealth management client FutureVault has publicly announced following the company’s launch at FinovateFall 2016 in New York City in September.
“Easy, secure access to vital documents is paramount to wealth management, and up until now, there has been a massive gap in the marketplace for a secure digital solution,” said Derryn Shrosbree, 33seven Founder. “FutureVault is one of a kind, as the company truly understands the needs of our clients and produced the most robust, secure solution available.”
At the core of FutureVault’s cutting-edge offering is its patent-pending Trusted Advisors feature, which allows for the sharing and fiduciary tracking of vital documents, ultimately increasing trust between all parties, simplifying document and asset management, and enabling the growth of relationships. Each Trusted Advisor leaves a digital audit trail allowing the Vault Holder to know what documents are being reviewed and how they are being used. Each Vault Holder receives a secure FutureVault email address so their counter-parties can deliver documents directly into their FutureVault account.
“33seven is definitely ahead of the curve in thinking about the FutureVault solution for its clients. High-net-worth individuals and families have a complex network of advisors, attorneys, accountants and bankers, resulting in mountains of paperwork,” said G Scott Paterson, FutureVault Chairman & CEO. “We are excited about the opportunity to work with 33seven and provide their clients with the most secure and comprehensive digital filing cabinet; we are also looking forward to augmenting the FutureVault product based on feedback from our new partner.”
Mr. Paterson predicts that FutureVault-like products will be essential to doing business in the next five years. Everyone from financial planners, insurance companies, asset managers, family offices, affinity groups, business management firms, government municipalities and educational institutions, will see digital collaborative vaults as a must-have in order to stay competitive and meet the needs of their constituents, especially in an increasingly connected, cloud-based digital world.
“FutureVault has definitely changed the relationship with my clients. There is a lot more transparency, trust, and new opportunities for value-added services and more comprehensive consultation,” Mr. Shrosbree added. “My staff doesn’t have to call the client for a document if it’s already in their 33seven Vault. From an efficiency standpoint my staff loves FutureVault, and for our clients it’s given them clarity and control of their resources, finances and documents.”
“Implementing FutureVault at 33seven was a no-brainer. Everything is digital now and you can either adopt or be insignificant. You can either be organized on a FinTech platform like this or you can have a shoebox shoved under your bed. We chose to be ahead of the curve and partner with FutureVault,” Mr. Shrosbree concluded.
FutureVault has added top talent to its management team. The company, which has developed the most sophisticated, secure digital filing cabinet and safety deposit box available on the market, allows users to digitally deposit, store and manage important financial, legal and personal documents through a white-label, cloud-based, SaaS platform offered by financial institutions and partner organizations.
“After our successful launch in September, we confirmed what we already knew: that there is a tremendous need for a product like FutureVault. Everyone from financial institutions to accounting firms to law firms to academia will rely on this type of technology to communicate with and serve their clients. Our aim post-launch was to build a seasoned management team that could take us out of launch mode and into aggressive growth mode. We believe this is the team to do just that,” said G Scott Paterson, Chairman & CEO, FutureVault.
Additions to the FutureVault management team include:
Kevin Whyte has joined FutureVault as President and Chief Operating Officer. Kevin brings more than 32 years of leadership in the financial services industry with a particular focus on information technology and operational delivery. Previously, he held the positions of COO of OPTrust, CIO and Senior Vice-President of Wealth Operations & Technology at TD Bank, and before that as Vice-President and Managing Director of IT at Royal Bank (RBC) Investments / Dominion Securities. Kevin has extensive experience and knowledge of the wealth management and investment industry and a proven track record in aligning operations and technology planning, direction, and delivery with business strategies through strong working relationships throughout the organization.
Richard Adair has joined the company as Vice Chair where he will manage a portfolio of key mandates for FutureVault, including business development and strategic planning. Richard brings nearly 20 years of C-level experience in both technology and insurance industries. Richard is the former CEO of Symbility Health, former President & COO of Symbility Solutions and President and COO of Adjudicare. Prior to his work with Symbility, Richard led a successful restructuring of Systech Retail Systems Corp. based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Richard also currently serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee for Pioneering Technologies.
Tom Duane joins the company as the Chief Technology Officer. Tom has more than 30 years of experience in the delivery of system solutions to the financial services industry and government. Like Kevin, Tom is also a former senior technology executive from TD Bank where he worked in various delivery roles including architecture, software development, system security and Technology Risk management. Tom was integral in driving adoption of key technologies that underpin many of TD’s successful applications.
Rudy Sankovic has been appointed Chief Financial Officer. Rudy is also a former TD Bank Group executive, where he served as the Senior Vice President, Investor Relations. He worked closely with the Executive Team to communicate TD’s corporate strategy and financial and business performance to the investment community, and provided investor feedback to the Senior Executive Team on strategy and capital management decisions. Rudy joined TD in February 2004 as SVP and CFO of the Wealth Management Division responsible for Finance, Risk and Strategy with teams in Canada, the U.K. and the U.S. Prior to joining TD, Rudy was SVP and CFO of the Personal and Commercial Banking Division of Royal Bank of Canada, where he was responsible for finance and strategy.
“We are delighted by the recent major additions to our management team” said Mr. Paterson. “We have attracted top talent with deep expertise and experience in operations, technology (particularly security), banking, and business development. These key hires speak volumes about the collective belief in our company, our vision and the exciting space that we’ve carved out within FinTech. This is truly one of the strongest management teams I’ve had the pleasure of working with throughout my entire career – we’re very fortunate.”
