Rosemarie Connell, Senior Managing Director, Integrated Solutions

Today we're delighted to speak with Rosemarie Connell, Senior Managing Director at Integrated Solutions. With a career spanning from the trading floors of the 1970s to today's AI-driven financial landscape, Rosemarie brings a unique perspective on how regulation, technology and human judgement intersect in modern financial services.

My questions are in bold - over to you Rosemarie:

Who are you and what's your background?

I'm Senior Managing Director at Integrated Solutions℠, a global financial services consultancy that I joined in 2006 and where I have been helping to grow the client base and expand operations across both the US and the UK.

My career began on a trading floor in the 1970s, at a time when technology was just beginning to transform financial markets. Computers had started identifying arbitrage opportunities, but execution still depended on people making decisions quickly, often with a telephone pressed to each ear. That early partnership between technology and human judgement has shaped my approach ever since.

I traded commodities for the trading divisions of Merrill Lynch, as well as metals trading businesses associated with the Anschutz and Rothschild groups. Those experiences gave me a deep understanding of how markets function under pressure and how regulation, operations and commercial decision-making are closely connected.

During my career, I've moved from front-office trading into regulatory strategy and advisory work, helping firms navigate increasingly complex regulatory environments on both sides of the Atlantic.

Today I work with broker-dealers, investment advisers, hedge funds, private equity firms and fintech businesses, helping them solve licensing, compliance and operational challenges. I've always believed regulation shouldn't be seen as an obstacle to growth because when it's understood properly, it becomes an enabler of sustainable business.

What is your job title and what are your general responsibilities?

As Senior Managing Director at Integrated Solutions, I advise clients on regulatory strategy, licensing and operational structure across SEC, FINRA, NFA and FCA regulated environments.

No two engagements are exactly alike. One day I might be helping a client secure a FINRA waiver by building an evidence-based case around a candidate's experience; the next I could be advising on the regulatory implications of an acquisition or helping an international firm expand into a new jurisdiction.

My role is to translate complex regulation into practical business decisions. I enjoy helping clients find solutions that satisfy regulators while allowing their businesses to move forward confidently and grow.

Can you give us an overview of your business?

Integrated Solutions℠ is a part of a family of financial services entities supporting the financial and investment communities for more than forty years, delivering expert advisory, regulatory compliance, and fund administration services to financial firms for four decades.

Consisting of Integrated Management Solutions USA LLC (IMS) and Integrated Investment Solutions USA LLC (IIS), we provide expert advisory, regulatory compliance, and fund administration services to broker-dealers, investment advisors, hedge funds, venture capital, private equity and other firms.

With offices in Boca Raton, Florida and London, the entities serve clients regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), FINRA, the National Futures Association (NFA), the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and other global authorities.

Tell us how you are funded?

We're privately owned and have grown organically over the past four decades. We've never relied on venture capital or outside investment, which means we can focus entirely on providing independent advice that's in our clients' best interests.

Our revenue comes from consulting, regulatory advisory and fund administration services, typically on a fixed-fee or hourly basis depending on the engagement.

What's the origin story? Why did you start the company? To solve what problems?

Integrated Solutions was founded by Howard Spindel, whose career in financial services spans more than five decades. After qualifying as a Certified Public Accountant in 1971, Howard held senior roles with Coopers & Lybrand, the New York Stock Exchange, and several NYSE member firms before establishing Integrated Management Solutions in 1985. In 2005, he co-founded Integrated Investment Solutions, expanding the firm's capabilities to include hedge fund administration.

Howard continues to serve as Financial and Operations Principal (FINOP), Registered Options Principal or General Securities Principal for more than a dozen FINRA member firms, bringing his hands-on experience of the operational and regulatory challenges firms face every day.

His long-standing involvement with FINRA and SIFMA, including serving on FINRA's Small Firm Advisory Board and SIFMA's Capital Committee, as well as speaking at FINRA and AICPA conferences, has helped shape the practical, commercially focused approach that remains at the heart of our business.

What differentiates Integrated Solutions is the depth of our experience. Our team combines decades of expertise across regulatory compliance, accounting, operations and trading, giving us a real-world understanding of the challenges firms face. We don't simply advise on regulations, we help clients implement practical, scalable solutions that reduce risk, improve efficiency and allow management to focus on growing their business with confidence.

Who are your target customers? What's your revenue model?

We work with a broad range of financial services businesses, from start-ups launching their first regulated entity to established broker-dealers, investment advisers, hedge funds, venture capital and private equity firms expanding into new markets or product lines.

Many clients come to us because they need practical regulatory expertise rather than theoretical advice. Whether it's obtaining regulatory approvals, navigating a FINRA waiver, establishing a compliant operating model or expanding across the US and UK, our role is to help them find workable solutions.

Our business is relationship-driven and most of our work comes through referrals and long-standing client relationships, and we charge on either a fixed-fee or hourly basis depending on the scope of the engagement.

If you had a magic wand, what one thing would you change in the banking and/or FinTech sector?

I would like to see more emphasis placed on practical implementation rather than simply adopting the latest technology because it's fashionable.

Every few years our industry embraces the next big innovation, but the firms that succeed are usually the ones that understand their business first and then use technology to solve real problems. AI is enormously promising, but like every major technological shift, it needs sound governance, experienced people and a clear understanding of risk alongside it.

What is your message for the larger players in the Financial Services marketplace?

Don't underestimate the value of experience. Technology is changing the way we work at an extraordinary pace, but judgment remains one of the industry's greatest competitive advantages.

The firms that combine innovation with strong governance, experienced people and a deep understanding of regulation will be the ones that continue to earn trust.

Where do you get your Financial Services/FinTech industry news from?

I get my news from many different places and try not to rely on any single source. Markets move quickly, so I think it's important to build a broad perspective.

The Financial Times is a daily read, and I regularly follow Bloomberg for market developments and breaking news. I also read research and briefings from leading law firms and regulatory advisers, because they often provide the best analysis of new rules before they reach the mainstream press.

Can you list 3 people you rate from the FinTech and/or Financial Services sector that we should be following on LinkedIn, and why?

The first is Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase. I admire his consistency. Through every market cycle, he's remained clear-eyed about risk, capital and what banks should be focused on. He doesn't chase headlines or trends, and you always know where he stands.

Another is Dario Amodei, CEO and co-founder of Anthropic. He presents himself as a leader with deep technical expertise and a thoughtful, pragmatic approach to AI development. His emphasis seems to be on safety, responsible innovation and delivering tangible business value which cuts through much of the noise surrounding AI.

Another person I admire is Janet Yellen, former U.S. Treasury Secretary and Chair of the Federal Reserve. She embodied quiet authority and is highly intelligent, measured and deeply respected. She demonstrated that effective leadership doesn't have to be loud to be influential. I also admire how her understated, almost grandmotherly presence challenged conventional ideas of what a powerful woman in finance should look like, proving that credibility and expertise speak louder than image.

Lastly, I would add Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank and former Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). She stepped into the IMF under exceptional circumstances and went on to establish herself as one of the world's most respected economic leaders. Her calm confidence and ability to lead through uncertainty have consistently defied early expectations.

What FinTech services (and/or apps) do you personally use?

Given the nature of my work and the regulatory environment I've worked in throughout my career, I'm fairly traditional when it comes to personal finance. I use digital banking and payments in the same way most people do, but I'm less interested in consumer apps than I am in the technology that's transforming financial infrastructure behind the scenes.

What's the best new FinTech product or service you've seen recently?

Rather than one specific product, I'm most interested in how AI is being integrated into regulated financial services in a practical way. The firms that are making the biggest impact aren't necessarily those building flashy consumer applications; they're the ones using AI to improve compliance, streamline operations and help professionals work more efficiently while maintaining appropriate oversight.

Finally, let's talk predictions. What trends do you think are going to define the next few years in the FinTech sector?

I think we're moving into a much more mature phase of AI adoption. The conversation is shifting away from what AI can do towards where it genuinely adds value.

We will also continue to see greater automation across compliance, operations and reporting, particularly in highly regulated environments where efficiency and accuracy are equally important.

At the same time, regulators will increasingly expect firms to demonstrate how AI is being governed. Good governance won't slow innovation; in fact, it will be one of the things that enables it.

Many thanks to Rosemarie for taking the time to share her insights with FinTech Profile. You can learn more about Integrated Solutions on their website.