Bardya Ziaian is the CEO and President of SITTU Group, a Toronto-based think tank focused on creating opportunities in the current macroeconomic environment. Ziaian began SITTU following a career as an entrepreneur in fintech, brokerage services, and financial systems. He founded Robo Advisor, a wealth management company, as well as Virtual Brokers, a discount broker that was ranked as #1 in Canada multiple times. Prior to this, Ziaian designed and created self-clearing and trading systems in Canada and the U.S.
Q: Tell us about SITTU Group.
Bardya Ziaian: Sure thing. I’ll start with our name, “Sittu” stemming from the Chinese words “思(Si)途(Tu)” which translates to “thinking while moving forward.” We wanted to create a creative space with a diverse, talented group of people focused on analyzing the infinite possibilities that arise from forward thinking and the agility to anticipate trends in the marketplace. We work from that philosophy and use it as our guiding light as the company evolves. Our focus as a think tank is on consulting with companies to design tailored systems to maximize their goals. We also identify opportunities to invest in early-stage businesses.
Q: What changes are you noticing in the financial services industry with the continued innovations in fintech?
Bardya Ziaian: The evolution of fintech is bringing with it a transformative era. For one thing, it’s granting self-directed investors (SDIs) unprecedented access to tools once reserved for industry professionals. These platforms empower SDIs to build their own portfolios and pursue financial goals autonomously. So a lot of the changes are in redefining and clarifying the value of investment advice. The importance of financial advisors is being questioned, but I think there’s plenty of evidence that investing demands expertise and guidance. It’s not a hobby, it’s a nuanced profession, even though the tools are being democratized.
Q: What upcoming projects or initiatives is Sittu Group currently enthusiastic about?
Bardya Ziaian: The excitement around AI-driven solutions is dominating a lot of discourse within our company, particularly in the ways that it will revolutionize healthcare. We’re monitoring cutting-edge initiatives to enhance patient care standards and revolutionize medical diagnostics. There’s a new era of precision and efficiency right on the horizon within the healthcare sector. We’re also committed to initiatives around sustainable development, as reflected in our ambitious expansion of renewable energy projects such as solar and wind energy.
Q: What forthcoming trends can we anticipate in the world of fintech?
Bardya Ziaian: The major trend is towards hyper-personalization, which will transform how people interact with financial services. These personalized banking experiences, along with the interaction of Machine Learning (ML) in predicting stock markets, create limitless possibilities. There’s a growing integration of ML algorithms into various facets of financial operations. Chatbots are evolving from mere communication tools to integral components of our financial planning efforts, providing personalized guidance and insights. Already, approximately 70% of financial services leverage ML for fraud detection and risk management. As we look into the future, the potential applications of generative AI are boundless, spanning sectors such as cybersecurity and wealthtech.
