Briefcase appoints Michael Wang to accelerate direct indexing and AI technology

Briefcase has appointed Michael Wang CFA, as Lead Portfolio Manager.

The appointment strengthens Briefcase’s position as a technology-first wealth platform as it accelerates the development of AI-enabled portfolio construction, automated tax optimisation and scalable direct indexing solutions for advisers, family offices and institutional investors.

Wang is a CFA charterholder with a Master of Data Science and more than 14 years’ experience across institutional portfolio management, quantitative research, data science, fintech and applied artificial intelligence.

He joins Briefcase with deep experience across both investment management and technology.

Josh Persky, founder and CEO of Briefcase, said Wang’s appointment marks an important step in Briefcase's continued evolution as a technology-led portfolio infrastructure business.

“Briefcase is not building a traditional asset manager. We are building the technology layer that allows advisers to deliver institutional-grade, tax-aware and highly personalised portfolios at scale,” Persky said.

“Michael brings a rare combination of extensive portfolio management experience and deep AI and data science capability. He has managed institutional capital, built quantitative investment tools, led AI teams and helped financial services organisations turn emerging technology into practical products.

“That is exactly the skill set we need as Briefcase pushes further into direct indexing, automated tax optimisation and AI-enabled portfolio management. His appointment gives us greater firepower to keep building technology that can construct, monitor and optimise portfolios at the individual security level.”

At MLC Asset Management, Wang was part of the multi-asset team that managed more than $25 billion and was directly responsible for managing a $500 million institutional growth portfolio. He has also held senior data science and AI roles at RoZetta Technology and CreditorWatch, as well as consulting to asset managers, superannuation funds, financial advisers and institutional investors on generative AI, large language models and data-driven investment processes.

As Lead Portfolio Manager, Wang will help drive the next stage of Briefcase’s investment and product capability, including:

• AI-enabled research, portfolio analytics and investment decision support;

• Systematic tax-aware implementation and automated rebalancing;

• Scalable direct indexing and portfolio personalisation at the individual security level;

• Model portfolio management, governance and risk oversight; and

• Data-rich adviser reporting and platform infrastructure.

Unlike traditional asset managers built around pooled investment products, Briefcase’s proprietary technology allows portfolios to be constructed and managed at the individual security and client level. Advisers can tailor portfolios around each client’s tax position, preferences and constraints, while retaining transparency, direct asset ownership and systematic portfolio oversight.

Wang said Briefcase’s technology-first model and direct indexing capability made the role a compelling opportunity.

“Briefcase sits at the intersection of investment management, fintech and AI, which is where some of the most important change in wealth management is happening,” Wang said.

“Direct indexing changes the foundation of portfolio construction. It makes it possible to build portfolios around the individual investor, rather than the average investor in a pooled product. When that is combined with tax-aware implementation, systematic decision-making and AI-enabled tools, the opportunity to improve outcomes for advisers and clients is significant.

“I’m excited to help build the next stage of Briefcase’s technology platform and investment capability, and to keep pushing what modern portfolio management can look like in Australia.”