Cantor enters investment adviser business

Cantor Fitzgerald has created a unit within its capital markets group to provide advisory services to investors in hedge funds and other alternative assets.

Cantor Investment Advisers will be led by Stephen Ardizzoni, who recently joined the company from Union Bancaire Privée (UBP) Alternative Investments.

Prior to joining Cantor, Ardizzoni was global head of research at UBP, an investor in hedge funds. He was previously global head of credit and event strategies at UBP, responsible for managing $15 billion in assets.

Ardizzoni said Cantor Investment Advisers would deliver "a comprehensive solution to clients who have or seek exposure to alternative assets."

"The need has never been greater from clients who seek exposure to hedge funds and other alternative assets to have an advisor who is truly capable of providing expertise in these opportunities through real world optics and experience," he said. 

The launch of the Cantor Investment Advisors follows the establishment in July 2009 of Cantor's prime services business, which is headed by former JP Morgan executive Noel Kimmel.