If you weren't able to join us on our 2010 predictions webcast today, I wanted to at least share one of the predictions, specifically for Capital Markets, that I spoke to. I talked about capital markets reform being more bark than bite.

I just posted a new report for IDC Financial Insights customers outlining and describing our point of view on cloud computing in financial services. For those of you following our blog postings you've had some previews of our thinking in previous blogs, but the report goes into some more detail on definitions and the current state of the technology.

Harland Financial Solutions is hosting clients at its annual Connections Conference in Oralndo, FL this week. I've had the opportunity to meet with clients, staff and the industry glitterati like me. Yes, that is a tongue in cheek comment, but it's got a better ring to it than analysts, journalists, etc. The conference vibe has been a bit of a mixed bag – very much like we're seeing in the economy now, and probably reflective of the future that institutions can expect.

As I prepare to attend The ACORD LOMA Insurance Systems Forum in Las Vegas next month, I thought it would be beneficial to lay out some specific focus areas for me to explore during the conference.  After I attend, I will post another blog to let you know if my initial thoughts on these topics have or have not changed. They include:

• “Build it” versus “Buy it” – In a blog last year, I wrote about the carrier’s desire to have technology be one of their core competencies, regardless if they utilize package solutions or continue to build custom applications in-house.  Is this trend changing?  Is there a recognition that today’s client focused approach can be better achieved with a more effective build and buy solutions mix?  Additionally, software as a service and cloud services could make "Buy It" increasingly attractive for insurers.