How did post-9/11 regulatory mandates shape modern anti-money laundering (AML) operations, and why are so many financial institutions still caught relying on a two-decade-old playbook?
In this episode of Inside the Signal, Sigma360 Founder & CEO Stuart Jones, Jr. is joined by Brett Mannwaring, Head of Advisory & Technology Services at Sigma360. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience leading complex financial crime initiatives across global banks (HSBC), top-tier consultancies (PwC, Deloitte), and modern regtech platforms, Brett offers a rare, 360-degree perspective on how compliance programs have evolved and where they must go next.
Brett Mannwaring is the Head of Advisory & Technology Services at Sigma360. Prior to joining Sigma360, Brett spent over two decades leading financial crime operations and advisory functions inside global financial institutions like HSBC, top-tier consultancies including PwC and Deloitte, and cutting-edge regtech providers.
Together, Stuart and Brett dissect the post-9/11 compliance build-out, the operational reality of lookbacks, the transition from passive box-checking to intelligence-led technology, and the practical challenges of integrating AI into institutional workflows.
Key Takeaways & Discussion Highlights
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The Legacy Playbook: Why the regulatory response to 9/11 created massive, resource-heavy compliance operations that modern threat landscapes have outgrown.
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Demystifying Lookbacks: An inside look at why historic lookback investigations occur, their true cost to institutions, and how better data lineage prevents perpetual remediation.
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Intelligence-Driven vs. Rule-Based Compliance: Why moving beyond simple name-matching and static rules is essential for catching sophisticated bad actors.
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Pragmatic AI Implementation: How financial institutions can cut through the artificial intelligence hype to deploy technology that actually improves operational efficiency and risk visibility.
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Bridging Advisory & Tech: How pairing deep subject matter expertise with intelligence technology creates resilient, future-proof compliance programs.
Episode Timestamps
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00:00 – Introduction of Brett Mannwaring & 20+ Years in Financial Crime
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08:48 – Understanding Lookbacks in AML: Mechanics, Costs & Preventative Strategy
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14:15 – Effectiveness and Intelligence-Driven Compliance vs. Legacy Frameworks
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24:02 – Advisory Services and Technology Solutions: Bridging Expertise & Software
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27:11 – Implementing AI in Compliance: Pragmatic Integration over Hype
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37:30 – Building the Sigma360 Advisory Practice & The Road Ahead
Featured Guest
Brett Mannwaring is the Head of Advisory & Technology Services at Sigma360. Prior to joining Sigma360, Brett spent over two decades leading financial crime operations and advisory functions inside global financial institutions like HSBC, top-tier consultancies including PwC and Deloitte, and cutting-edge regtech providers.
Music: “Minimalist (Neutral Focus)” by Sascha Ende (ende.app), licensed under CC BY 4.0.
