Insider finance: Automation threatens bond bankers

Good morning and welcome to Insider Finance. I'm Dan DeFrancesco, and here's what's on the agenda today:

• Banks are automating the process of selling new bonds, potentially putting jobs at risk.
• The new battlefield for talent wars? Equity derivatives traders.
• BlackRock is staffing up with new ESG executives.

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Like the newsletter? Hate the newsletter? Feel free to drop me a line at ddefrancesco@businessinsider.com or on Twitter @DanDeFrancesco.

Automation is transforming how new bonds get sold, and syndicate bankers worry they'll lose their jobs if they don't branch out

As administrative tasks become automated, bankers are pairing their tech savvy with client-facing responsibilities in order to increase their value.

How bankers are fighting to stay relevant.

A talent war has broken out for equity derivatives traders at Wall Street's top investment banks - here are the latest moves

Wall Street equity-derivatives traders have become a hot commodity, and hedge funds and investment banks have been fighting to hire and retain them. We compiled a list of recent hires and departures.

How the ultrarich avoid messy public divorce battles by keeping their disputes out of court

When it comes to divorces among wealthy couples, privacy and asset complexity are key challenges. We spoke with six divorce lawyers and experts, who explained how such couples can keep disputes out of the courts.

BlackRock just hired a climate scientist from the World Wildlife Fund in a top research role according to a memo naming new ESG executives

The money manager also named a COO for its sustainability business and new leaders in the Asia-Pacific region. Read more about all the moves here.

A former analyst at $200 million distress investing fund Foxhill Capital sues firm after claiming he was fired for whistleblowing on alleged insider trading

The lawyer for Foxhill and the individual defendants said that they "fully complied with the law." Learn more here.

Here are 11 ways Stripe is looking to grow as the $95 billion fintech targets bigger customers with more complex needs

The fintech recently announced plans to acquire TaxJar, a sales-tax software startup. Experts say Stripe's non-payments products may be an effort to diversify revenue before an IPO. Here are 11 key offerings that Stripe is building out beyond payments.

Odd lots:

Banks forced to get creative in frenzied hiring push - 'We haven't seen this since the pre-crisis boom days' (Financial News)

$9 billion cybersecurity firm Tanium just announced its new CFO as it assesses whether it's ready to IPO (Insider)

Payday Lenders Didn't Get a Boost From the Pandemic's Hard Times (Bloomberg)