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Despite ongoing discussions meant to defuse tensions and a 90-day “truce” between U.S. and China, the trade tariff issue has not gone away. Well-entrenched globalization trends are unlikely to be reversed, but protectionism could weigh on growth. Other global and non-U.S. economic overview includes share declines in oil and other commodities combined with tightening global financial conditions may pressure emerging markets.

The roller coaster ride for midstream energy investors was particularly stomach churning in 2018, with the Alerian Midstream Energy Index ending the year down 18%, putting it 45% below its 2014 high. Even though oil prices have been pummeled, many master limited partnerships and other midstream businesses have exceeded cash flow expectations thanks to strong pipeline supply/demand fundamentals. To help investors make sense of what’s going on, five key questions are answered.

Despite the challenging finish to 2018, this year could be better for REITs. Taking a top down view, there are three themes to look at with respect to how they will play out for real estate. First, the deceleration of economic growth. Second, the healthy employment and wage growth. Third, the change in interest rates being dependent on how healthy the U.S. economy is and where inflation ends up being. It's reasonable to expect that REITs can deliver both an absolute and relative return profile that's attractive to investors.

Allocations to listed infrastructure have been on the rise in recent years amid growing demand for real assets offering relatively predictable cash flows and the potential for attractive real returns. A case for this asset class is made through an examination of its historical investment characteristics and the secular themes driving significant capital formation in infrastructure globally.

The new year brings new tax-savings opportunities, including larger tax exemptions and exclusions. Here are some strategies and tips to consider in your tax planning this year, as well as the Federal Estate and Gift Tax Exemption/Exclusion Levels for Individuals and 2019 Federal Income Tax Brackets charts.

Preferred securities play a unique role in capital markets and have unique investment attributes. They are fixed-income investments, but with certain equity characteristics such as deeper subordination in the capital structure. Investors are compensated with notably high rates of income. Despite preferreds’ long stated lives, abundant fixed-to-floating-rate preferred instruments can significantly diminish interest-rate risk in diversified portfolios. Since many preferred pay legal dividends, preferreds can also offer significant tax advantages.

One of the familiar adages to describe the price action in the stock market is “it takes the stairs up and the elevator down.” The dramatic decline in stock prices since mid-September 2018 certainly fits this pattern. Investment sentiment has turned decidedly negative: the American Association of Individual Investors’ latest reading showing bullish sentiment at just 20.9%, a 17-percentage point drop since the last reading. Is this a typical market “correction” or the start of something much more serious?

When it comes to the family, dynamics are changing. There is no longer one dominant family form in the U.S., according to Pew research. Parents are waiting longer to have children, and many millennials are living at home or taking a less direct route to adulthood. These shifts will continue in 2019 and shape how affluent families tackle interpersonal issues. As wealthy families move forward, there are three trends they should keep a close eye on and discuss with their family office or other advisors.

With a seemingly infinite amount of performance data points and varying degrees of investor knowledge among stakeholders, it can be difficult to determine the reporting requirements for each group. In order to establish appropriate reporting criteria, it is important for managers to understand where stakeholders fall along the spectrum knowledge. Once this measurement has been established, managers can focus on the creation and optimization of individualized performance reports, which can be customized to cater towards each investor’s understanding.

The Internet has bought connection, communication, and efficiency to the business world, including family offices. However, conducting business online without proper security and knowledge of risks can endanger the family and its data. The right level of expertise, planning, and effort is required to safeguard sensitive information. It is an organizational effort, but employees and family members also benefit from using best practices to protect personal information online.