It is an open question whether investors in 2020 will remain as sanguine as they did in 2019. The U.S. and China are settling into a protracted battle over strategic interests, global economic growth is slowing, and central banks are running out of options. Meanwhile, political uncertainty is elevated with voters voicing their frustrations everywhere. Even if politics and growth do surprise to the upside, weak earnings and stretched valuations, at least for many assets, may weigh on returns.
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For the first time, more than half of the CEOs surveyed believe the rate of global GDP growth will decline. This caution has translated into CEO’s low confidence in their own organization’s outlook. While this subdued outlook may cause concern, it is also not surprising. Shifting headlines around trade conflicts, climate change, political strife, cyber threats, social unrest and the like, cloud CEO's outlook on the road ahead.
In this webcast, learn about the new overtime rule that went into effect on January 1st, 2020. The training focuses on understanding what the new overtime rule is, its history, the implications to employers, and what you should do next.
The financial services sector was cited as one of the top industries likely to experience increase in deal activity in 2020, according to BDO’s US Private Capital Outlook. We take a deeper look at the trend in this episode of the Private Equity PErspectives Podcast.
This 15th edition of the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report comes as long-mounting, interconnected risks are being felt. This qualitative and quantitative study of global risks draws on feedback from nearly 800 global experts and decision-makers who were asked to rank their concerns in terms of likelihood and impact. It provides a rich perspective on the major threats that may impact global prosperity in 2020 and over the next decade, seeing a year of increased domestic and international divisions with the added risk of economic slowdown.
While investing isn't the same as war, Sun Tzu's advice on preparation is still applicable. In looking ahead and preparing for what can happen, a set of key themes and investment implications emerge around fractured politics in 2020, trade war and the unloved expansion, and efficacy of monetary policy and negative yields.
While “gifting down” to younger generations has historically been the norm, it’s now increasingly common for children to accumulate more wealth than their living parents. This provides an opportunity for children to “gift up” or provide loans to help support parents—while pursuing income and estate tax planning. Other gifting strategies can include gifting assets or creating a trust to help support their parents' living expenses or health care costs. Each solution has pros and cons.
More than a decade ago, central banks embarked on a highly unconventional monetary policy path—generally referred to as "quantitative easing." This made possible the longest recorded U.S. economic upswing in history. But can this monetary "magic" continue to work? It is up for debate and is the premise of this year's six investment themes, beginning with "policy pressures need prudent response."
Wyoming’s lack of income taxes, strong asset protection laws and allowance for private family trust companies are quickly elevating it as one of top trust situs states in terms of attracting new business. The State's unique aspects include dynasty trusts, directed trusts, tax advantages, creditor protection, beneficiary statement waivers, flexibility, and privacy.
The U.S. equity income market could be in for a wild ride in 2020. Learn how exposure diversification may help your portfolio weather the coming storm.