Washington will be a different place under a Biden administration, but it won’t be a different enough to cause a seismic shift across the investment landscape. While some observers fear a divided government may inevitably lead to gridlock, a more likely outcome is compromise—meeting halfway in a few areas. It will be a mixed bag for muni investors and little change for the corporate market. Expect solid but subdued support for responsible investors from Biden’s White House.
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The environmental, social, and governance (ESG) research among institutional investors has historically focused mostly on the “E” and the “G,” leaving social issues as somewhat of a forgotten middle child. But the COVID-19 pandemic and racially-driven police violence have shifted public opinion, and it matters. At this inflection point, there is a recognition that investors can and will play a role, and that companies and bond issuers will be held increasingly accountable for the impact they have on their colleagues, communities, and customers.
Actions demonstrate what it means to be a sustainable business. And in times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, companies show through their actions how they balance societal concerns and profit motives. Further, companies that find a role in addressing this crisis can use this opportunity to do well in the world and to chart new long-term business opportunities.
The exclusion of the high-profile company Tesla Motors from a major equity index took many investors by surprise. The news sent the company’s shares down 21% the next trading day. That example illustrates the critical role of index providers and the level of discretion they may have in adding or removing constituent stocks. It’s just one reason to consider investing in a customized separately managed account (SMA) instead of remaining dependent on an index provider.
Investing sustainably does not mean sacrificing returns. In fact, the opposite is true across many different asset classes. A closer look shows how investments in private equity, public equity, and fixed income can generate social impact while driving real financial results for investors.
Portfolio customization is growing in popularity among equity investors—but does it have a place in the bond market? Learn about the benefits of stratified cells.
Thought leaders and practitioners discuss key investment risks and opportunities through a social equity lens, and are joined by Judy Belk, president and CEO of The California Wellness Foundation, for a fireside chat on how the foundation is addressing social equity issues holistically through both grant-making and investment approaches.
The unique market environment which we are calling "Post-Monetary Era" presents many challenges for investors, suggesting that investors should focus on defining, quantifying, and prioritizing their goals in order to maximize their probabilty of financial success. This podcast suggests that investors view their goals as "self-imposed liabilities" and organize their investment portfolios accordingly to fund those.
Individual investments in your portfolios may be viewed as “bundle" of different risks: term risk, default risk, equity risk, alpha risk, illiquidity risk, and leverage risk. Some investments—such as the 30-Year U.S. Treasury Bond—carry only a single type of risk (term risk), while more complex investments or fund vehicles such as venture capital funds may embed multiple types of risk (term, equity, alpha, illiquidity).
As the clock winds down on the U.S. election, many investors are interested in how a Biden administration would impact their taxes—particularly whether it’s more beneficial to realize gains today (pay now) or continue to defer gains into the future (pay later). It’s a big tax management decision for investors and advisors. We take a look at the implications of each choice.