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We are currently experiencing one of the longest periods of U.S. dollar strength in the last 50 years, leading some to question if it’s time for a reversal. Learn what drives the dollar and how it impacts various asset classes and influence portfolio positioning.

When it comes to an investment strategy, it is important to consider the tracking error (TE) as it allows investors to quickly get a sense of how much deviation from a stated benchmark they could expect. This guide offers a brief explanation of the TE concept and descibes how it can be used to establish benchmark-relative performance expectations, and concludes with some statistical detail and common misconceptions. We'll also discuss the differences between realized and predicted TE.

Investors have been building bond portfolios using a laddered strategy since the early 1900s. Even in a flat or rising rate environment, a ladder’s total return can materially exceed its starting yield through the phenomenon of roll-down. The benefits of roll-down relate directly to the shape of the yield curve. To demonstrate how roll-down works, a few intuitive examples are provided.

When in the pursuit of enhanced risk-adjusted returns, investors with strong convictions are often drawn to factor investing—tilting portfolios toward a particular factor like value, low volatility, or dividend yield. While it may seem counterintuitive, a factor portfolio’s tracking error is a useful tool for ensuring they’re not taking on too much risk or unintended exposure in an attempt to generate benchmark-beating returns.

Investor anxiety is shifting from the impact of COVID-19 to the changes that may come with the removal of stimulus measures. Investors can make the transition to a new market cycle by managing their risks. Three examples, including taking advantage of dislocations, are provided to help investors prepare their portfolios.

It’s understandable that investors have questions and concerns about ESG investing in the fixed income markets. However, investors can align their values with their fixed income portfolios without sacrificing financial performance or deepening long-term risks.

Liesel Pritzker Simmons, principal and co-founder of Blue Haven Initiative, and her mom Irene Pritzker, president of the IDP Foundation, have built innovative family philanthropy efforts. In this Family Philanthropy Speaks episode, hear how Liesel and Irene have learned alongside one another while forging their own identities as impact investors and change agents.

Going from rising stars to fallen angels, a record number of corporate bonds were downgraded to high-yield status in 2020. Against a backdrop of economic expansion and the credit markets entering a multiyear upgrade cycle, see how a turnaround can happen for corporate bond investors.

Real assets, like income-producing ranches, provide a hedge against inflation, and are an attractive investment for a diversified portfolio when managed correctly. With the right business plan for your ranch investment and enterprise, you can build the resiliency needed to capitalize on it.

With an ever-growing number of investors looking to incorporate their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into their portfolios, responsible investing is no longer a niche investment approach—it’s mainstream. By understanding the choices available, investors can meet two interrelated primary objectives for their ESG goals: trying to influence companies to behave better and controlling what kind of companies they own.