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To help put 2021 in context and prepare for what 2022 has in store, we explore the investment themes and look at the prospects for continued inflation, tax changes out of Washington, the 2022 midterms, and much more.

In this report, discover the emerging trends redefining the retail industry. With a deeper exploration into the changes that COVID-19 caused in commerce, it becomes clear that retail is at the forefront of a significant reimagination and primed for innovation. All this change, including the reintroduction of the omnichannel, has caught the attention of investors.

“Location, location, location” has long been the mantra of the real estate and, by extension, construction industries, but the global pandemic is upending how this philosophy has traditionally been interpreted. The effects of remote work, online shopping and the continued decline in business travel, among other phenomena caused by the pandemic, are forcing owners and investors to ask, “Does location even matter anymore?” Key sectors may point to an answer.

The automotive industry is experiencing a convergence of disruptions unlike any seen since 1910. Autonomous, connectivity, electrification, mobility, and subscription business models are reshaping the automotive industry and creating a frenzy of activity. For investors interested in the rise of the electric vehicles, this report explores the market for it and the significant headwinds that may slow the pace of the electric vehicle transition.

Diversification is an easy concept to adopt but a hard concept to maintain, particularly when there are extreme periods of concentrated market leadership. While US large caps have outperformed non-US equities over the past decade, the outlook and rewards are different when taking the long-term goals approach with non-US equities.

The notable increase in consumer prices has sparked concerns around the effect of inflation on investor’s portfolios, wealth plans, and ability to fund goals. For investors, the best offense remains a good defense, and it is not too late to revisit your portfolio with an eye toward protection against the impact of inflation. We answer nine questions on fortifying your portfolio and wealth plan in the face of uncertainty.

People care about ESG, want ESG outcomes and will make major decisions on where to invest, where to work, and what to buy based on those outcomes. So, when companies make claims about their ESG performance, it should be easy for stakeholders to verify those claims. But the reality is that ESG reporting is often opaque, subjective, and even outright fraudulent. This report provides an in-depth look at the issues and offers guidance on avoiding fraud and how to develop a sound ESG reporting process.

Index investing has been a boon to investors seeking accessible, diversified portfolios. However, many index-based portfolios have become notably more concentrated in recent years, in terms of both individual stock positions and sector representation. Given this reality, it’s understandable why many investors are looking at other options to build more diversified portfolios.

U.S. inflation is at its highest in four decades due to COVID-19-induced spending on goods, supply-chain issues, fiscal stimulus from the government, and very accommodative monetary policy from the Federal Reserve. But unlike last time when inflation was high, some key drivers of the current inflation are expected to fade. However, several forces are likely to be more enduring, including the high wage growth.

Most of us are familiar with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as the headline measure of inflation. However, at the January 2012 Federal Open Market Committee, the Fed declared it would use the Personal Consumption Expenditure price index (PCE). Since the indexes are calculated differently in weight, scope, and formula, it will yield different measures of inflation. The difference will impact how investors plan to fight the rising inflation that is spurring fears of currency devaluation.