In an uncertain market where each unfolding economic disruption is met with increasingly emboldened central bank intervention, economists are predicting accelerating declines in the value of all fiat currencies, including—and perhaps especially—in the U.S. dollar. Is gold the only way out for central banks looking to hedge their balance sheet? What about the individual investment portfolio? Where do the big banks think gold and silver are going in 2021?
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Against the backdrop of the pandemic, this roundtable discussion was centered around faith-based institutions that seek to align their investments with the belief systems that guide their organizations while also being held accountable by their philanthropic donors. The diversity of the six participants—ranging in size and scale, complexity, geography, and faith—led to a robust discussion yielding multiple perspectives on the imminent challenges of COVID-19, faith-based initiatives, and three key takeaways on navigating the new landscape.
Even prior to COVID-19, China’s economy had been growing at a faster pace than the rest of the world. In 2020, Chinese equities outperformed most global equity markets, particularly emerging markets. China’s domestic (A-share) equity market remains relatively untapped by foreign investors. With U.S Large Cap equities dominating for the last decade, China’s domestic equities may present opportunities going forward.
Based on a 10-year investment time horizon and the impact of COVID-19, the overall results of the 2021 capital market return assumptions are mixed for approximately 50 asset classes around the world. This report guides investors in developing their long-term strategic asset allocations.
Municipal bond investors may be concerned that periods of economic stress could result in states defaulting on their debt. This fear can be exacerbated by political rhetoric, by inflammatory reporting, or even by inherent suspicion of the efficacy of governments. Yet states have successfully managed through multiple economic contractions in the postwar era. As demonstrated in the past, most states will manage through this current recession using the tools available, making necessary if painful cuts in expenditures, and continuing to honor their obligations to their bondholders.
The tech industry was undergoing a period of introspection even before the COVID-19 pandemic began. While the crisis spotlighted the importance of the tech industry and existing technology, the future is still rooted in the core purpose of innovation with intent. The tech industry is poised for growth in 2021, and optimization is the path to realizing opportunity.
Custom separately managed accounts (SMAs) may seem to many like the newest in the line of innovations in the investment industry. However, the benefits of portfolio customization go far beyond security selection. At its core, it allows an investor’s portfolio to be managed consistent with their specific rules, exclusions, or tax situations. With efficiency and flexibility, SMAs can also adapt to the twists and turns of an investment journey.
COVID-19 is exacerbating ongoing geopolitical and societal challenges, and the existential crisis of climate change looms large. In this 16th edition of the Global Risks Report, it highlights the implications of major risks, including the COVID-19 pandemic and an emerging risk landscape spanning from the digital divide to navigating global fractures to considering strategic investments to avoid catastrophic outcomes.
Few investor concerns are as fundamental as portfolio performance. How to evaluate it is one of the most common questions posed by private wealth clients. It starts with the benchmarking process—the evaluation of investment decisions and their results. But to truly evaluate your portfolio, it pays to drill down deeper and focus on the three steps needed to determine which decisions have been successful and which need improvement.
Although the future is unpredictable, we do know that financial planning can allow families and their advisors to operate from a position of strength and resilience, no matter the changes that lie ahead. In this video, the Baird economic analysts and financial planning specialists look at how the economic landscape impact your finances in 2021 while highlighting wealth planning opportunities to consider.