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There is a growing realization among impact investors and those who seek to influence society that they can use more of their assets to complement and even accelerate their social impact goals. This guide provides the tools to develop and execute a tailored impact investing strategy. It offers an objective, agenda-free resource that will inspire readers while also being realistic about the limitations and possibilities of this increasingly popular investment strategy. New approaches are proposed while keeping the principles of traditional investing in mind.

Haunted by double-digit inflation of the past, some fear the U.S. economy is poised for runaway inflation. Some above-trend inflation is to be expected as the economy begins to open up more broadly. It can be argued that a modest jump in inflation should be viewed as a positive sign, indicating the economy’s return to normal. Long-term price pressures leading to double-digit inflation are possible but not likely, given the slack that currently exists in the economy.

Anxieties brought on by periods of turmoil can cause individuals to forsake rational thinking and act impulsively, usually to their own detriment. This phenomenon often manifests itself in equity markets. Outside of the modicum of intangible psychological comfort, sales of risky assets motivated by fear and panic provide investors no value, and can ultimately have disastrous impacts on the long-term returns of an investment portfolio.

The economy is still aimlessly lurching from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and those fits may spill over into tax-filing season. It’s likely that a disproportionate number of filers will have some income and capital gains they weren’t expecting as the result of mutual fund distributions last year. Through an effective tax-managed investment strategy, even a tumultuous year like 2020 can produce benefits. If the investor structures realized losses to manage tax burden, even a difficult year can help you meet your investment goals.

Digital platforms make microbusinesses possible for millions of people, and companies like Etsy and GoDaddy have been an essential backbone behind them, especially during the pandemic (Etsy sellers contributed $13 billion and almost 3 million jobs to the economy last year). In this NOW episode, we discuss the evolution of microbusinesses and what they mean for the growth and resilience of our communities. Later, David Powell, co-portfolio manager of Brown Advisory's Large-Cap Sustainable Growth strategy, joined the conversation to discuss takeaways for investors.

The cryptocurrency market, and specifically Bitcoin, has grown significantly and offers investors high potential returns. It is commonly argued that Bitcoin should be considered by investors as a store of value and portfolio hedge. However, there are a number of risks that investors should evaluate before considering an allocation.

With the rising interest rates and media speculation around the level of credit spreads, corporate bond investors are reminded of the 2013 taper tantrum when credit spreads widened. For investors concerned about increased market volatility, allocating to a rules-based ladder strategy may provide both predictable income and capital preservation.

When portfolios don’t deliver outcomes as expected, the number one question is “Why?” In this Risk Report, the answers are provided through an examination of more than 200 institutional equity portfolios, representing more than $200 billion assets. What was discovered may surprise you. From a portfolio’s exposure to uncompensated risks to the performance-hindering “cancellation effect,” there were six common drivers of unexpected portfolio results.

Monitoring concentration in investment managers is an important component of portfolio risk management. While portfolio-level analysis on liquidity, beta, and volatility are frequently monitored, a minority of investment teams use active risk to size managers. By considering the return profile of a manager along with its size in the portfolio, active risk provides additional insight to risk management decisions, helps build better portfolios, and contributes to better governance.

Is the Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs) market dimming? Not likely. Even as the SPAC market takes a breather from its hypersonic acceleration in early 2021, new funders are stepping into the picture. In this webcast, the presenters examined the SPAC environment, evolving deal structures, participants, and risks, as well as important federal regulation changes.