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The first quarter may be an accurate forecast of the performance of risk assets for the entire year, which is likely to be one of a flat average and a wide range of individual monthly returns. After the initial five-week decline in risk asset prices, global stocks reversed their initial losses, high-yield bonds spreads tightened, and the CRB Commodities Index finished higher by the end of the quarter than at the beginning of the quarter. The latest pattern in risk assets is unstable, similar to previous market tumbles and rebounds.

Philanthropists from Europe, the United States, Asia, and the Middle East are approaching philanthropy in an innovative way and actively promote their causes. Interviews illustrate how they are trying to make a lasting change in terms of impact on the ground as well as the longevity of their charitable organizations. For many philanthropists, achieving a sustainable outcome is the second motivation, after the cause itself. And impact investing and collaborative philanthropy are considered as the top trends in achieving sustainable outcome.

Millennials, in general, are avoiding the financial markets and instead keeping more of their money in bank accounts despite historically low interest rates. Just 26 percent of people under 30 invest in stocks, according to a 2015 survey by Bankrate.com. The key reasons can be attributed to the shift in generational behavior: distrust, flexibility, and lack of experience with inflation. While this shift in behavior is understandable, it leads to a deeply flawed approach to wealth building.

No matter how many times an entrepreneur has started a business, challenges abound. The marketplace is fickle in picking winners and losers, and any ego boost from other successes must be checked at the door of the new venture. But the challenges doesn’t stop many entrepreneurs from taking on multiple startup experiences. That’s increasingly true within the millennial generation, where the entrepreneurial lifestyle offers an excitement that’s hard to find elsewhere. For millennials, they know the risks, and they’re not afraid of them.

With an estimated $30 trillion plus transitioning to millennials over the next couple of decades, millennials will most certainly drive change in the financial industry. Many also see impact investing as a meaningful way to engage their capital and to achieve social and environmental impact. Ten impact investors from Europe and North America share their impact investing journeys and provide specific examples of what kind of collaboration they would value.

From family members' well-meaning comments to unsolicited advice from friends and co-workers, it can seem as though everyone has an opinion on money matters. But if you listen to every piece of advice and perspective on saving for the future, you can quickly get overwhelmed and caught with the challenge of having too many goals. How can you prioritize all of your savings goals and still live the life you want today?

Unlike prior recessions and monetary responses, the attempt at economic recovery following 2008 was decidedly different. Through the Federal Reserve’s zero interest rate policy (and strong guidance that rates would stay low for an extended period of time), the Federal Reserve forced investors out of low risk assets and into risky assets. The extreme low interest rate environment created many significant, unintended consequences for both U.S. and global markets, including the impact on investor risk tolerance.

The wealth management industry is seeing a wave of mergers and acquisitions (M&A). From the buyer’s perspective, the biggest question when pursuing M&A is whether the target firm is worth the asking price. From the seller’s perspective, the biggest question is whether the bidder is the best match. Although this difference of perspective creates natural tension in any deal, technology can alleviate more of it than one might think.

After months of fierce debate and a policymaking hiatus, the United Kingdom (UK) electorate has voted in favour of leaving the European Union (EU). While the broad direction is set, companies will still face considerable uncertainty until the UK’s exit strategy is defined and trade negotiations (including the trans-border movement of people) with the EU and other countries are completed.

What has been called a “soft revolution” in the UK may also be thought of as the “revenge of the 99%.” The final implications of the decision to leave the EU will not unfold for many years, but some of the initial economic and market impacts are becoming evident. Interestingly, one “winner” in this scenario may be the U.S. consumer. A stronger dollar generally reduces the cost of imports and reduces the Fed’s impetus to raise interest rates. On the broader spectrum, Brexit should not interrupt domestic consumer spending or the recovery in the U.S.