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Investors may prefer speed, but in a market as inefficient as the municipal bond market, it may not be in their best interests to rush the investment process. Data indicates that the cost of a reasonably investment period is low and that the benefit of waiting for attractive new issues is real. Even in the fast-paced world of investing, slow and steady can win the race.

Family offices are embracing responsible investing in increasing numbers to align investments with values. We explore what’s driving the demand for responsible investing, the range of potential investment approaches, and some initial steps that family offices can take when they’re ready to commit to responsible investing.

The tailwinds that greeted commodities in 2021 have moderated, but they are not gone. Faced with strong economic growth and high inflation, the market expects the Fed to run down its balance sheet and begin hiking interest rates. In addition, a shift in consumer habits has left most commodity markets priced for a deficit, which may require an extended period of high prices and could lead to continued strength from the asset class.

In this segment of The Market in Five Charts, Chief Investment Officer Rick Pitcairn addresses the Ukraine crisis and its impact on capital markets through the following lens:

The ESG-labeled bond issuance has been significantly growing and is likely to persist, along with investor interest in this segment of the fixed income markets. What can responsible investors in this market expect in the year to come? Sustainable bonds should play an increasingly important role.

Investors rode the wave of strong equity returns in 2021. While public equity fueled impressive investment returns, private equity and venture capital performance took portfolios to the next level. Although there was a lot to celebrate with private capital funds, all was not rosy at the end of 2021, with two-thirds of IPOs trading below their IPO price. While the sell-off in equity markets in early 2022 dipped lower, the private equity allocations remain an important component of a diversified portfolio.

In this 12th annual survey, the focus was on the back office areas and internal fund operations. The results highlight other trends and key insights in the hedge fund industry: growth in assets and funds; an opportunity for smaller, newer managers; investors boosting their hedge fund allocations; how traditional hedge funds are coping with cryptocurrencies; and the fee models in a post-‘two and twenty’ world.

Overall, the results of the 2022 10-year capital market assumptions are mixed depending on the asset class when compared to last year’s assumptions as the global recovery gains traction. We see weaker equity market returns due to slowing growth rates and stretched valuations. Fixed income asset class returns will once again be extremely limited given how low global bond yields are today.

As outlined in the 2022 Capital Markets Assumptions, long-term return expectations for traditional assets remain muted. Alternative investment solutions may offer an opportunity to increase portfolio returns by taking advantage of the remarkable post-pandemic economic evolution in a targeted way through public and private markets.

The sustainable and impact investing industry continues to scale, affording investors an increased level of influence on public and private markets. The most pronounced investor opportunity is expected to be in climate change and the future of work, two areas with significant implications for investment portfolios and for society. The industry is likely to be on the cusp of even larger adoption in the year ahead, as new regulations and fiduciary guidance seek to clarify and standardize a still nascent industry.