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In a world of low expected returns, finding alpha becomes more important than ever. Given the significant amount of capital looking for alpha in private markets, family offices will need to bridge the performance gap in this slower growth environment by leveraging their longer time horizon and partnering with experts in private market investments. Alpha, while elusive, can be found if one knows where to look.

In a time of equity market volatility, municipal bonds are doing what they’re supposed to do: diversify portfolios. Learn what may come next in the muni market.

From a historical perspective, the odds for a strong volatility risk premium (the "VRP") in 2020 are in your favor. Although it can't be predicted with any level of certainty the returns derived from exposure to the VRP this year, the range of likely outcomes can be determined based on empirical evidence while respecting known and unknown sources of uncertainty. If you're willing to wait and see, history suggests you'll be compensated.

Educating children about money, wealth, and financial planning is a critical step in helping them build their futures. As a wealth creator and thoughtful investor, you want to be sure your children understand how to manage finances and make good, informed decisions when it comes to spending, saving, and investing. But talking to children about money and wealth can be tricky. A workbook with resource links and checklists is provided to help make the process easier for families.

The equity markets took a painful hit at the end of February this year as fears about the coronavirus drove investors out of stocks and into correction territory. As one would expect, the impact and outlook for each asset class varies based upon the underlying exposures, market drivers, and pricing dynamics. We summarize the developments surrounding the market stress resulting from the coronavirus and provide specific commentary on what to watch for across the major asset classes that constitute investor portfolios.

As families explore investment opportunities in real property, many are turning to farmland for a portion of their portfolio. It is a unique class of real property that performs best as a long-term hold that carries with it a counter cyclical performance to stock investments. The application of best practices in this different type of ownership will help ensure quality planning and investing.

Shareholder engagement is not a new activity, and it is on the rise in 2020 as millennials continue to drive more interest in responsible investing. Today’s investors see the shareholder engagement as an even more powerful tool—one that can have a direct impact on corporate behaviors and business activities, and therefore, general society.

In this exclusive chat with Mellody Hobson, the President and co-CEO of Ariel Investments, speaks candidly about the importance and value of diversity in finance—how being color brave can improve business and society at large. Mellody shares personal stories and lessons learned from her investment career, including the disconnect that is felt between the diversification of investment portfolios and the lack of it in the hiring process in the industry. She also discusses investment trends and the empowering gift she received at the start of her career.

Despite reduced return expectations in 2020, municipals should remain a valuable building block of an investor's portfolio due to their attractive tax-adjusted yields, diversification benefits, and improving credit characteristics. For investors in high tax brackets, municipals are a great place to get it.