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As technological advances are disrupting and transforming companies in every sector, the traditional investing landscape is also being disrupted. Venture capital is at the core of the transformation and has become a critical component of a long-term investment strategy. With the potential for attractive returns and significant impact to society, venture investing presents a prime platform for cross-generational conversations about investing and the critical role it can play in the family’s portfolio.

In seeking to evaluate the risk and return potential for a range of asset classes within the anticipated investment environment, there is caution given the deceleration in the economic cycle indicators that are monitored. A recession is not anticipated in 2020, but the conditions could change rapidly and investors should be prepared to make adjustments as necessary and appropriate.

Chief Investment Officer, Shannon Saccocia, sits down with Ryan McQuilkin, Head of Fixed Income, and Nancy Perez, Senior Manager to discuss: (1) the outlook for 2020 since 2019 was a banner year for a balanced portfolio; (2) how the impending U.S. presidential election might impact consumer optimism; and (3) which sectors they are watching.

It is an open question whether investors in 2020 will remain as sanguine as they did in 2019. The U.S. and China are settling into a protracted battle over strategic interests, global economic growth is slowing, and central banks are running out of options. Meanwhile, political uncertainty is elevated with voters voicing their frustrations everywhere. Even if politics and growth do surprise to the upside, weak earnings and stretched valuations, at least for many assets, may weigh on returns.

The financial services sector was cited as one of the top industries likely to experience increase in deal activity in 2020, according to BDO’s US Private Capital Outlook. We take a deeper look at the trend in this episode of the Private Equity PErspectives Podcast.

While investing isn't the same as war, Sun Tzu's advice on preparation is still applicable. In looking ahead and preparing for what can happen, a set of key themes and investment implications emerge around fractured politics in 2020, trade war and the unloved expansion, and efficacy of monetary policy and negative yields.

More than a decade ago, central banks embarked on a highly unconventional monetary policy path—generally referred to as "quantitative easing." This made possible the longest recorded U.S. economic upswing in history. But can this monetary "magic" continue to work? It is up for debate and is the premise of this year's six investment themes, beginning with "policy pressures need prudent response."

The U.S. equity income market could be in for a wild ride in 2020. Learn how exposure diversification may help your portfolio weather the coming storm.

One of the biggest challenges corporate and municipal bond investors face when it comes to portfolio performance is interest rate fluctuation. Changing interest rates can increase risk and decrease investment value. Incorporating a separately managed account made up of evenly weighted bonds into an investment strategy may help reduce risk and make it easier to withstand rising interest rates.

2019 witnessed an uncommon surge for both risky and safe assets as stocks and bonds had their biggest simultaneous gains in more than two decades. An improving outlook on the economy, progress between the U.S. and China on trade, and the Fed’s interest rate cuts boosted investors’ confidence. However, fears of a global manufacturing slowdown, aggravated by trade conflicts, helped push up defensive assets along the way.