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Benchmarking is a critical component of a successful investment program; however, measuring private investment performance vexes even the most sophisticated investors. The unique characteristics of these investments—the reporting lag, the long lock-up of capital, and the impact of the J curve, among others—make performance measurement a...

While trade finance is among the oldest forms of institutionalized credit, it has only recently become an accessible market for most institutional investors. Providing high liquidity, good return premiums over cash, and a predictable risk profile, it can play a valuable role in portfolio strategy. However, as a fairly new option for most investors,...

Many institutional investors have long sought to promote social equity through grant making and other philanthropic endeavors. With the field of impact investing maturing, these institutions are now increasingly seeking investment solutions to accomplish the same goal. Yet this effort raises important questions: What is social equity investing? Wha...

It is often thought that financial success comes with a certain level of financial freedom: the freedom to pursue passions, to take risks, to give back, and to make an even bigger impact. In the 2018 U.S. Trust Insights on Wealth and Worth® survey, the results revealed that only half of high-net-worth individuals have a plan to optimize the opportu...

Investors generally dislike uncertainty, and Trump’s unpredictability would seem to be a depressant on investor optimism. Yet the S&P 500 Stock Index has returned about 33% since the 2016 election, confounding the analysts who foresaw doom and gloom in an upcoming Trump administration. While Trump apparently views the stock market as a re...

It is normal for different individuals or institutions to make varying assessments of a particular situation. In a sense, this is a fundamental driver of financial markets, making it possible for there to be both willing buyers and willing sellers simultaneously. Differing perceptions may also help prevent, through restraining the growth of a herd ...

Lending to middle market companies in the U.S. and in Europe has shifted due to structural changes and evolving risk tolerances in each respective banking system. The emergence of direct lending as an established asset class is here to stay, and given the recent inflow of new entrants into the sector, it is imperative that investors select managers...

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) gets more sophisticated and weaves further into the fabric of human existence, what are the implications for work and society? How will AI, its evolution, and some of its potential future mind-bending possibilities impact investors? While the answers are beyond the reach of a single article, having a better understan...

Housing demand in the United States remains brisk even as issues with supply and affordability mount, particularly in the West. Solid sales and consumption are forecasted throughout the economy this year, with housing starts sustained near their current level of 1.25 million at an annualized pace. The Real Economy also offers a look at government r...

As part of federal tax reform, Congress created a new “Qualified Opportunity Zone” program to encourage investment in businesses that are located in low-income communities. Under this program, a taxpayer who recognizes gain on the sale of property (including, for example, investment assets such as stock or other security interests, and ...

Over the past year, the improved picture of the financial services community has been predicated on rising interest rates, strong financial conditions, modest inflation and an overall improving economy. Recently, a flattening yield curve has fostered concern about a premature end to the positive business cycle. However, things are not quite what th...

The purpose of the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program is to attract private investment to communities lacking adequate access to capital and experiencing vacant commercial properties, outdated manufacturing facilities and/or inadequate access to education, health care, healthy food and other basic social services. Different Community Development...

For centuries, corporate and consumer lending has followed a traditional model in which financial institutions act as centralized counterparties, making loans funded by deposits. Around 2006, this model was turned on its head by a new breed of fintech companies leveraging the network effect of the internet to directly connect lenders with borrowers...

One of the most important elements in portfolio construction is positioning the portfolio properly to allow it to meet personal and investment liquidity needs under various market conditions. Understanding how volatility impacts cash management—including reviewing cash flow sources and uses typically contained in liquidity planning—is c...

Family office investment vehicles often are organized as limited partnerships or LLCs treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes. Typically, the manager of such a partnership receives an interest in the partnership’s profits (a carried interest) in connection with the management services, in addition to management fees paid by th...