Insights

Will Talk of the Fed Tapering Cause Another Bond Tantrum?

No. While the Federal Reserve’s discussion of tapering asset purchases signals a shift toward tighter monetary policy, both the Fed and markets learned valuable lessons from the 2013 Taper Tantrum; the impact on bond yields should be limited.

June 2021

Implementing Sustainable and Impact Investing in Investment Portfolios

Implementing sustainable and impact investing (SII) themes in investment portfolios can seem complex, leaving many investors new to SII wondering how to begin. This paper provides insight into building resilient portfolios that will contribute to and thrive in a more sustainable and equitable future.

May 2021

Case Study: How a fund portfolio fueled investment opportunities for a family’s total portfolio

The Cervasio family’s wealth was generated by their consulting business, which is now operated by the third generation. Today, an established family office oversees the wealth in accordance with strategic objectives set by the family board. CLIENT BRIEF Client: The Cervasio Family Office Source of wealth: Consulting business Situation: Seeking an advisor for US private […]

May 2021

Portfolio Protection: Challenges with Equity Put Options

We advise extreme caution in using derivatives to protect portfolios from sharp equity drawdowns. We recommend that investors look to asset allocation to defend against equity risk before buying puts. For those investors who must pursue a tail-risk hedge, we provide a list of potential pitfalls and solutions, in the form of a case study.

May 2021

Should Clients Consider Diversity When Making Investment Decisions?

Diversity is not just about gender or ethnicity—it is about having different perspectives, different points of reference, and different experiences. Homogeneous investment teams are more susceptible to groupthink, missing out on unknown opportunities, and being blind to some risks. Investors should consider diversity in the investment decision-making process, as we expect a diversity of thought and talent will lead to better investment outcomes than a process that ignores this important issue.

May 2021

The American Rescue Plan Act Brings Relief and Highlights Challenges for US Pension Plan Sponsors

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was signed into law on March 11, 2021, and included a variety of plan sponsor–friendly changes to single-employer and multiemployer pension plans, but no real help for public sector plans. ARPA may change the future landscape of US pension plans, which may prompt plan sponsors to modify their investment strategies to achieve plan objectives. Its impact will vary greatly, both by plan type and individual plan circumstances.

May 2021

US Inflation Spikes, as Expected

Today, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics released its monthly inflation report for April, which highlighted that prices paid by urban consumers for a basket of goods and services increased by 4.2% relative to the same month last year.

May 2021

Investing in 21st Century Infrastructure: Benefiting from the Digital Revolution

The importance of digitisation has grown during the pandemic, as people have relied more on digital platforms, video streaming, and cloud storage. Investment across the digital infrastructure value chain continues to rise in response, and should increasingly be a priority for real asset investors.

May 2021