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The IRS released its second set of proposed regulations under Internal Revenue Code, Section 1400Z-2, Special rules for capital gains invested in opportunity zones. While some questions remain unanswered, it provided much needed guidance for investors, fund managers, developers, and sponsors pertaining to qualified opportunity zone business property, the treatment of tangible leased property, Section 1231 gain, the 90-percent asset test, and more. The guidance is generally taxpayer-friendly and provides the flexibility that businesses and investors were seeking.

Contrary to the benefit that investors have historically achieved with corporate private equity investments, private real estate funds have generally not succeeded in delivering a return premium. Yet there remains significant momentum in institutional capital targeting private equity real estate, especially value-add and opportunistic strategies. History shows that REITs have been an attractive way to make an allocation to real estate, with relatively lower-risk business models that have produced superior returns to the average private fund over full market cycles.

Recent statutory changes in Tennessee law has authorized the separation of the traditional trustee roles by allowing for the appointment of a Trust Advisor (also referred to as a Trust Protector) who can have the authority to “direct” an exercise of a power held by the Trustee, including direction concerning investment and distribution decisions. In addition to several changes to the law, it added a new Part 13 that permits the creation of Special Purpose Entities to serve as Trust Advisors for trusts for which a Tennessee corporate fiduciary is serving as Trustee.

With impact investing, the viability and projected growth of the creative economy is not easily seen. But when using the “creativity lens” that looks at creative activity beyond the limits of art and culture, a different story emerges. It can be seen that impact investing in the creative economy has been hiding in plain sight. This study by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors identifies 107 funds that have been investing in the creative economy and shows the tremendous potential there for impact investors.

So what does bitcoin, cryptocurrency, and blockchain mean? By starting with clear definitions, this introduction provides an overview and background information to help you understand how bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies work. While using bitcoins or other cryptocurrencies and digital assets may provide unique opportunities to your business, it also comes with unique risks that require appropriate processes and controls to mitigate those risks.

A Domestic Asset Protection Trust (DAPT) provides an opportunity to protect your assets from the claims of third-party creditors, which makes it a powerful tool to enhance your estate plan. Because DAPTs require giving up some control over your assets, they are not right for everyone. But they can provide protection for individuals in careers with high risk exposure or those looking for a prenuptial agreement alternative.

Companies are starting to take notice of the increasing numbers of pet owners prepared to invest in their pets' health. Driving much of this growth is a secular shift referred to as the "humanization of pets," where pets are viewed as members of their pet owners' families. The animal health industry is structurally more attractive than the human health industry due to superior growth, less regulation, less costly research and development projects, and lack of third-party payers.

The rhyming market maxim “Sell in May and Go Away” describes the phenomenon that stocks have historically underperformed between May and October, and that investors are better off being out of the stock market and in bonds or cash during the summer months, only to return to risk-seeking assets for the more robust November through April period. Historic advantages, however, lack year-over-year persistence and ignore key realities like taxes and re-entry discipline. There are no fundamental drivers that support “selling in May” every year.

There is a passionate and growing effort among funders to focus less on change that is short-term or only at the project or program level; such funders are instead using models that reach across different sectors and approaches and dig deep into root causes, leading to more structural, systemic change. Aiming their efforts at more transformational progress on the challenges facing society today, family foundations and funders are moving forward with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Intuitively, many business managers recognize that their decision window has been shrinking with each passing year. Information dissemination has become real-time and on-demand. What is required is an analytical approach that enables management to monitor and measure the development of the important strategic drivers and make decisions with confidence. Learn why ad hoc reporting is failing to fill the gap, the changing role of the modern finance leader, and the three new approaches to attaining deeper financial analytical insight.