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Lower population growth and productivity growth will weigh on future GDP growth. These lower rates of growth, in turn, bring lower returns to many asset classes, including equities and fixed income. While this circumstance creates challenges for portfolios of any risk level, it is particularly challenging to build a low risk portfolio that generates much positive return after inflation and taxes. Adapting to this new environment may require some changes.

Structuring and strategically managing an investment portfolio is not easy in any environment. Until recently, the task was made easier with expected average returns that were at levels that would normally meet expectations to fund pension benefits, endowment distributions and lifestyle needs. However, today’s environment is drastically different. What can investors do to increase the probability that their average portfolio returns are higher across a broad spectrum of asset classes?

While hedge fund performance can be cyclical, as it is with equity and fixed income markets, an allocation to hedge funds can provide compelling attributes in an investment portfolio over the long run. At a closer look, hedge funds have been accretive to portfolios over the last 15 years, and in each of three 5 year segments. From a historical perspective across different market cycles, a case can be made that now is good time to allocate to hedge funds.

Private trust companies (the PTCs) are not a new phenomenon. Rather, they have increased dramatically in number over the years, with hundreds of major, family-controlled trust institutions now operating in the United States. This article addresses why the number of PTCs has been growing; describes its typical organizational structure; and discusses certain legal and practical considerations that a family should address when exploring a PTC.

Ransomware will continue to be a top security concern in the coming years because of its ease of use and high profitability. For those unfamiliar with ransomware, it’s a type of malicious software (also known as malware) that, when downloaded to a computer, encrypts files so they can no longer be accessed without paying a ransom to the cybercriminals who are holding the files hostage.

With the dramatic expansion of family wealth in the United States and around the world, family offices are a growing part of the global financial landscape. Depending on the family’s mission, service needs, professional skill set of individual family members, and their existing advisor network, a family office may be appropriate. While every family is unique, there are common situations that might call for a family to consider the advantages of establishing a family office.

The surprise result of the British referendum to leave the European Union this June sent shockwaves through the markets and some investors expected additional fallout down the road. It seems the opposite has been happening. Recent data from the U.K. Office for National Statistics showed the British economy grew by 0.7 percent in the second quarter and just above consensus expectations.

Maintaining a financial and moral investment perspective appeals to both individual and institutional investors, who have been turning to sustainable, responsible, and impact investing (SRI). In fact, SRI assets grew from $3.74 trillion in 2012 to $6.57 trillion or more in 2014, according to The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment. In its broadest sense, SRI refers to an investment discipline that strives for strong financial performance while also seeking to create positive change in the world. Who are the SRI investors and how are they making SRI work for them?

Recently proposed IRS changes to reduce or eliminate valuation discounts could dramatically increase the transfer tax cost of shifting property to members of your family in the future. The loss of valuation discounts is of significant concern for high-net-worth individuals for whom federal transfer taxes are an issue. It’s possible that some of the regulations could become effective as early as December of 2016, so it’s important to consult with your tax and legal advisors to evaluate your planning options.

Donors often ask how they can maximize their giving dollars when seeking to fulfill their charitable giving missions. A tax effective way is to donate appreciated securities to a donor advised fund, rather than selling the securities and donating the cash proceeds. So how does it work?