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The most likely outlook for the world economy in 2012 is a global growth recession with global real GDP growth in 2012 of about 3%. The overall economic outlook reflects a full-scale recession in Europe, stagnation or moderate recession in the U.K., near-trend growth in the U.S., continued expansion in Japan, and moderate slowdowns in China and most other emerging markets.

Every family has stories of success and failure, hardships and recovery, lessons learned and long forgotten, and it is these stories that enable members of the family to gain a sense of the family's uniqueness, connect with the source of the family's financial wealth, and deal with losses and transitions. The author suggests three ways to begin preserving these valuable stories.

The key theme in the second half of 2011 was one of moderate, sub-par economic growth accompanied by modest inflation pressures and no change in the federal funds target rate. Expect more of the same in 2012, with the economy expanding 2.0% for the year and small gains coming from many sectors of the economy.

Estate planners who help their clients become more strategic about philanthropy in their legacy planning strengthen relationships with clients and their heirs and significantly increase the likelihood that their clients’ charitable distributions will align with their interests and be more effective. Whether creating a new estate plan or revisiting an existing one, when discussing philanthropy there are certain topics advisors should consider incorporating into every conversation.

Investment strategies based purely on expertise in a particular industry or asset class will be insufficient in 2012; developing a broader view is essential to navigate the increasingly correlated environment. This comprehensive overview is intended to help investors refine their perspective across a host of markets, economies, and industries.

The "can" that policymakers have been kicking ineffectually down the road for the past few years may finally kick back in 2012 and compel positive, long-term structural change. That said, we are facing another year of sharp market volatility and a continued short supply of quality yield.

The tone heading into 2012 is cautious, and the year is likely to be one of continued rolling crises. But the U.S. economy has come far and is on much firmer footing than it was in 2008. It is our view that, moving through 2012, the U.S. economy will continue on a path of recovery, while we recognize the need for investors to be agile and diligent.

This essay is devoted to understanding how two key investment principles – a long-term equity time horizon and diversification – have performed in past periods of severe economic dislocation. Analysis demonstrates that maintaining these principles has proven extremely valuable, particularly in periods of volatility.

The new regulatory requirements stemming from the passage of Dodd-Frank will certainly be a costly addition to the reporting framework of the alternative investment industry. However, this new era of heightened regulatory and compliance procedures also brings the potential benefits of financial stability and investor protection.

An attorney/entrepreneur makes the case for investing in commercial claims. Investors in this specialty finance sector supply capital to companies to pursue their claims and hedge the risk of loss and, in return, receive a percentage of the claim proceeds.