Last year's credit crunch evolved into a financial crisis that has investors searching for the right strategy to weather the storm. But rather than simply staying the course, Greycourt recommends in this paper that investors with well-balanced portfolios take advantage of the opportunities that a bull market offers.
The thought of ground trembling strikes fear in many people, but with the proper attention and preparation these concerns and the potential negative fi nancial impact to you and your assets can be lessened. If you own property in earthquake country, you are at risk for loss. However, good risk-management techniques, initiated prior to an event, such as proper planning and preparation can mitigate or remove many of the potential pitfalls.
A checklist which serves as a useful diagnostic tool for clients to use in evaluating their current aviation insurance program. Also maps the relative pros and cons of owned, chartered or fractional share ownership.
By thinking ahead and paying a long-term capital gain today, an investor can derive a net tax benefit in future years. This research brief from Parametric Portfolio Associates explores the tax-management strategy of realizing such gains in a portfolio of equities and quantifies how much this can add to after-tax performance. The authors evaluate the costs and benefits and consider the impact of fluctuating markets on this strategy.
As their personal wealth and educational levels have increased, women have sought a more equal and active role in family governance, philanthropy, and business and financial planning. This article from RayLign explores the changes that have empowered women and how those changing roles affect family leadership, decision-making and relationships.
Independent research by Altair Advisers finds that active investment management can provide persistent outperformance and protection in down markets, compared with passive management. However, patience and thorough, ongoing qualitative due diligence are prerequisites.
The first quarter was an exhausting one for investors, with many left with little appetite for risk and retreating to positions of relative safety. But the turning point may be at hand, according to a quarterly investment strategy report from Barclays Wealth. The writers reassess asset allocation and bridge the gap between tactical and strategic views.
Investors are well advised to take into account the interest rate environment when considering wealth transfer options. Interest rates are important when establishing trusts, reviewing existing estate plans, and lending money to family members. With interest rates declining, the current rates used to value wealth transfers are now near historic lows.
Undivided fractional interests in real estate held as tenants-in-common (TIC) may be exchanged for likekind property under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code. The availability of Section 1031 taxdeferred treatment for transfer of TIC ownership interests presents today's investors with expanded investment opportunities but comes with new types of risks.
Indications are that only a fraction of kidnappings that are threatened, attempted or successful are reported. FBI investigations number 350–400 domestic kidnappings per year, with one-third resulting in the payment of ransom (average ransom $2,000,000). Globally, the statistics are far more disturbing. Britain's Foreign Policy Center estimates that kidnappers earn more than $500 million annually with 2004 statistics indicating 8,000–10,000 investigations worldwide.