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There’s a common sentiment that COVID-19 will have an impact on investment strategies and the types of investors that will be active over the next few years. While 2021 may turn into a feeding frenzy for private equity, longer-term investors can remain as selective as they’ve always been. Corporate acquirers, meanwhile, won’t simply buy market share because acquisition targets have lower valuations, but they will align their mergers and acquisitions (M&A) strategy on both the buy side and sell side with their long-term business plan.

Many are rethinking their asset allocations beyond traditional asset classes and are seeking new and creative ways to better diversify their investment portfolios, increase returns, and reduce risk. Turning to alternative investments—with a focus on private investment funds—see what you should know and consider when choosing to add them in the mix of your investment portfolios and asset allocation. There are pros and cons, and being well-informed is critical to making better investment decisions.

There is a growing realization among impact investors and those who seek to influence society that they can use more of their assets to complement and even accelerate their social impact goals. This guide provides the tools to develop and execute a tailored impact investing strategy. It offers an objective, agenda-free resource that will inspire readers while also being realistic about the limitations and possibilities of this increasingly popular investment strategy. New approaches are proposed while keeping the principles of traditional investing in mind.

No one should be surprised to see bouts of volatility in the market, including larger equity drawdowns. Uncertainty remains high at the start of 2021, with the world in a state of transition and optimistically moving from alarming levels of COVID-19 infections to a growing percentage of the population vaccinated. Buoyed by supportive monetary and fiscal policies, the economy should continue its recovery. China may also resurface as a market mover.

2020 was a chaotic year for many industries and the COVID-19 pandemic created a host of challenges for providers in the home health and hospice space. For investors and business owners in that space, the year ended with robust M&A activity in the hospice sector while the home health M&A activity remained dormant. Looking at the trends and challenges of 2020, what can investors and business owners expect in 2021?

Regardless of the sector, nearly every healthcare organization has made significant investments in technology, as data and computing became essential in the healthcare setting during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the pandemic, healthcare IT saw an uptick in M&A activity in certain sub-sectors. For those looking at potential investment deals in the healthcare sector, what can they learn from the trends in 2020 and what can they expect in 2021?

U.S. stock market performance, as measured by the S&P 500, has been driven by a small number of stocks over the past few years. The top five holdings now represent 21.9% of the S&P 500 as of December 31, 2020. It is also striking that each of the top five holdings share a common theme: technology and e-commerce. While investors shouldn’t give up on the S&P 500, there are possible alternatives that investors might want to consider.

The events of the last year have made the traditionally predictable world of real estate more chaotic and unclear. For family offices that invest in real estate, it means recognizing that every phase of their real estate investment brings on risk that can threaten its success and reputation. To remain competitive in the market, it is time to reflect on the past year, chart a course for success, and evaluate the risk philosophy and strategies.

In an uncertain market where each unfolding economic disruption is met with increasingly emboldened central bank intervention, economists are predicting accelerating declines in the value of all fiat currencies, including—and perhaps especially—in the U.S. dollar. Is gold the only way out for central banks looking to hedge their balance sheet? What about the individual investment portfolio? Where do the big banks think gold and silver are going in 2021?

Against the backdrop of the pandemic, this roundtable discussion was centered around faith-based institutions that seek to align their investments with the belief systems that guide their organizations while also being held accountable by their philanthropic donors. The diversity of the six participants—ranging in size and scale, complexity, geography, and faith—led to a robust discussion yielding multiple perspectives on the imminent challenges of COVID-19, faith-based initiatives, and three key takeaways on navigating the new landscape.