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The first quarter may be an accurate forecast of the performance of risk assets for the entire year, which is likely to be one of a flat average and a wide range of individual monthly returns. After the initial five-week decline in risk asset prices, global stocks reversed their initial losses, high-yield bonds spreads tightened, and the CRB Commodities Index finished higher by the end of the quarter than at the beginning of the quarter. The latest pattern in risk assets is unstable, similar to previous market tumbles and rebounds.

Philanthropists from Europe, the United States, Asia, and the Middle East are approaching philanthropy in an innovative way and actively promote their causes. Interviews illustrate how they are trying to make a lasting change in terms of impact on the ground as well as the longevity of their charitable organizations. For many philanthropists, achieving a sustainable outcome is the second motivation, after the cause itself. And impact investing and collaborative philanthropy are considered as the top trends in achieving sustainable outcome.

Municipal bond investors may be concerned that periods of economic stress could result in states defaulting on their debt. This fear can be exacerbated by political rhetoric, by inflammatory reporting, or even by inherent suspicion of the efficacy of governments. Yet states have successfully managed through multiple economic contractions in the postwar era. As demonstrated in the past, most states will manage through this current recession using the tools available, making necessary if painful cuts in expenditures, and continuing to honor their obligations to their bondholders.

The tech industry was undergoing a period of introspection even before the COVID-19 pandemic began. While the crisis spotlighted the importance of the tech industry and existing technology, the future is still rooted in the core purpose of innovation with intent. The tech industry is poised for growth in 2021, and optimization is the path to realizing opportunity.

Custom separately managed accounts (SMAs) may seem to many like the newest in the line of innovations in the investment industry. However, the benefits of portfolio customization go far beyond security selection. At its core, it allows an investor’s portfolio to be managed consistent with their specific rules, exclusions, or tax situations. With efficiency and flexibility, SMAs can also adapt to the twists and turns of an investment journey.

COVID-19 is exacerbating ongoing geopolitical and societal challenges, and the existential crisis of climate change looms large. In this 16th edition of the Global Risks Report, it highlights the implications of major risks, including the COVID-19 pandemic and an emerging risk landscape spanning from the digital divide to navigating global fractures to considering strategic investments to avoid catastrophic outcomes.

Few investor concerns are as fundamental as portfolio performance. How to evaluate it is one of the most common questions posed by private wealth clients. It starts with the benchmarking process—the evaluation of investment decisions and their results. But to truly evaluate your portfolio, it pays to drill down deeper and focus on the three steps needed to determine which decisions have been successful and which need improvement.

Although the future is unpredictable, we do know that financial planning can allow families and their advisors to operate from a position of strength and resilience, no matter the changes that lie ahead. In this video, the Baird economic analysts and financial planning specialists look at how the economic landscape impact your finances in 2021 while highlighting wealth planning opportunities to consider.

Investors shouldn't let taxes prevent them from choosing better investment options. Transitioning to a tax-managed SMA may help minimize upfront tax cost and provide opportunities over time to reduce tracking error against a preferred benchmark. The combination of this tax efficiency, along with ongoing tax management, allows investors with different tax and investment situations to more readily achieve their near-term and long-term asset allocation and investment goals.

When an off-the-shelf solution doesn’t cut it, responsible investors can turn to customized separately managed accounts (SMAs) to build portfolios that align with their values, including expressing their individual ESG views. With an SMA, investors can also gain the market exposure they’re seeking through portfolio construction, active ownership, or a combination of the two.