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The United Kingdom’s “Brexit” vote to leave the European Union (EU) triggered a heightened level of market volatility that had several implications for stocks, bonds, currencies, and commodities. The vote will lead to long-lasting negotiations between the British government and the EU, and periods of geopolitical, economic and global financial-market uncertainty in the coming months and years as a result. Some investors may be wondering, “what now” following the buildup and global financial market disappointment with the Brexit vote.

Once an investor decides to allocate to metals, questions often arise concerning “How do I buy gold and what are the best practices around ownership?” Several steps will lead to an informed decision and illuminate how best to tailor a strategy to meet your needs and protect your wealth.

Investing strategies encompassing responsible investing are expanding rapidly amid greater interest from asset managers, pension plans, endowments and foundations, and plan participants. The primary challenge remains educating market participants on the different types of approaches and products. At the same time, there is rising demand among investors to align their financial objectives and investment goals with their value systems and beliefs. As a result, assets under management that were “responsibly invested” grew to $59 trillion in 2015, from $4 trillion in 2006.

The nascent market for green bonds saw a growth spurt in 2014 with issuance tripling from a year earlier, surpassing $38 billion. The growth in green bonds comes amid greater awareness of climate change and expanding investor appetite for environmentally-aware investment products. The prevalence of these securities is likely to rise as they allow issuers and investors alike to demonstrate their commitment to environmentally focused initiatives.

At a Daily Journal annual meeting in Los Angeles earlier this year, Charlie Munger – the 91-yearold Vice Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway – shared his opinion on the investment landscape when asked about negative interest rates in Europe and persistently low rates in the United States:

There is rarely any dissension over the assumption that future investment results are shaped by present-day conditions. Underpromising, or assuming future returns will fall below historic averages, may appear unduly pessimistic. Yet, adversity is best confronted when it is expected. With prudent expectations and some guidance, your investment portfolio can have a foundation to overdeliver when the pendulum changes course. Explore pockets of opportunity to take advantage of what the markets have to give in a modest return environment.

Change is in the wind. After a challenging 2015, the investment landscape for 2016 will be defined by a new course for monetary policy and political leadership, a new primary catalyst for stocks and an altered roadmap for credit markets, and for energy. Looking ahead at these asset classes—U.S. equities, international equities, fixed income, commodities, hedged strategies, and private markets—can provide a good sense of the investment outlook over the next twelve months.

Continuing a trend of the past five years, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) grew in assets under management in 2020. However, the fact remains that the ETF continues to be a one-size-fits-all solution that isn’t optimal for everyone. The flexibility of a custom passive separately managed account (SMA) can beat an ETF in terms of tax efficiency in many cases. Three advantages of the SMA illustrate the benefits.

Mexico is at a pivotal point in the evolution of its energy markets. In the last few years it has passed reforms to liberalize its oil, gas, and electricity markets with the intent of attracting private investment to build out its energy infrastructure. Driven primarily by increased demand in the electricity sector, Mexico’s natural gas market has grown at an average annual rate of 3.5 percent over the past decade.