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A dynamic portfolio can help address a number of investment challenges that families of wealth face, including varying multigenerational preferences, unique tax considerations, domicile requirements, and specific beneficiary needs. Yet there is also such a thing as overcomplexity, which can waste time, cause confusion, decrease potential returns, and increase risk. This paper reviews three indicators of an overly complex portfolio and discusses best practices for addressing them.

When it comes to investing with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns in mind, there’s the aim to help foster positive change in the world through the lens of one’s personal values. Since it can be hard to decipher the news about ESG investing, here is a breakdown of some frequent ESG misconceptions and answers that address four questions: (1) Is ESG investing only for environmentalists? (2) Can ESG investing go beyond excluding certain investments? (3) Will ESG investors outperform the market? (4) How should you start investing with ESG in mind?

Over the last few decades, the lackluster performance of traditional active managers has fueled the rise of “closet indexing.” For some, this trend, and the related systemic underperformance of the active management industry, have renewed interest in concentrated investing in pursuit of improved investment performance. This paper leverages empirical evidence and expert insights to outline the merits of concentrated investing as an alternative or complement to more diversified solutions.

The traditional 60/40 portfolio—a mix of 60% stocks and 40% bonds—is suffering through one of its worst periods in history. Although the demise of the 60/40 portfolio has been predicted before, investors may now face a new regime of high inflation and rising correlations between equities and fixed incomes. For investors in hard-hit 60/40 portfolios, there is an alternative—the 80/20/40 portfolio with an option overlay—that may provide diversification without triggering adverse tax consequences, and may exhibit a better risk-reward profile, with lower volatility.

With below-average returns expected over the next five years, it’s clear that getting asset allocation right will be essential to delivering on the key challenges of our time: achieving purchasing power parity and avoiding any permanent capital impairment. By using a forward-looking, historically-aware framework for developing long-term return forecasts across asset classes, there are key considerations and underlying themes for family office and long-duration investors to keep in mind to help tackle their strategic and tactical portfolio construction decisions.

Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is being considered “The Fourth Industrial Revolution,” is the latest innovation and technology disruption fueling growth and reshaping societies alike. While there are investment opportunities where big winners are reaping the benefits of AI, the future of AI remains uncertain. In this early stage of AI advancement, it is important to understand the inherent risks of concentrating portfolios in themes and trends—including AI—that are likely to evolve and shift over time.

President Joe Biden’s executive order targeting U.S. investments in certain industries in China has raised questions about its impact on global markets and investment portfolios. In examining its potential effects, NEPC’s Senior Investment Director, Jennifer Appel, shares her insights on what the executive order means for investors. She also provides perspectives on Chinese private markets, China’s debt levels, the high unemployment rate and uncertain economy, and the long-term views on investing in China.

While there are predictions of a recession amid a looming economic downturn, there are opportunities for investors to acquire distressed assets as part of their direct investing or mergers and acquisitions plan. In this 10-minute interview, attorney Tom Scannell highlights some of the issues potential buyers may face as they look at financially-distressed target companies, as well as the available legal tools and structures to facilitate an acquisition while decreasing risk. Tom also shares insights on other key considerations, including the importance of conducting due diligence.