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Discussions between the U.S. and China regarding trade and tariff issues remain fluid. Markets are increasingly optimistic that an agreement between the two countries can help restore globalization trends, but protectionism could still weigh on growth. In Europe, the economy continues to report signs of weakness. In the U.S., labor conditions remain robust, with 3.8% unemployment rate. Sentiment indicators have been mixed, and surveys of corporate CFO priorities show a shift into more defensive strategies (away from expansion).

Single family offices (SFOs) have long been an established way for wealthy families to create accountability and structure around the myriad needs of family members. Yet decades of experience have revealed that families too often fail to recognize—or choose to ignore—early signs that an existing SFO structure is cost prohibitive or failing to meet a family’s shifting needs. For the infographic, click here.

Private markets investments remain poised to play an increasingly important role in the portfolios of individual and family investors seeking the compelling long-term outperformance and diversification characteristics of the asset class. Understanding the basics of private markets investments and their construction is the first step toward the successful implementation within an existing portfolio.

There is not a lot of data to call upon to glean the performance of direct private investments; however, based on a large, robust study focused on institutional investors, family offices should know that the performance of this type of investing has been mixed at best. In this paper, the second in a three-part series, we examine the peformance of direct investments relative to both private fund structures and the public markets.

On March 7, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) finally released its proposed rule to expand the overtime protections in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The rule would increase the salary an employee must receive before being deemed overtime-exempt to $679 per week – $35,308 per year (and $147,414 for highly compensated employees).

Professional investors have long touted the benefits of investing globally in order to expand the opportunity set and diversify the portfolio beyond home country borders. However, investors have largely overlooked a more attractive subset of international equities: small capitalization stocks. Their returns have significantly outpaced large cap international stocks over long time frames with only slightly more risk. There is a case for why small cap international stocks should have a place in every global investment portfolio.

After an extended period of isolation, China underwent an economic reform by opening up to the international community and foreign investment. The country moved fast to catch up with the developed world, and the new way forward—“socialism with Chinese characteristics”—has made China more vital, creative, and economically free. Yet, when it comes to investment, major institutional investors in the developed countries, especially in the North America, are very much underweight China in their portfolios, directly or indirectly.

In light of the recent severe weather events around the world, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C has caught the attention of the media and the public.

The past couple of years have proven to be banner years for private equity and merger and acquisition activity, with no signs of slow down in 2019. With cash on hand to invest and the increase in Representation and Warranty Insurance policies, forecasters expect these trends to continue. Podcast host Michael Cohen is joined by Luca Salvi to discuss the current state of the M&A and private equity trends in the United States.