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Volatility in global equities subsided in the Fourth Quarter of 2015; however, 2016 will likely see multiple spikes due to the follow-through from low oil prices and concerns over China. Other current and fluctuating conditions of global capital markets add to the volatility. Amidst the turmoil, growth should stabilize in 2016 with the impact of Ch...

For most financial assets 2015 was a challenging environment, with equities seeing negative or muted performance and fixed income facing its worst year since 2013 as yields slowly moved higher in anticipation of the Fed rate hike in December. Some of the macro themes of 2015 (a strong dollar and monetary tightening in the U.S.) will carry forward i...

Important insights lie in the trends hidden under asset class classification of the hedge fund industry, which is expected to grow 25% annually in the next five years from $0.5 to $1.4 trillion dollars. To spot the trends, the asset categories should be useful for family offices to gain meaningful insights of major allocation shifts. A good place t...

Global equity markets rebounded sharply in October 2015 after the third quarter sell-off due to accommodative monetary policies and some better economic and earnings news. The gains faded late in the quarter on further weak data from China, weak exports, and more stress in the energy and commodity sectors due to oversupply mostly extracted by new t...

During uncertain times, it is easy to get caught up in the latest headlines proclaiming a possible U.S. recession. Although many variables such as growth in hourly earnings or high yield spreads over Treasury bonds have been shown to “predict” recessions in advance, the slope of the yield curve remains a powerful indicator of what lies ...

The venture ecosystem in Israel is undergoing an evolution as entrepreneurs are flourishing throughout the country. In November 2015 there were 6,000 start-ups in Israel garnering funding from a new generation of venture funds made up of both spin-outs from existing firms and new VCs. The combination of a vibrant culture of entrepreneurship, suppor...

Markets have had a very turbulent start to 2016, and the global economy faces a number of clear challenges. The implications of four interlinked issues—China, crude oil, credit markets, and central banks—are unsettling capital markets. The global economy faces several challenges, but it is continuing to grow, and there are reasons to ma...

The easy investment returns enjoyed since the end of the financial crisis have succumbed to the pressures of elevated valuations, Federal Reserve tightening and oil price declines, which have created significant volatility, bearish sentiment and losses among investors. This changed investment environment has caused a wave of worries, with many wond...

A careful and disciplined approach to philanthropic giving combines purpose, practicality and passion. Strategic philanthropy is similar to intentional asset allocation in that it requires as much of the giver’s brain as it does the bank account. This white paper explains a higher quality of giving, an important part of many high net worth in...

Wealthy investors are in a strong, positive frame of mind as the recession recedes and prospects for the economy and financial markets improve. Yet, despite this growing confidence, they face significant, unrecognized challenges in their investment and wealth strategies. This study reveals the risks wealthy individuals face as they adapt to a chall...

While challenges in the past caused the field to focus on practices to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of philanthropy, current challenges require an even deeper demand of philanthropy’s ability to address the most pressing problems of our time, amid smaller endowment values and continued economic uncertainty, government budget restr...

Entrepreneurs are, at their core, in the business of solving problems. They identify a problem, find a solution and build a business around it. At the same time, it’s hardly surprising that entrepreneurs are highly individualistic when it comes to philanthropy, applying the same creative thinking that made them successful in business.

The investment returns of the past are unlikely to be repeated going forward, as asset classes that comprise a large portion of many nonprofit portfolios are likely nearing the end of a long bull market. This will force boards to look for additional sources of return as well as more efficient ways to make required distributions.

After an historic financial crisis and ensuing market volatility, many nonprofit organizations are struggling while others are thriving. This paper uncovers the difference: Some of these organizations have been far better at integrating their investment strategies with their overall missions.

The reinstatement of the charitable IRA rollover by the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 provides a window of opportunity for certain donors to make significant charitable gifts on a tax-favored basis. To take advantage of this provision, a donor must be at least 70½ years old, and distributions must be made directly from the IRA trustee...