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In this installment of a seven-part series on goals-based investing, Eton Advisors examines the behavioral foundations of the goals-based framework. Utilizing the “hierarchy of needs” approach first proposed by psychologist Abraham Maslow, the goals-based process begins with defining, quantifying, and prioritizing financial goals across multiple fa...

With few high yielding alternatives available in today's investing environment "drought", it is not surprising there is a strong demand for high-yield securities. In Aberdeen's view, the current economic environment should provide a highly beneficial climate for high-yield fixed income asset class. High-yield credit spreads are well above where the...

Over the past 20 years, economic, political and technological events have led to a dramatic growth in Emerging Market economies. Increased globalization, the dissolution of the communist bloc and the opening up of previously inaccessible markets such as China have all played a part in the expansion of investment opportunities in these countries, wh...

The four articles in this paper provide investment perspectives on the U.S. recovery, the Eurozone crises, the nature of China’s landing and whether policy makers have unleashed deflation or inflation.

This basic primer for investment managers provides a thorough introduction to exchange-traded funds – what they are, how they work, why they can be useful – and examines why regulators have been taking a closer look at them lately.

Ultra-short-duration bond funds seek to improve on the strategy underlying money market funds. By holding a variety of fixed income instruments with very short average durations in a fund structure, investors may be able to achieve higher yields from the current market environment than they typically could in a money market fund, albeit with little...

This article, originally published in Worth magazine, looks at some do's and don'ts for increasing cash flow in today's low-interest rate environment.

Altair's Jason Laurie details the dangers (and common practice) of chasing higher-yield investments in this Worth magazine article.

For wealthy families, 529s may not be the optimal way to save and pay for education. Altair's Rebekah Kohmescher explains in this Worth magazine article.

Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs) offer a unique combination of liquidity and cash flow to investors while serving as preferred access vehicles to capital markets. MLPs trade on major exchanges, like most publicly traded corporations. As partnerships, they avoid corporate income tax at the entity level, affording them a distinct cost of capital ad...

While private equity serves as a compelling addition to a well-structured portfolio, it presents investors with unique challenges in the areas of cash flow management, diversification and liquidity. Implementing private equity secondary funds can help offset some of these challenges while presenting investors with favorable return characteristics.

A business development company or BDC is a type of investment enterprise that typically lends debt capital to and/or invests in the equity securities of small to mid-size private businesses. This White Paper provides an in-depth introduction to BDCs, including their history, common practices, and risks.

While several key provisions of the ACA take effect in 2013, the broader market impact is likely muted in the near term. Markets are forward-looking, and stocks have had ample time to digest the legislation since it was passed in 2010. Equities showed little movement when the Supreme Court upheld its constitutionality in June, and though the recent...

Investors and investor representatives are often uncomfortable with managed futures because they believe that it is a "zero sum game." This belief endures in spite of managed futures' consistent long-term returns with lower historical volatility than asset-backed securities such as stocks. This white paper looks at the benefits of fut...

This study finds many companies still using divestments as a short-term tactical tool, often to raise cash or pay down debt. That’s no surprise given the difficulties many businesses have faced in terms of cash and credit since the financial crisis. However, in this prolonged period of low growth, divestments are likely to play a more strateg...