Year-end tax planning is always challenging, but the coronavirus pandemic has added a whole new layer of complexity to the equation for individuals, families, and businesses across the nation. The potential tax ramifications are significant. There are a number of tax developments to consider for the current tax year.
The combined effect of Biden’s tax proposals could alter behavior of the tax-aware investor. In examining the major tax provisions proposed under a Biden administration, the impact on equity tax management is clear. However, a divided or Republican-controlled Senate will make for a less orderly path from proposal to law.
Technological innovations in bond trading rarely grab headlines, but advancements have substantially changed how business is conducted in the fixed income markets. When used as part of a comprehensive portfolio construction process, electronic trading helps improve efficiency, enhancing performance while reducing account minimums and expanding cust...
The pool of potential investors for private offerings has widened under the Securities and Exchange Commission’s new definition of “accredited investor” in Rule 215 and Rule 501(a). Accredited investors—considered to be sufficiently sophisticated and risk tolerant—are permitted to participate in certain private offerin...
There’s a fading but lingering misconception that socially responsible investing (SRI) means sacrificing returns against a benchmark. The source of concern—and misconception—can often be traced to confusion around the tracking error. By understanding what’s behind a portfolio’s deviation from the performance of its ben...
The stakes are high: climate change is creating an urgent need for a lower-carbon economy, and the Biden administration will face the daunting challenge of reigniting the U.S. economy in the wake of the pandemic, and energy may be a critical catalyst of that recovery. Dr. Daniel Yergin—a leading global authority on energy, economics and geopo...
Several converging factors threaten to upend the status quo in real estate investing, bringing an unprecedented revolution that is forcing both investors and asset managers to reexamine their beliefs, processes, and infrastructure. To position your portfolios well and formulate well-informed responses, it is critical to focus on the emerging trends...
When entering into the emerging field of cultivating and selling cannabis, how do companies navigate the environmental issues surrounding it? This webinar covers how existing laws and regulations impact the industry, explain regulatory trends, and offers compliance tips for entrepreneurs.
The COVID-19 pandemic has upended almost every facet of American life—including the cannabis industry. In this roundtable, the Sheppard Mullin team covers current market conditions, the impact of COVID-related legislative mandates, financial implications of the recently enacted economic stimulus bills, labor and employment concerns, supply ch...
The global COVID-19 pandemic was certainly a black swan event that had both positive and negative impact when looking through the lens of traditional environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors. Of note was the outperformance of sustainable investing strategies compared to their non-sustainable counterparts, which is shaping how investors t...
Global equity markets have rebounded despite a global pandemic, economic depression, and social unrest. A second wave of the virus remains a significant concern and is expected to result in continued stock price volatility.
Historically, bank loans and high yield have traded off in terms of which protected better in market downturns. But in light of this unprecedented pandemic crisis, it is very sound and well-grounded for investors to ask what the unique advantages and disadvantages are from each. Certain investor situations may necessitate maintaining an overweight ...
As an alternative to ETFs, investors are seeing the value of investing in separately managed accounts (SMAs), which offer diversified, index-like, and customizable exposure. However, what does it mean for investors who already hold a basket of appreciated ETFs but would like to unlock the potential of SMAs? This dilemma is explored through a reason...
The treatment of capital gains and taxes become a little more complicated when considering a mutual fund investment. There are two scenarios where a mutual fund investor may end up paying more in capital gains taxes than expected. And the amount you pay may not depend only on you.
Are the potential benefits of premium munis worth the high cost to investors? Find out why avoiding them may lead to missing out on great value, beginning with understanding the relationship between a bond’s yield, price, and coupon rate to make sound judgments.