Alternative Investments

“Through the use of non-correlated sectors of the financial markets such as Real Estate, Commercial Credit, Equipment Financing and Energy and Power, we seek to diversify risk and minimize volatility.”

Over the last decade, investors have experienced extraordinary volatility in the traditional stock and bond asset classes. The current economic environment of low growth, historically low interest rates and a close correlation between asset classes has led our investment team to integrate alternative investment strategies. Our goals are to:

Maximize portfolio income
Reduce overall portfolio volatility
Reduce risk through greater diversification and low-to-negative correlation
Preserve and grow wealth

Meanwhile, the traditional method for reducing risk in portfolios (namely, decreasing stocks holdings and increasing bond allocations) may no longer work as effectively in the current environment as they did in the past. Long term interest rates, which peaked in the early 1980s have subsequently declined to historically low levels. In the current environment bond investors are receiving very little income relative to the significant duration (price) risk embedded in fixed rate bonds in the event interest rates rise in the future.

And, traditionally “safe” investments such as FDIC-insured bank products like CDs are paying less than historic rates of inflation, which results in a real loss of purchasing power over time.

The current global economic environment of low growth, historically low interest rates and a close correlation between asset classes has led our investment team to integrate alternative assets and strategies (collectively referred to as “alternative investments.”)

While the following list is not exhaustive, it includes the primary category of alternative investments under which most assets and strategies can be classified.

*This is a sample of the kinds of investments and sponsors but does not necessarily reflect any specific past, current, or future investment.

The cost structure, liquidity, strategies, valuation, terms and features of hedge funds are delineated in private placement memoranda. Risk and return potential vary by sponsor, offering, and overall market and economic conditions. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns.

Alternative investments are more complex than traditional investment vehicles and can have cost/fee structures, valuation methodologies, liquidity limits, unique strategies, and a variety of risks that may be unfamiliar to many individual investors. Some invest in illiquid assets, which can make them difficult to exit and price on a regular basis. Some strategies involve leverage which can magnify gains or losses.

A trusted advisor, acting in a fiduciary capacity, is an essential business partner who can help determine the mix of investments that may be right for you.