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One central truth of investing is that it inherently involves risk—investments might result in losing some or even all of the money invested. However, the returns we enjoy from investing…

In the ever-evolving landscape of investments, a significant trend is reshaping how wealth is grown and managed: private asset managers are increasingly opening their doors to high-net-worth and retail investors….

l have written in the past about how I am a long-term investor. While past performance does not guarantee future results, I always keep in mind historical data to help…

The world has become captivated by instant gratification. Smartphone apps, TV and movie streaming on demand, same-day delivery services – the speed of obtaining immediate reward has become an obsession….

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to get caught up in the noise of predictions, forecasts, and market speculation. It’s tempting to listen and react to predictions, but successful investing and sound financial planning involve tuning out the noise and taking a more disciplined, strategic approach.

Investing takes nerve. There’s always a reason to “let things calm down,” “hold off for now,” “take profits,” or any other common quip we’ve all heard. We do know that long-term, diversified investing leads to positive outcomes in almost every circumstance.  Despite that, human nature leads us to make emotional choices affected by outside influences.  There are times when these emotions seem especially heightened.  This year promises to be one of those years. 

Background: How We Got Here

In late 2008, the Federal Reserve (the Fed) cut the Fed funds rate – the target interest rate at which commercial banks borrow and lend their excess reserves to each other overnight – to 0% for the first time in history in response to the Global Financial Crisis.
Since cutting the Fed funds rate to 0% didn’t cause inflation to surpass the Fed’s 2% target (one of their dual mandates is price stability), the Fed maintained this accommodative policy (along with quantitative easing) for the next decade-plus as shown in the chart below.
Ultra-low interest rates from 2009 to 2021 paved the way for one of the longest economic recoveries in history; during this period, borrowing was cheap and therefore prevalent, and because credit investments offered meager returns, investors were encouraged to pursue higher-return (and higher-risk) investments such as stocks.

Recently, I wrote about alternative credit and the rationale we use for this type of alternative asset category at Strategic Wealth Partners. Another area of alternatives we use extensively is what we term “alternative equity.” In order to discuss this topic, traditional equity investing first requires review.

Why do people invest in equities to begin with?

An equity investor has the opportunity to participate in the growth of a company. A company’s value is reflected in a company’s profits, growth in profits, and distributions from those profits in the form of dividends.

As anyone can attest to lately, it certainly feels like the economy and financial markets are confounding. Browse any news source of your liking and you’re bound to see the first few articles with titles that make your head spin. Disruption brings change, including to capital markets. While this can bring financial anxiety, it also creates opportunity for investors.