Insights

Community Foundations: The Power of Aggregated Capital

Community foundation assets have grown steadily over the years, accumulating a mix of endowment funds and funds with more expedient spend-down expectations. With the right expertise and attention, the endowment model can be applied to these complex, dynamic assets to differentiate the foundation and deliver on its mission.

August 2019

Revving UK Pension Schemes’ Funding Engines

A number of UK defined benefit pension schemes have experienced significant funding level gains in recent years, driven by sponsor contributions, liability management exercises, and strong equity market returns. However, due to increased volatility in global equity markets, relatively high valuations in many market segments, and the late stages of the economic and credit cycles, optimising the scheme’s growth engine is more challenging than ever. This paper provides a framework for how to achieve that goal.

August 2019

Does a Dovish Fed Doom the US Dollar?

No, we do not think Federal Reserve rate cuts signal a major downturn in the US dollar.

August 2019

Whistling Past the Covenant-Lite Graveyard: A Sanity Check in Practical and Philosophical Terms

The recent shift in common wisdom with respect to covenant-lite loans hearkens the warning to be careful of changing opinions in the face of unchanging facts and steadfast opinions. Many general partners bemoan the incidence of covenant-lite loans, but others do not. Some market participants have come to support covenant-lite loans. Their opinions appear to […]

August 2019

Pathways to Sustainable Investing: Insights from Families and Peers

Every day, CREO and Cambridge Associates encounter wealth owners, families, and family office professionals who are starting down the path of sustainability investing. This paper details the typical path these investors take, the questions many of them face, and the way that many of them successfully develop a winning strategy that generates both returns and impact.

August 2019

Four Key Strategies for Managing Pension Risk

While overseeing pension plans is increasingly complex and there’s no silver bullet solution, employing these four strategies can do much to reduce risk. CFOs at companies that offer defined benefits might be forgiven for feeling frustrated that, in addition to oversight responsibility for company financial performance, shareholder relations, accounting, tax, and myriad other functions, they […]

July 2019

What to Expect From Your Direct Lenders When the Cycle Turns

Direct lending, or senior debt, funds have come to dominate the private credit asset class, capturing significant portfolio allocations and outpacing fundraising of other private credit strategies. However, over the past 18 months, Cambridge Associates has felt enthusiasm for senior debt allocations cool as discussions turn to senior debt funds’ performance through the credit cycle.

July 2019

Profit Margins for US Companies Are Very Strong; Are They Sustainable?

No. While US companies have some defensible profitability advantages, today’s elevated margin levels may be poised for a reversal of fortune.

July 2019