Should the Latest Climate Research Catalyze Change in How Investors Think About Risk?

Yes. According to a recent report released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), “climate change is a threat to human well-being and planetary health,” and the window of opportunity to “secure a livable and sustainable future for all” is rapidly closing. The new report highlights the considerable risks posed by climate change to […]

March 2022

Would Adoption of Policies Like the Rooney Rule by Asset Allocators Encourage Greater Diversity Among Investment Managers?

No. Adoption of policies like the Rooney Rule—a requirement to interview at least one woman or person of color candidate for leadership positions by many companies and institutions—has not substantially improved diversity among leadership ranks. Given this reality, we doubt such policies would encourage greater diversity among investment managers. These policies are not created to […]

March 2022

Business Ownership at a Crossroads: Key Questions for Planning What’s Next

Private business owners who hold the majority of their wealth in one company are different from other investors. They face unique challenges when making investment decisions, including the fundamental question of whether to retain a concentrated position in their business. After all, concentrated positions can create wealth, but they also increase portfolio risk. Because of […]

March 2022

What Long-Term Investment Implications Should Investors Be Monitoring Related to the War in Ukraine?

As we peer through the fog of war, prospects for a decline in US dollar dominance, durably higher inflation, and persistent heightened geopolitical risk appear on the horizon. However, it can take a long time before ripples either fade out or become waves. And their future path is influenced by their interaction with each other […]

March 2022

Pension Risk Transfers Have Several Downside Risks for US Plan Sponsors

Pension Risk Transfers (PRTs), including the increasingly popular partial annuity purchase, are a set of tools used frequently by US plan sponsors to de-risk their pension plans. These transactions are intended to lower the risk and cost of the plan by shrinking its size. However, in many cases, they may achieve the opposite result. Specifically, […]

March 2022

How Should Investors Alter Portfolios Considering the War in Ukraine?

Thoughtfully, if at all. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sent shockwaves across the world, creating a tragic humanitarian and geopolitical crisis, and introducing new uncertainty to the global economy and financial markets. The lynchpin to understanding how assets may perform in the coming days and weeks is, of course, knowing the duration of the war and […]

March 2022

Do Significant Geopolitical Events Tend to Precede Equity Bear Markets?

No. Global equities tend to sell off following major geopolitical events, but such declines have historically been mild and short-lived, far below the 20% drawdown threshold that is typically considered a bear market. We view this historical tendency as a useful, but imperfect, benchmark in thinking about the impact of the current Russia-Ukraine crisis on […]

February 2022

Will Concerns Over "Greenflation" Derail the Energy Transition?

No. The inflation attributed to green initiatives (known as “greenflation”) is part of the current inflation narrative, but we doubt concerns related to it will derail the global energy transition. Net zero pledges and related policy frameworks have been rolled out in nearly 200 countries, underpinning a transition already underway due to climate change and […]

February 2022