Wealth Management
Vice President Kamala Harris is positioning herself as a supporter of policies that foster the growth of emerging technologies, including the digital assets industry. Her campaign adviser emphasized her commitment to stable, transparent regulations that promote innovation while safeguarding consumers.
This approach contrasts with former President Donald Trump's stance, which has garnered support from some in the cryptocurrency community due to his promises to reduce regulation.
Harris aims to balance innovation with responsible oversight, addressing concerns about economic stability and corporate responsibility. Additionally, she has made multiple statements around cutting red tape and bureaucracy for innovation.
Finsum: The path to higher bitcoin prices might be stable regulation in the long run.
Interval funds offer investors a way to diversify their portfolios with assets like real estate, private equity, and debt instruments, but they come with unique features. Unlike mutual funds, interval funds allow for liquidity only at specific intervals, such as quarterly or annually, rather than daily.
This limited liquidity provides fund managers with greater flexibility in choosing investments. Despite their higher fees and limited redemption opportunities, interval funds are growing in popularity, especially among those nearing retirement, due to their potential for steady returns from less liquid assets.
Investors should be aware of the fund's redemption process, minimum investment requirements, and the varying performance of these funds. Firms like KKR and Capital Group plan to launch interval funds.
Finsum: Liquidity concerns are real, but relaxing this constraint lets opportunities blossom.
Investors are increasingly turning their attention to small-cap stocks and ETFs due to a combination of favorable valuations, historical trends, and recent market dynamics. This renewed interest has been highlighted by a significant rally in small-cap stocks, particularly during July when the Russell 2000 recaptured much of its earlier underperformance relative to large-cap indices.
Analysts suggest that small-caps are still undervalued, with some estimates indicating a 20% to 30% discount compared to larger stocks. This presents a potential opportunity for prolonged outperformance in the small-cap sector. Notable options include the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM), which tracks a broad index of small-cap companies, and the Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF (VBR), which focuses on value-oriented small-cap stocks.
Each of these ETFs provides investors with a strategic entry into the small-cap market, with varying levels of risk and potential return depending on their investment goals.
Finsum: Also note that as interest rates come down small caps are historically in a position to take advantage because they are more levered.
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Direct lending, once a niche market for companies with lower credit ratings, has expanded into a powerful alternative for both middle-market and large-cap firms, managing nearly $1.7 trillion by mid-2023.
This growth has been fueled by private credit’s ability to offer flexible, borrower-friendly terms, even in billion-dollar deals traditionally dominated by banks. Banks, recognizing this trend, are now entering the direct lending space themselves, fostering competition that benefits borrowers with better pricing and more tailored financing solutions.
As direct lending continues to grow, it's poised to play an increasingly vital role in funding mergers, acquisitions, and other corporate transactions, especially as the market prepares for potential interest rate changes later in 2024.
Finsum: It’s worth monitoring banks direct involvement in direct lending, because this could change the evolution of the industry.
J.P. Morgan Asset Management has appointed Travis Spence as the global head of ETFs, underscoring its strategic focus on leading the active ETF market. Spence, a 20-year veteran at the firm, will manage ETF product development, capital markets, and the newly established ETF insights team, while continuing to lead distribution across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).
His previous leadership in expanding J.P. Morgan's active ETF presence in Europe positions him well to guide the firm’s next phase of growth. The global ETF platform has already expanded to nearly $190 billion across more than 100 products, securing J.P. Morgan's position as second in active ETF assets under management (AUM) and eighth overall globally.
Active ETFs continue to make strides in growth along their passive counterparts and have made substantial strides this year.
Finsum: Active management is really about the harmony of merging quantitative insights with the best portfolio risk practices.
Real estate has long been a cornerstone of wealth creation, but the responsibilities of being a landlord can be daunting. For those seeking passive income without the hassle, REITs like Realty Income Corp. offer an appealing alternative.
Known as “The Monthly Dividend Company,” Realty Income has a history of reliable payouts, currently offering a 5.59% dividend yield. However, REITs do tend to fluctuate more than underlying rents.
Investors looking for more direct involvement without the landlord duties might consider platforms like Arrived, which allows fractional investments in rental properties, combining monthly income with potential property appreciation. Both options provide avenues to invest in real estate without the headaches of property management.
Finsum: As interest rates fall yield seekers might consider real estate as an option to generate income, with fluctuations in equities markets.