Wealth Management
Halo Investing has secured $12 million in Series B funding to enhance transparency and competition in structured notes investing. Backed by investors like Allianz Life Ventures and William Blair Circle, the platform aims to make structured notes more accessible by eliminating traditional high minimum investment requirements.
As the world’s first independent, multi-issuer technology platform for structured notes, Halo enables advisors to offer protective investing in an unbiased, data-driven manner. CEO Jason Barsema emphasized the company’s mission to provide equal investment opportunities for all, from everyday investors to corporate executives.
The platform streamlines order management, enhances compliance, and optimizes back-office efficiency for issuers and wealth managers.
Finsum: With this latest innovation, structured notes are a rapidly developing investment framework.
Global private credit is staging a recovery from a decade-low slump, driven by stronger-than-expected global GDP growth and a gradual shift toward looser monetary policy.
Although deal activity remains below historical norms, transaction volumes grew 7% last year, with deal values rising 15% to $3.5 trillion, bringing the market closer to pre-pandemic levels. Despite lingering valuation gaps and geopolitical uncertainty, optimism is building for a stronger M&A rebound in 2025, which could further boost private credit’s rapid ascent as an alternative financing source.
The asset class has cemented itself as a critical pillar of corporate lending, filling the gap left by traditional banks and offering borrowers more tailored, flexible funding solutions. Investors are increasingly drawn to private credit’s ability to deliver stable returns and diversify portfolios, fueling further expansion in the sector.
Finsum: As dealmaking momentum builds, firms are poised to capitalize, leveraging their global network and deep industry expertise to connect capital with opportunity.
Spring doesn’t have to involve expensive travel—there are plenty of fun ways to enjoy time together at home. One idea is to “travel the world from home” by learning about different countries, cooking their traditional dishes, and watching related movies.
A family pilgrimage to a nearby holy site can also be a meaningful experience, especially during this Jubilee Year, with many designated pilgrimage locations across the U.S. For a fun night in, kids can enjoy a "sleep-under," wearing pajamas, playing games, and watching a movie before heading home to sleep.
Cozy reading time can be made extra special with a library trip followed by building a blanket fort to read new books inside. A family bake-off adds a competitive twist to baking, letting each child pick a recipe to make and everyone vote on the tastiest creation.
Finsum: Whether through cultural exploration, faith-filled experiences, or simple at-home activities, spring break can be both memorable and affordable.
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With inflation concerns lingering, advisors are closely monitoring the Federal Reserve’s next moves. The Fed held interest rates steady but raised its inflation forecast for the year, while also trimming its growth projection to 1.7%.
Despite expectations for two rate cuts in 2024, economic uncertainty and potential trade disputes make forecasting difficult. Fixed income investors must remain adaptable, balancing inflation risks with the Fed’s evolving stance.
Actively managed bond ETFs, such as the Eaton Vance Total Return Bond ETF (EVTR), offer flexibility in navigating rate shifts. By blending investment-grade debt with selective high-yield exposure, EVTR seeks to optimize returns while mitigating risk in an unpredictable market.
Finsum: Active fixed income tends to dominate in macro markets, and that is the current environment that is current environment exactly.
Economic data from the first quarter indicates slowing growth alongside rising inflation, raising concerns about stagflation. February’s PCE price index, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, showed its highest reading in a year, while inflation-adjusted consumer spending barely increased.
GDP is now projected to shrink by 0.5% annually, as rising imports ahead of new tariffs weigh on growth. The University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment survey reflects increasing pessimism, with inflation expectations rising and job market concerns deepening.
Meanwhile, Fed officials acknowledge that upcoming tariffs will likely push inflation higher, constraining their ability to cut interest rates.
Finsum: With economic uncertainty mounting, Americans are bracing for a difficult year ahead, but they need financial products that can be robust to these risks.