Risky Business: Conservative Investments 

By Jerry Gleeson

Did the financial crisis make you more conservative with client retirement money? ...

Leverage Losers 

By Diana Britton

Last year's worst performers were leveraged and inverse funds, and the plaintiff's bar is salivating over the potential for lawsuits....

Absolute Returns for the Masses 

By Brad Zigler

Well, we've learned one thing recently: having all one's assets tied to the vagaries of the stock market — or the bond market, for that matter — is a dangerous business....

Fundamental Indexes Have Had a Good Run. Converted Yet? 

By Stan Luxenberg

Claims that fundamental indexes would outperform have so far been true. But is there enough data to build client portfolios around fundamental indexes?...

Liquidity Is Expensive and Overrated  

By Diana Britton

Liquidity may be more of a return predictor than you think, according to Roger Ibbotson, chairman and chief investment officer of Zebra Capital Management. During a presentation at IMCA’s New York Consultants Conference this week, Ibbotson made the case to advisors for a portfolio that is biased toward less liquidity, yet is still relatively liquid. ...

Hedge Fund Myths Mean Missed Opportunities  

By Stephen Roseman, Thesis Fund Management

Misperceptions about what hedge funds do need to be set straight. Individuals won’t be able to make educated investment decisions about them unless they understand what they are—and are not. ...

Illiquidity Is Good. Illiquidity Is Bad. 

By Keith Button

Which is it? Depends on who you talk to, but public non-traded REITs are building a war chest. The pros and cons....

Fund Families Rolling Out Absolute Return Funds  

By Stan Luxenberg

Seeking to reach skittish investors, fund companies have been introducing a wave of absolute return funds. The funds aim to produce positive results almost every year. New entrants include Loomis Sayles Absolute Strategies (LABAX), GRT Absolute Return (GRTHX), and Eaton Vance Option Absolute Return Strategies (EOAAX). ...

60 Seconds, Jan. 2011: Tarek Helal 

By Kristen French

Tarek Helal, Raymond James, CFA, vice president of Product Development & Research in the Alternative Investments Group...

Asset Managers Push Out New Alternatives For Retail   

By Diana Britton

In the aftermath of the financial crisis, asset managers have been busy rolling out new alternative products specifically designed for non-accredited investors. According to Morningstar data, there were 29 distinct alternative strategy mutual funds launched in 2009, while 38 have been launched this year through Nov. 28. ...

Hungry For Hedge Funds Again 

Jerry Gleeson

The ultra-high-net-worth investor has developed a growing appetite for hedge funds and other alternative investments, a new report by Spectrem Group says....

Is Gold In A Bubble? 

By Brad Zigler

On a tear since 2001, some think the yellow metal may be topping....

RR Readers Write: This Isn't Your Father's Gridlock  

By Eric Singer, manager of the Congressional Effect Fund

In normal times, gridlock is wonderful for real returns. But these aren't normal times. ...

Advisor Appetite For Absolute Return Growing  

By Diana Britton

Over half of advisors surveyed by Putnam Investments said they were at least somewhat likely to recommend absolute return funds to their clients, while assets in absolute return funds have grown 10 percent in the past month alone. ...

Africa In, BRICs Out? 

By Kristen French

Africa is the new India, or something like that. ...