The American’s are coming, the American’s are coming
Last week, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) told the EU’s executive European Commission that asset managers based outside the EU should get a “passport” to continue offering services to investors across Europe. This new directive replaces a country-by-country private placement authorization system that has been in place for some time. Read the story […]
Observe first, react second
The voters of Great Britain clearly shocked the world last week with their historic vote to leave the European Union. The people have clearly spoken, they want change and change is what they are going to get. To me, though, what’s more shocking than the outcome of the vote is the fact that almost none […]
A strange but profitable group
Everybody knows that things are strange at Bridgewater Associates LP. The stories of its confrontational meetings, its banning of cell phones, the instant feedback on superiors and subordinates are of part of the legend of the firm. But the article in Friday’s Wall Street Journal takes it to a new level. No matter how you […]
Thank you for telling me what I already know
Once again the popular press has come out against hedge funds and the lack of performance year to date. Congratulations, Barron’s and Forbes, you are now part of the club of financial journalists writing the same story over and over again. Whether performance is good, bad, or indifferent, hedge funds continue to be the evil […]
It is about process as well as performance
The sharks have smelled blood in the water, are circling, and are ready to chomp. Clearly, there’s excitement in newsrooms across the globe over a number of well-known hedge fund managers having once again suffered significant losses in November and that their year-to-date performance is abysmal at best. I won’t take time to name names; […]
Shooting fish in a barrel
Hedge funds are clearly the evil that men and women do that live on and on. It is clear from recent reports in the media, comments from both sets of Presidential candidates, comments from the new Speaker of the House, comments from other members of the House and Senate, and comments even from an old […]
Who doesn’t hate hedge funds?
As summer draws to a close, the kids are back in school, the U.S. Open is over, the NFL playing for real (with TWO Monday night games) and anti-hedge fund rhetoric is everywhere. All the pundits seem to be over the top with joy that the funds were hit badly by the volatility that hammered […]
Three words for success
It’s clear to me why some people are successful and others aren’t: focus, delegation and engagement. People need to be focused to be able to see the path, or least the way to the path, to success. They also need to be able to delegate responsibility and to know how to relate to colleagues and […]
It is all about distribution
The future of the investment management industry is quite bright, according the 200 or so participants at the Operations for Alternatives conference last week in Palm Beach Gardens. Amidst tornado warnings and significant sideways rainfall, investors and managers alike discussed the future of the industry and how new products are being launched and new distribution […]
It is the fees, stupid
While I am supposed to be writing about hedge funds and the fact that Operations for Alternatives is next week, I need to focus on something that is really bothering me: The so-called convenience fees and add-on fees that come with making purchases these days.They are just ridiculous. I am sick and tired of the […]