Investment News

InvestmentNews piece spotlights a surge of alternative products aimed at RIAs and asks whether firms – many of them small and resource-constrained – are truly prepared. MPI president Jeff Schwartz is quoted noting that most RIAs lack alts-specific technology and rigorous research workflows, and that only those with experienced home-office teams should pursue individual PE/hedge funds; others may be better served by liquid alts given cost, transparency, and liquidity. Overall, the piece underscores strong client demand for alts – but an equally strong need for institutional-grade diligence, tools, and process. Schwartz was interviewed alongside industry leaders from Callan Family Office and International Assets Advisory.

InvestmentNews‘ asset management reporter Trevor Hunnicutt utilizes MPI’s research on nontraditional bond funds from Senior Analyst Sean Ryan and commentary from President Jeff Schwartz for an extensively reported article on “go-anywhere” bond funds. Hunnicutt writes “MPI argues that quantitative factor analyses of funds can say more about returns that simply looking at periodically produced lists of the securities that the funds hold.” Schwartz cautions “We don’t think a lot of people invested in these products know how to benchmark them.”

InvestmentNews asset management reporter Trevor Hunnicutt quotes MPI President Jeff Schwartz in a story on the risks and particularities of “go-anywhere” bond funds as high yield, low quality securities fall out of favor. Referencing MPI research on the nontraditional bond fund category, Schwartz discusses how tactical mandates present risk management challenges, how advisors struggle with proper asset allocation of unconstrained funds and the huge deviations from manager to manager that are more representative of hedge funds.

InvestmentNews’ technology reporter Davis Janowski writes about the novel way Legg Mason has customized MPI Stylus Web to help plan advisors better serve plan sponsors, including usage of Common Style and comparative reporting capabilities. See more about the case study on Investment News.

InvestmentNews’ Davis Janowski profiles MPI’s new Stylus Web product, answering the advisor need for “all-in-one-tools” in the 401(k)/DC and DB markets. Additional software features and benefits can be accessed here.

Michael Markov shares his insights on risk with InvestmentNews.

In this Investment News round-up of the recent Bayou hedge fund investigation, Michael Markov from MPI comments on warning signs that were apparent in the case.