2017 is going to be an exciting time for venture capital firms, based on the patterns for financing activity in the past years and the continued public interest in the private equity market in general.
This article lists the trends and predictions for this domain for this year.
Decreased funding. In an article published by Venture Beat, Ernst & Young’s venture capital (VC) chief Jeffrey Grabow predicted that funding by VCs will continue to decline, as it had from 2015 to 2016. He explains the phenomenon in the same article: The world has yet to see the impact of the scores of billions of capital that have since been deployed, and so it is time for the market to absorb these investments. Venture capitalists will then be more on observation mode, looking at the actual market performance of VC-backed endeavors rather than actively searching for new enterprises or ideas to fund.
Fewer mergers and acquisitions. Related to the first point, there may be fewer mergers and acquisitions this year, which entail huge investment of resources. Many acquisitions, for example, require complete overhaul of the organization’s infrastructure, as well as the conduct of rigorous improvements and procurement of tools and recruitment of talent. Because of this, 2017 will instead be marked more by buyers standing by to wait for the proverbial unicorns, and will tend to be very selective when it comes to opting to acquire startups and small enterprises.
Growing interest in artificial intelligence (AI) innovations. Startups based on artificial intelligence innovations are likely to draw the most interest among venture capitalists. In Silicon Valley, Venture Beat reports that leading VCs in the tech industry are on the lookout for AI-based innovations that they can support, which are also linked to many other products that will emerge in other industries, such as retail, financial services, and healthcare.
Greater reliance on outsourced services. With the amount of work needed to ensure the continued good performance of acquisitions, venture capital firms need all the help they can get especially in maintaining their day-to-day operations. The assistance offered by asset servicing firms comes in handy, particularly in the area of middle and back office. More third party providers are now being tapped to handle such tasks as accounting, tax reporting, data management, risk management, fund administration, and compliance management – functions made easier to accomplish with better tools, well-trained staff, and access to expertise.
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Boutique administrators offer bespoke asset servicing solutions to smaller funds
Today, funds sourcing their asset servicing solutions are moving away from larger, broader administrators, and turning to boutique fund administrators. Hedge fund managers, particularly those in charge of smaller funds, may have much more to gain from administrators that provide bespoke solutions.
Why are boutique administrators preferable for smaller hedge funds?
Larger financial institutions usually provide asset servicing solutions based on short-term agreements, typically lasting one year or less. That leaves fund managers holding the proverbial bag if they are not able to find a suitable replacement. But with boutique fund administrators, managers can take advantage of services on a longer-term basis. A firmer relationship between both sides can easily emerge, as boutique administrators tend to work closer with hedge funds, especially small ones, than the big companies do. These administrators take pride in their reliability and in delivering what needs to be delivered in a timely manner.
Boutique administrators also allow fund managers to take advantage of tailor-fit and scalable services that meet their vehicles’ particular demands. They can then focus more intensively on their clients, and offer services that larger players, despite their wherewithal in the industry, ordinarily cannot offer.
What services can these administrators offer?
The range of asset servicing solutions offered by boutique fund administrators may include fund accounting, various investor services, preparation of annual and semi-annual reports and financial statements, valuation of assets, compliance services, and all necessary regulatory reports. This is just a partial list of services, and the services therein may vary depending on the particular needs of the hedge fund.
It is also important for administrators to have only the most advanced technologies available, technologies that can facilitate quick completion of reports and easy access for fund managers. These include the liberal use of cloud computing, which allows for the storage of large amounts of data, as well as convenience in access for the individuals and firms that need the data.
More funds are outsourcing these tasks to third-party companies
Boutique fund administration as a broad-based means of providing asset servicing solutions is best handled by third party firms. More hedge funds, large and small alike, have outsourced boutique administration to a variety of companies, many of whom have years of experience and established reputations in the industry. A lot of these companies also specialize in dealing with smaller and medium-sized funds, offering the requisite back- and middle-office services, among other specific needs.
Why are boutique administrators preferable for smaller hedge funds?
Larger financial institutions usually provide asset servicing solutions based on short-term agreements, typically lasting one year or less. That leaves fund managers holding the proverbial bag if they are not able to find a suitable replacement. But with boutique fund administrators, managers can take advantage of services on a longer-term basis. A firmer relationship between both sides can easily emerge, as boutique administrators tend to work closer with hedge funds, especially small ones, than the big companies do. These administrators take pride in their reliability and in delivering what needs to be delivered in a timely manner.
Boutique administrators also allow fund managers to take advantage of tailor-fit and scalable services that meet their vehicles’ particular demands. They can then focus more intensively on their clients, and offer services that larger players, despite their wherewithal in the industry, ordinarily cannot offer.
What services can these administrators offer?
The range of asset servicing solutions offered by boutique fund administrators may include fund accounting, various investor services, preparation of annual and semi-annual reports and financial statements, valuation of assets, compliance services, and all necessary regulatory reports. This is just a partial list of services, and the services therein may vary depending on the particular needs of the hedge fund.
It is also important for administrators to have only the most advanced technologies available, technologies that can facilitate quick completion of reports and easy access for fund managers. These include the liberal use of cloud computing, which allows for the storage of large amounts of data, as well as convenience in access for the individuals and firms that need the data.
More funds are outsourcing these tasks to third-party companies
Boutique fund administration as a broad-based means of providing asset servicing solutions is best handled by third party firms. More hedge funds, large and small alike, have outsourced boutique administration to a variety of companies, many of whom have years of experience and established reputations in the industry. A lot of these companies also specialize in dealing with smaller and medium-sized funds, offering the requisite back- and middle-office services, among other specific needs.
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
Luxury real estate on the rise in Big Island
Big Island has long been known for high-end homes and residences, but lately, it has bloomed into a luxury destination offering the most exotic and finest in recreation, shopping, dining, among others. The presence of renowned hotels and resorts in Big Island has increased its credence as a world-class destination – and has given Big Island the boost its need to expand its luxury real estate market.
The natural beauty of Big Island captures the heart of any traveler, and rightly so: the pristine and clear waters, the lush mountains, the fascinating marine life and the majestic volcanoes. All these natural wonders now serve as the centerpiece of luxury real estate properties being developed on the island. The most prized asset of Big Island, after all, is its scenic view of the Pacific Ocean and the beautiful sunset – truly unique sights that cannot be duplicated anywhere else in the world.
Top-tier hotels and resorts have risen in Big Island to cater to the growing demand for luxury accommodation. The five-diamond Four Seasons Hotel, the Ritz Carlton, and the Hilton hotels promise guests unparalleled service and upscale amenities for all their needs. These lush properties offer spas and fitness facilities, and a diverse set of sport and recreation activities.
The growth of Big Island real estate is marked by the upsurge in interest in land to build. There are various bids to develop parts of Big Island into grand golf courses, posh estates, and multi-million residences. In the coming years, various communities are expected to rise in Big Island, offering single homes to condominium units.
Many investors are eyeing to build oceanfront properties such as vacation homes and resorts, both of which are income-generating investments that can grow in time. Rental homes also possess the potential to become a big part of the real estate market, with the daily average visitor in Big Island hitting more than 22,000 individuals.
These future developments paint a picture of a vibrant and dynamic Big Island catering to a high-end clientele looking for a tranquil yet exciting place to live in.
Real estate in Big Island is on the upswing, and now is the perfect time to invest in the market. Connect with Harold Clarke today to learn how you can be part of the Big Island luxury real estate market. Whether you are interested in buying, selling or investing, Harold of Luxury Big Island can certainly assist you.
The natural beauty of Big Island captures the heart of any traveler, and rightly so: the pristine and clear waters, the lush mountains, the fascinating marine life and the majestic volcanoes. All these natural wonders now serve as the centerpiece of luxury real estate properties being developed on the island. The most prized asset of Big Island, after all, is its scenic view of the Pacific Ocean and the beautiful sunset – truly unique sights that cannot be duplicated anywhere else in the world.
Top-tier hotels and resorts have risen in Big Island to cater to the growing demand for luxury accommodation. The five-diamond Four Seasons Hotel, the Ritz Carlton, and the Hilton hotels promise guests unparalleled service and upscale amenities for all their needs. These lush properties offer spas and fitness facilities, and a diverse set of sport and recreation activities.
The growth of Big Island real estate is marked by the upsurge in interest in land to build. There are various bids to develop parts of Big Island into grand golf courses, posh estates, and multi-million residences. In the coming years, various communities are expected to rise in Big Island, offering single homes to condominium units.
Many investors are eyeing to build oceanfront properties such as vacation homes and resorts, both of which are income-generating investments that can grow in time. Rental homes also possess the potential to become a big part of the real estate market, with the daily average visitor in Big Island hitting more than 22,000 individuals.
These future developments paint a picture of a vibrant and dynamic Big Island catering to a high-end clientele looking for a tranquil yet exciting place to live in.
Real estate in Big Island is on the upswing, and now is the perfect time to invest in the market. Connect with Harold Clarke today to learn how you can be part of the Big Island luxury real estate market. Whether you are interested in buying, selling or investing, Harold of Luxury Big Island can certainly assist you.
Monday, November 7, 2016
Hedge fund trends driving a surge in asset servicing demand
In the United States, asset servicing firms have great prospects. Among the notable hedge fund trends is the steady increase of outsourcing practices among fund managers over the past few years, as they grapple with developments in the industry.
Driving this surge in the demand for asset services are the following factors:
Need to comply with regulatory requirements. In the face of more stringent regulatory demands, hedge fund firms are pressed to undertake improvements in their processes and their reporting capabilities, to withstand the scrutiny of regulatory bodies. Reporting is a tedious, day-to-day affair that requires proper data management and warehousing, and sometimes, they simply cannot afford deploying more people and devoting more of their budget for these functions. Outsourcing partners come in handy in this scenario, offering their expertise, manpower, and technology towards the swift accomplishment of the task.
Emergence of new markets. As the investments and securities sector becomes more and more globalized, the Asia-Pacific and Europe have emerged as the new markets to conquer for American hedge funds. This also means a host of new jurisdictional policies to navigate, some more strict than those in the United States. At the same time, this poses challenges in terms of monitoring one’s performance across asset classes, and across various markets, to allow for quick decision-making from wherever in the world, as well as wise allocation of resources. The best asset servicing firms have mastered the rules for different markets, and can capably handle the demands of entering new domains.
Interest in offering new products. As today’s hedge funds strive to provide more product options to their client-investors, they need to be able to claim the support of third-party firms as they expand their offerings. More products means more middle and back-office needs, more accounting, tax reporting, data warehousing, risk modeling, fund administration, and account reconciliation requirements. As they invite investors to lend their funds towards these new products, having a first-class asset servicing firm as an outsourcing partner can be a major point for their sales pitch.
In the end, asset servicing firms are a helpful addition to the array of tools that fund managers can use to adapt with hedge fund trends. As they take on the grueling middle and back-office operations, they let hedge funds focus on core functions, achieve growth for the assets under their management, and leave client-investors satisfied and willing to take more chances.
Driving this surge in the demand for asset services are the following factors:
Need to comply with regulatory requirements. In the face of more stringent regulatory demands, hedge fund firms are pressed to undertake improvements in their processes and their reporting capabilities, to withstand the scrutiny of regulatory bodies. Reporting is a tedious, day-to-day affair that requires proper data management and warehousing, and sometimes, they simply cannot afford deploying more people and devoting more of their budget for these functions. Outsourcing partners come in handy in this scenario, offering their expertise, manpower, and technology towards the swift accomplishment of the task.
Emergence of new markets. As the investments and securities sector becomes more and more globalized, the Asia-Pacific and Europe have emerged as the new markets to conquer for American hedge funds. This also means a host of new jurisdictional policies to navigate, some more strict than those in the United States. At the same time, this poses challenges in terms of monitoring one’s performance across asset classes, and across various markets, to allow for quick decision-making from wherever in the world, as well as wise allocation of resources. The best asset servicing firms have mastered the rules for different markets, and can capably handle the demands of entering new domains.
Interest in offering new products. As today’s hedge funds strive to provide more product options to their client-investors, they need to be able to claim the support of third-party firms as they expand their offerings. More products means more middle and back-office needs, more accounting, tax reporting, data warehousing, risk modeling, fund administration, and account reconciliation requirements. As they invite investors to lend their funds towards these new products, having a first-class asset servicing firm as an outsourcing partner can be a major point for their sales pitch.
In the end, asset servicing firms are a helpful addition to the array of tools that fund managers can use to adapt with hedge fund trends. As they take on the grueling middle and back-office operations, they let hedge funds focus on core functions, achieve growth for the assets under their management, and leave client-investors satisfied and willing to take more chances.
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
On North Korea’s nuclear testing
As of this writing, North Korea is on the news after the detection of a magnitude five earthquake – one attributed to another incident nuclear testing. Naturally, the international community is alarmed. It is the fifth time, and the government has been keen on reporting its success in developing its nuclear program.
North Korea is already a pariah of sorts. It a closed economy, and only a limited number of members of the media from the outside are able to get a glimpse of life north of the 38th parallel. What we know of their country is based on very few reports, of defections, of alleged spies or idiotic tourists (for example, the American student who supposedly thought it to be a good idea to steal a propaganda poster) being punished.
So when the North Korean government’s own media makes announcements, it can be expected to land on major news outlets. And that is what just happened.
Before this, over the course of 10 years, Pyongyang has made various claims regarding its nuclear capability. In 2006, it supposedly released a nuclear bomb with an energy discharge of one kiloton. Three years later, it was a 2-8 kiloton bomb. Four years later, it is said to have developed a bomb with uranium. Then it talked about having conducted a test of a thermonuclear warhead or H-bomb.
Nobody is able to confirm all of these reports. On the part of the United States, the White House appears to have a policy of not taking the threats seriously. At the same time, it has been strengthening its military relationship with South Korea. It is likewise notable that North Korea has been careful to describe its efforts as a “pre-emptive strike” as US and South Korea are set to hold joint military exercises.
This squarely places the onus on the United States’ shoulders: If the Americans are not to make provocative moves, they will not be conducting the nuclear tests.
The fact is that the US has not much of a moral ascendancy to lecture other countries about activities that can potentially harm the innocent. As we speak, drones funded by the US taxpayer money are being flown, and airstrikes are regularly conducted in cooperation with the NATO allies. Both the US and North Korea are spending a lot on all these measures while so many are hungry and poor.
There has got to be an end to this madness.
Note: Rick Kimball is a blogger and online writer. He enjoys writing about history. To read more of Rick's work, you can check out Rick Kimball's War, Peace and Freedom Blog. You can also check him out on Facebook and Twitter.
North Korea is already a pariah of sorts. It a closed economy, and only a limited number of members of the media from the outside are able to get a glimpse of life north of the 38th parallel. What we know of their country is based on very few reports, of defections, of alleged spies or idiotic tourists (for example, the American student who supposedly thought it to be a good idea to steal a propaganda poster) being punished.
So when the North Korean government’s own media makes announcements, it can be expected to land on major news outlets. And that is what just happened.
Before this, over the course of 10 years, Pyongyang has made various claims regarding its nuclear capability. In 2006, it supposedly released a nuclear bomb with an energy discharge of one kiloton. Three years later, it was a 2-8 kiloton bomb. Four years later, it is said to have developed a bomb with uranium. Then it talked about having conducted a test of a thermonuclear warhead or H-bomb.
Nobody is able to confirm all of these reports. On the part of the United States, the White House appears to have a policy of not taking the threats seriously. At the same time, it has been strengthening its military relationship with South Korea. It is likewise notable that North Korea has been careful to describe its efforts as a “pre-emptive strike” as US and South Korea are set to hold joint military exercises.
This squarely places the onus on the United States’ shoulders: If the Americans are not to make provocative moves, they will not be conducting the nuclear tests.
The fact is that the US has not much of a moral ascendancy to lecture other countries about activities that can potentially harm the innocent. As we speak, drones funded by the US taxpayer money are being flown, and airstrikes are regularly conducted in cooperation with the NATO allies. Both the US and North Korea are spending a lot on all these measures while so many are hungry and poor.
There has got to be an end to this madness.
Note: Rick Kimball is a blogger and online writer. He enjoys writing about history. To read more of Rick's work, you can check out Rick Kimball's War, Peace and Freedom Blog. You can also check him out on Facebook and Twitter.
Monday, August 29, 2016
Do targets matter more than receptions in the NFL?
One of the most electrifying and coveted positions to play in the National Football league is Wide Receiver and it’s pretty simple why. These guys aren’t allowed to be touched without the ball after five years and are constantly on the highlight reel for hauling in memorable touchdowns. From an accountability standpoint, receivers are rarely at fault because usually it is either a poorly thrown ball or better yet just good old fashion defense. For fantasy football analysis, receivers are always held to a gold standard expecting to reel in any ball in sight. In reality that’s not always possible so we will break down the value between receptions and targets.
Targets and receptions only differ with the end result similar to a field goal attempt and a field goal made. Targets are balls that are thrown in the area of the receiver but not are not completed; a reception is simply when the receiver cleanly makes a catch and controls possession. Granted different types of receivers will have different ratios when comparing receptions and targets. Possession receivers and those who run shorter routes are going to have a higher conversion rate for balls that target them; compared to the deep ball threats that only going to be a catching a few of those electrifying spirals but boy are they worth when they do! Now you should be asking yourself: Is this gonna effect my NFL fantasy picks? That depends on just how savvy a player you want to be. Granted there is no formula that will optimize your lineup to have the best conversion rates for their targets. Conversely, targets should be looked at with a grain of salt. Reason being if a player is consistently high in targets and only bringing in 50-70% of them; it shows the player’s lack of ability to create separation to easily possess these throws. At the same time,having a guy that is always catching 4-6 balls a game w/ 100% conversion on their targets shows that the player has limited opportunity thus a very limited ceiling on the maximum amount of points they can attain. Daily fantasy football picks can be darn near impossible to try and match up every receiver with their respective stat line compared to the defense's NFL fantasy ranking. Fortunately there’s plenty of resources out there to divulge into to be able to stack and spread your odds out in the most desirable way.
Targets and receptions only differ with the end result similar to a field goal attempt and a field goal made. Targets are balls that are thrown in the area of the receiver but not are not completed; a reception is simply when the receiver cleanly makes a catch and controls possession. Granted different types of receivers will have different ratios when comparing receptions and targets. Possession receivers and those who run shorter routes are going to have a higher conversion rate for balls that target them; compared to the deep ball threats that only going to be a catching a few of those electrifying spirals but boy are they worth when they do! Now you should be asking yourself: Is this gonna effect my NFL fantasy picks? That depends on just how savvy a player you want to be. Granted there is no formula that will optimize your lineup to have the best conversion rates for their targets. Conversely, targets should be looked at with a grain of salt. Reason being if a player is consistently high in targets and only bringing in 50-70% of them; it shows the player’s lack of ability to create separation to easily possess these throws. At the same time,having a guy that is always catching 4-6 balls a game w/ 100% conversion on their targets shows that the player has limited opportunity thus a very limited ceiling on the maximum amount of points they can attain. Daily fantasy football picks can be darn near impossible to try and match up every receiver with their respective stat line compared to the defense's NFL fantasy ranking. Fortunately there’s plenty of resources out there to divulge into to be able to stack and spread your odds out in the most desirable way.
Monday, August 22, 2016
To outsource or not to outsource: The big question for hedge funds
In the United States and all over the world, the prevailing economic climate has made the investment and securities industry more complicated than it ever was. Hedge funds firms, in particular, face immense pressures in terms of performance, as well as transparency and accountability amid a highly volatile climate.
Outsourcing has emerged as a viable solution for many firms dealing with such pressures. But it is worth noting that the idea is always first met with a few apprehensions: Would it not simply bloat the operational costs? How hard would it be to find an outsourcing partner that meets our firm’s needs? How can an outsider understand our asset management goals as a company?
Over time, however, more asset managers are seeing the value of outsourcing, and how it can be truly optimized for meeting the demands of hedge fund management in this day and age,
Through outsourcing, asset managers are able to drive costs down in the long-term. While it requires initial capital outlay, the investment eventually pays off as it eliminates the costs of recruiting and retaining employees, as well as setting up the infrastructure, to accommodate the tasks in-house.
Through outsourcing providers, these asset managers gain access to a pool of professionals as well as innovations that could otherwise take years and millions of dollars to put together on their own. Their level of specialization allows these providers to devote time towards the development of technologies that are tailorfitted to their clients’ needs. As a result, with outsourcing, a firm only pays for the products and services that the company actually needs and uses, and need not spend on so much overhead cost.
By delegating select functions to outsourcing partners, hedge fund managers are able to offer increased focus on core functions. They can dedicate more time and attention towards developing strategies for fund growth, and finding opportunities in emerging markets. That is, with the support of middle and back office, which will provide them with pertinent data properly sourced and warehoused, accounting services, as well as compliance management. At a time when the industry very closely scrutinizes hedge funds, outsourcing companies can offer much-needed support in terms of creating and filing reports, conducting compliance audits on a regular basis.
To make the most of outsourcing services, the key is to find firms with scalable and flexible solutions, a team of qualified professionals, and thorough understanding of the demands of today’s market.
Outsourcing has emerged as a viable solution for many firms dealing with such pressures. But it is worth noting that the idea is always first met with a few apprehensions: Would it not simply bloat the operational costs? How hard would it be to find an outsourcing partner that meets our firm’s needs? How can an outsider understand our asset management goals as a company?
Over time, however, more asset managers are seeing the value of outsourcing, and how it can be truly optimized for meeting the demands of hedge fund management in this day and age,
Through outsourcing, asset managers are able to drive costs down in the long-term. While it requires initial capital outlay, the investment eventually pays off as it eliminates the costs of recruiting and retaining employees, as well as setting up the infrastructure, to accommodate the tasks in-house.
Through outsourcing providers, these asset managers gain access to a pool of professionals as well as innovations that could otherwise take years and millions of dollars to put together on their own. Their level of specialization allows these providers to devote time towards the development of technologies that are tailorfitted to their clients’ needs. As a result, with outsourcing, a firm only pays for the products and services that the company actually needs and uses, and need not spend on so much overhead cost.
By delegating select functions to outsourcing partners, hedge fund managers are able to offer increased focus on core functions. They can dedicate more time and attention towards developing strategies for fund growth, and finding opportunities in emerging markets. That is, with the support of middle and back office, which will provide them with pertinent data properly sourced and warehoused, accounting services, as well as compliance management. At a time when the industry very closely scrutinizes hedge funds, outsourcing companies can offer much-needed support in terms of creating and filing reports, conducting compliance audits on a regular basis.
To make the most of outsourcing services, the key is to find firms with scalable and flexible solutions, a team of qualified professionals, and thorough understanding of the demands of today’s market.
Monday, June 13, 2016
Trends in hedge fund management
The past decade has been marked by various developments in the investments and securities sector, as well as in the global economic situation. As a result, the hedge fund management industry is set to witness the rise of new trends that portfolio managers and client investors must contend with.
Here is a list of such trends:
Transparency becomes a priority. Following the many controversies in the investments domain, both the government and the investor clients have become keen on examining how portfolio management firms handle the funds under their care. And to keep up with the new laws and regulations created, the industry authorities and the pertinent government bodies have also adopted more thorough processes and advanced technologies to ensure tighter implementation. Real-time monitoring of transactions has become a possibility in these times. Hedge fund managers then face immense pressure to ensure their company’s compliance. Towards this goal, some are adopting more manpower to ensure that the relevant data are collected properly, that reporting deadlines are met, and other transparency-related procedures are conducted promptly.
New markets and distribution patterns will emerge. According to a 2014 report by PricewaterhouseCoopers, assets under management will rise to $102 trillion by 2020. Markets will emerge in the growing economies of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and South America, and the distribution network will see some changes, as the North Asia, South Asia, Latin America, and Europe are set to build trade linkages. PwC believes that portfolio managers based in North America should act in anticipation of these changes.
Alternative investments to grow. As a result of the increased regulation and demands for transparency and performance on traditional investments, more firms and individuals will be drawn towards alternative investments. Other enticing features of alternative assets include a level of protection from inflation, as well as greater opportunities for asset diversification and exposure. And this sector – which includes hedge funds, private equity, and venture capital – might grow to a $13 trillion in four years.
Amid these changes and developments, hedge fund management firms need to adapt, especially by investing in services and solutions that will help ease their workload. Third party asset servicing firms, for example, can provide valuable assistance in taking care of middle- and back office functions such as accounting, data warehousing, tax and financial reporting, and compliance management. To aid them in these functions, the best ones also invest n top-of-the-line porftolio management technologies.
Here is a list of such trends:
Transparency becomes a priority. Following the many controversies in the investments domain, both the government and the investor clients have become keen on examining how portfolio management firms handle the funds under their care. And to keep up with the new laws and regulations created, the industry authorities and the pertinent government bodies have also adopted more thorough processes and advanced technologies to ensure tighter implementation. Real-time monitoring of transactions has become a possibility in these times. Hedge fund managers then face immense pressure to ensure their company’s compliance. Towards this goal, some are adopting more manpower to ensure that the relevant data are collected properly, that reporting deadlines are met, and other transparency-related procedures are conducted promptly.
New markets and distribution patterns will emerge. According to a 2014 report by PricewaterhouseCoopers, assets under management will rise to $102 trillion by 2020. Markets will emerge in the growing economies of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and South America, and the distribution network will see some changes, as the North Asia, South Asia, Latin America, and Europe are set to build trade linkages. PwC believes that portfolio managers based in North America should act in anticipation of these changes.
Alternative investments to grow. As a result of the increased regulation and demands for transparency and performance on traditional investments, more firms and individuals will be drawn towards alternative investments. Other enticing features of alternative assets include a level of protection from inflation, as well as greater opportunities for asset diversification and exposure. And this sector – which includes hedge funds, private equity, and venture capital – might grow to a $13 trillion in four years.
Amid these changes and developments, hedge fund management firms need to adapt, especially by investing in services and solutions that will help ease their workload. Third party asset servicing firms, for example, can provide valuable assistance in taking care of middle- and back office functions such as accounting, data warehousing, tax and financial reporting, and compliance management. To aid them in these functions, the best ones also invest n top-of-the-line porftolio management technologies.
Monday, June 6, 2016
How to get started with Fantasy Sports - FanDuel MLB Daily Fantasy
As the 2016 Major League Baseball season is currently ongoing and heating up in the months leading up to the playoffs, more and more players are getting their MLB daily fantasy fixes from a variety of sources. These include websites such as DraftKings and FanDuel. For fans of the latter, we’ve got another beginner’s guide for you right here.
FanDuel’s daily fantasy baseball, as many can attest to, is simpler in nature than that of DraftKings. One key difference is that it comes with only one minus statistic, instead of more than one. There are also less stats to deal with, which makes this a more ideal site to visit for daily fantasy newbies. As usual, you will need to live in certain parts of the world if you want to make money by playing daily fantasy MLB, you’ll have to pay the same entrance fees to join leagues in hopes of winning the prize money, and you’ll get to choose the same positions for your daily lineup, but aside from those similarities, the mechanics, particularly the scoring, is different.
Let’s first take a look at the stats accumulated by hitters. Home runs will still get you the most points – it’s 12 points per homer driven in by one of your players. After that, it’s nine points for a triple, six points for a double, and three points for a single. While DraftKings scores runs scored and runs batted in as equal, it’s also different over at FanDuel, as the site gives you 3.2 points per run and 3.5 points per RBI. Stolen bases are worth six points apiece, while getting hit by a pitcher is worth three points each time this happens.
There are only four pitching stats tallied, and you don’t need to worry if you’ve got a wild-throwing pitcher who nonetheless strikes out a lot of batters. Winning games, still, is most important, as that will get you 12 points if you chose a winning pitcher. A strikeout is worth three points each, and so is an inning pitched; you want starting pitchers who throw strikes, and definitely not relievers, with that in mind. There is one minus stat you still need to watch out for, and that’s earned runs – you lose three points per earned run allowed by your pitchers.
We hope this guide was helpful to you, and we hope you keep scouring fantasy expert blogs for more MLB daily fantasy tips in the future.
FanDuel’s daily fantasy baseball, as many can attest to, is simpler in nature than that of DraftKings. One key difference is that it comes with only one minus statistic, instead of more than one. There are also less stats to deal with, which makes this a more ideal site to visit for daily fantasy newbies. As usual, you will need to live in certain parts of the world if you want to make money by playing daily fantasy MLB, you’ll have to pay the same entrance fees to join leagues in hopes of winning the prize money, and you’ll get to choose the same positions for your daily lineup, but aside from those similarities, the mechanics, particularly the scoring, is different.
Let’s first take a look at the stats accumulated by hitters. Home runs will still get you the most points – it’s 12 points per homer driven in by one of your players. After that, it’s nine points for a triple, six points for a double, and three points for a single. While DraftKings scores runs scored and runs batted in as equal, it’s also different over at FanDuel, as the site gives you 3.2 points per run and 3.5 points per RBI. Stolen bases are worth six points apiece, while getting hit by a pitcher is worth three points each time this happens.
There are only four pitching stats tallied, and you don’t need to worry if you’ve got a wild-throwing pitcher who nonetheless strikes out a lot of batters. Winning games, still, is most important, as that will get you 12 points if you chose a winning pitcher. A strikeout is worth three points each, and so is an inning pitched; you want starting pitchers who throw strikes, and definitely not relievers, with that in mind. There is one minus stat you still need to watch out for, and that’s earned runs – you lose three points per earned run allowed by your pitchers.
We hope this guide was helpful to you, and we hope you keep scouring fantasy expert blogs for more MLB daily fantasy tips in the future.
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Proxy wars
Things are not always what they seem, including wars. Especially wars, which often involve the economic, social, and geopolitical interests of entire populations. Nothing is a better example than the subject of the war in Syria, whose ramifications are still unclear to most people. But as the crisis develops, the world is now seeing a country apparently torn by a proxy war.
A proxy war refers to a war where the supposedly warring parties are simply acting as pawns (or proxies) of the bigger powers who, for one reason or another, cannot entertain the possibility of fighting these wars themselves.
In the case of Syria, many have opined that it appears to be a proxy war between US-Russia, and there is a good case for it.
Officially, the reason why US and its allies are backing rebels to topple the rule of Bashar al-Assad is to stop its despotism, with Obama issuing statements to condemn Assad’s alleged acts of state repression. But critics of American foreign policy have called out the hypocrisy on US’ part, as it is generally quiet about the excesses of dictatorships in its allied countries, especially the notorious Saudi Arabian monarchy. But a closer look at the different parties involved – as well as their vested interests in this war – will make us think twice.
Fighting for or alongside US are the rebel Free Syrian Army, Israel, United Kingdom, Turkey, France and some countries in the Gulf region such as Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.
Russia, for its part, maintains a naval base Syria, and needs a loyal ally in that region, which the regime of Assad has proven to be. Iran and Iraq have also supported Syria, which, like them, has a predominantly Shiite population. Iran’s Hezbollah has since also deployed militias to complement Assad’s troops, in their fight against the rebels.
This topic merits our attention because if the real warring parties’ political and economic agenda are not being discussed openly, the world opinion simply becomes part of their script and no one becomes accountable for the consequences of their actions. In the meantime, many innocent lives people on the ground are becoming ruined by the war, and the ulterior motives of other parties are preventing the formation of an honest-to-goodness unified resistance to ISIS.
In the end, the civilians of Iraq, Syria, and other countries now being destroyed by ISIS deserve better help.
A proxy war refers to a war where the supposedly warring parties are simply acting as pawns (or proxies) of the bigger powers who, for one reason or another, cannot entertain the possibility of fighting these wars themselves.
In the case of Syria, many have opined that it appears to be a proxy war between US-Russia, and there is a good case for it.
Officially, the reason why US and its allies are backing rebels to topple the rule of Bashar al-Assad is to stop its despotism, with Obama issuing statements to condemn Assad’s alleged acts of state repression. But critics of American foreign policy have called out the hypocrisy on US’ part, as it is generally quiet about the excesses of dictatorships in its allied countries, especially the notorious Saudi Arabian monarchy. But a closer look at the different parties involved – as well as their vested interests in this war – will make us think twice.
Fighting for or alongside US are the rebel Free Syrian Army, Israel, United Kingdom, Turkey, France and some countries in the Gulf region such as Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.
Russia, for its part, maintains a naval base Syria, and needs a loyal ally in that region, which the regime of Assad has proven to be. Iran and Iraq have also supported Syria, which, like them, has a predominantly Shiite population. Iran’s Hezbollah has since also deployed militias to complement Assad’s troops, in their fight against the rebels.
This topic merits our attention because if the real warring parties’ political and economic agenda are not being discussed openly, the world opinion simply becomes part of their script and no one becomes accountable for the consequences of their actions. In the meantime, many innocent lives people on the ground are becoming ruined by the war, and the ulterior motives of other parties are preventing the formation of an honest-to-goodness unified resistance to ISIS.
In the end, the civilians of Iraq, Syria, and other countries now being destroyed by ISIS deserve better help.
NOTE: This is a guest blog post by Rick Kimball. Rick is a freedom lover. He enjoys researching and writing about US history and shares them on his blog rickkimball.org. For more on him, check out his LinkedIn and Google+ profiles.
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