September, 2016

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Beating Your Own Investments

The Irrelevant Investor

Add Julian Robertson and Howard Marks to the long list of billionaires that are less than optimistic about the future. All the reasons they cite are unfortunately very compelling, but pessimists always sound intelligent. You can probably count on one hand the number of investors that were actually able to capitalize on their pessimism. But let's say all these billionaires are right and U.S. stocks will in fact experience lower returns going forward.

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September 2016 Insights on Markets and Investments

Brown Advisory

September 2016 Insights on Markets and Investments achen Mon, 09/12/2016 - 01:00 In this issue: Investors Facing Rising Risks Need Solid Defense, Savvy Offense Increasing political and economic risk during the past year has widened the range of possible positive and negative scenarios for financial markets. Consequently, investors need to build a solid defensive position while seizing opportunities that arise amid the instability.

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The Point Of No Risk

The Irrelevant Investor

"When everyone believes something is risky, their unwillingness to buy usually reduces its price to the point where it's not risky at all. Broadly negative opinion can make it the least risky thing, since all optimism has been driven out of its price." This Howard Marks quote is the perfect way to describe what's happened with biotech stocks this year.

Assets 52
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Falling Interest Rates Trigger Investor Hunger For Yield

Brown Advisory

Falling Interest Rates Trigger Investor Hunger For Yield achen Mon, 09/12/2016 - 03:00 The rush by investors had all the hallmarks of a bond market panic. When the U.K. voted on June 23 to leave the European Union, yields on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note plunged to a record low of 1.32%. Yet fear that the EU will unravel was not the only impulse driving investors.

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Pricing for Profit: How to Set, Negotiate, and Succeed

Speaker: Igli Laci, Strategic Finance Leader

In today’s competitive market, pricing is more than just a number — it’s the cornerstone of profitability. The right pricing strategy ensures that you capture the true value of your offering, paving the way for sustainable growth and long-term success. Join Igli Laci, Strategic Finance Leader, in this exclusive session where he will explore how a well-crafted pricing approach balances customer perception with business objectives, creating a powerful tool for securing both competitive advantage a

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Defense Industry Stocks Gain Amid Rising Global Tension

Brown Advisory

Defense Industry Stocks Gain Amid Rising Global Tension achen Mon, 09/12/2016 - 04:00 Forget the Machiavellian notion that the best defense is a strong offense. Amid persistent instability in geopolitics and global finance, an investor in equities can both limit risk and find opportunity with a targeted stake in the defense industry. An investment in defense contractors—which tend to perform independently of economic growth—provides diversification that could help buffer a portfolio against setb

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Sustainable Investing Special Edition September 2016

Brown Advisory

Sustainable Investing Special Edition September 2016 achen Mon, 09/12/2016 - 07:07 In this issue: From our CEO: How We Help Clients Build Sustainable Portfolios Mike Hankin, Brown Advisory President and CEO, describes a framework for helping clients incorporate their values into their investment portfolios. By Michael D. Hankin, Chief Executive Officer ⚑ Sustainable Investing Investors Seeking Sustainability Gain Confidence Through Screening By screening their portfolios, investors align their a

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From our CEO: How We Help Clients Build Sustainable Portfolios

Brown Advisory

From our CEO: How We Help Clients Build Sustainable Portfolios achen Mon, 09/12/2016 - 08:16 Last year, we published our first special edition of The Advisory focused on sustainable investing. At the time I wrote that our firm was fully committed to helping clients sort through an array of choices in sustainable investing, and to developing a tailored approach for each client—one that best fits their long-term goals.

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Investors Seeking Sustainability Gain Confidence Through Screening

Brown Advisory

Investors Seeking Sustainability Gain Confidence Through Screening achen Mon, 09/12/2016 - 09:40 Some Wal-Mart stores sell rifles, some Starbucks coffee shops sell alcohol and GE builds engines for jet fighters and bombers. While generating just a small part of their revenues from these products, these companies pose a dilemma to investors who want to purge their portfolios of connections with guns, alcohol or the military.

Clients 52
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Diving Deep: Achieving Outperformance By Using Environmental Research

Brown Advisory

Diving Deep: Achieving Outperformance By Using Environmental Research achen Mon, 09/12/2016 - 10:22 ARM Holdings rose to dominance among makers of smartphone microprocessors by focusing on energy efficiency rather than pure computational power and speed. WhiteWave Foods has grown faster than its more conventional rivals because of its commitment to producing organic, healthful and minimally processed foods.

Food 52
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Auditpalooza: Rocking the Month-End Close Audit

Speaker: Nancy Wu, Head of Sales and Customer Success at SkyStem

A good, fast, clean audit leads to a happy work life. Join us in this one-hour webinar, where we share the best ways to prepare and conduct your audit process to maximize audit satisfaction and minimize administrative time in month-end close and financial reporting. Learning objectives: This course objective is to review leading practices to maximize audit success.

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Five Ways to Invest That Make the World a Better Place

Brown Advisory

Five Ways to Invest That Make the World a Better Place achen Mon, 09/12/2016 - 11:11 Henry David Thoreau did not live to see the rise of impact investing, but he captured the spirit of it with a simple insight—“Goodness is the only investment that never fails.” Impact investors align their assets behind their advocacy, whether it be for advances in environmental stewardship, human livelihood or public policy.

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Case Studies Show Sustainable Investing Yields Varied Benefits

Brown Advisory

Case Studies Show Sustainable Investing Yields Varied Benefits achen Mon, 09/12/2016 - 12:31 Nurturing Well-Being Through Sustainable Investing Nancy Klavans is hardly a newcomer to the idea of backing projects that improve the lives of others. Since 1991 the Germeshausen Foundation created by Nancy’s parents, Polly and Ken Germeshausen, has made innovative grants linking different fields including education, the arts, sustainability, religion and peace- building.

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September 2016 Insights on Markets and Investments

Brown Advisory

September 2016 Insights on Markets and Investments. achen. Mon, 09/12/2016 - 01:00. In this issue: Investors Facing Rising Risks Need Solid Defense, Savvy Offense Increasing political and economic risk during the past year has widened the range of possible positive and negative scenarios for financial markets. Consequently, investors need to build a solid defensive position while seizing opportunities that arise amid the instability.

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Falling Interest Rates Trigger Investor Hunger For Yield

Brown Advisory

Falling Interest Rates Trigger Investor Hunger For Yield. achen. Mon, 09/12/2016 - 03:00. The rush by investors had all the hallmarks of a bond market panic. When the U.K. voted on June 23 to leave the European Union, yields on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note plunged to a record low of 1.32%. Yet fear that the EU will unravel was not the only impulse driving investors.

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Benchmarking ROI with Forrester: Measuring the Success of Finance Transformation

Finance Transformation Myths Busted Over 75% of organizations struggle to define the right success metrics to benchmark the impact of their finance transformation investment. Whether you are just initiating your digital transformation journey or planning to pitch your next AI project to leadership, without the right metrics and a rigorous tracking process - all your efforts might go to waste!

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Defense Industry Stocks Gain Amid Rising Global Tension

Brown Advisory

Defense Industry Stocks Gain Amid Rising Global Tension. achen. Mon, 09/12/2016 - 04:00. Forget the Machiavellian notion that the best defense is a strong offense. Amid persistent instability in geopolitics and global finance, an investor in equities can both limit risk and find opportunity with a targeted stake in the defense industry. An investment in defense contractors—which tend to perform independently of economic growth—provides diversification that could help buffer a portfolio against s

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Private Credit Outshines Many High-Valuation Stocks, Bonds

Brown Advisory

Private Credit Outshines Many High-Valuation Stocks, Bonds. achen. Mon, 09/12/2016 - 05:00. Sometimes it pays for investors to find sources of income outside the conventional public channels for fixed income securities. Take private credit, for example. With interest rates at record lows and many publicly traded bonds and stocks approaching historically high valuations, private credit has become increasingly attractive to investors because of its total return prospects, steady income and role in

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Proposed Tax Law Changes Prompt Estate Planning Review

Brown Advisory

Proposed Tax Law Changes Prompt Estate Planning Review. achen. Mon, 09/12/2016 - 06:00. A plan to maximize a family’s financial legacy usually saves the most tax by leveraging the longterm compounding of investments outside of the taxable estate. Adopting a program of planning early, and monitoring that program, often brings the best results. But saving tax is not the only objective— clients also need to know that their financial security is assured and that the long-term stewardship of family a

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Sustainable Investing Special Edition September 2016

Brown Advisory

Sustainable Investing Special Edition September 2016. achen. Mon, 09/12/2016 - 07:07. In this issue: From our CEO: How We Help Clients Build Sustainable Portfolios Mike Hankin, Brown Advisory President and CEO, describes a framework for helping clients incorporate their values into their investment portfolios. By Michael D. Hankin, Chief Executive Officer ?

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2024 Lending Outlook: Innovations and Evolutions in the Financial Sector

As we step into 2024, the lending landscape evolves rapidly with technology, regulations, and market dynamics driving change. For banks and financial institutions to stay competitive and meet the evolving needs of their customers, these drivers must be understood and engaged with. Lenders can anticipate significant transformation fueled by technological advancements, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer behaviors.

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From our CEO: How We Help Clients Build Sustainable Portfolios

Brown Advisory

From our CEO: How We Help Clients Build Sustainable Portfolios. achen. Mon, 09/12/2016 - 08:16. Last year, we published our first special edition of The Advisory focused on sustainable investing. At the time I wrote that our firm was fully committed to helping clients sort through an array of choices in sustainable investing, and to developing a tailored approach for each client—one that best fits their long-term goals.

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Investors Seeking Sustainability Gain Confidence Through Screening

Brown Advisory

Investors Seeking Sustainability Gain Confidence Through Screening. achen. Mon, 09/12/2016 - 09:40. Some Wal-Mart stores sell rifles, some Starbucks coffee shops sell alcohol and GE builds engines for jet fighters and bombers. While generating just a small part of their revenues from these products, these companies pose a dilemma to investors who want to purge their portfolios of connections with guns, alcohol or the military.

Clients 52
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Diving Deep: Achieving Outperformance By Using Environmental Research

Brown Advisory

Diving Deep: Achieving Outperformance By Using Environmental Research. achen. Mon, 09/12/2016 - 10:22. ARM Holdings rose to dominance among makers of smartphone microprocessors by focusing on energy efficiency rather than pure computational power and speed. WhiteWave Foods has grown faster than its more conventional rivals because of its commitment to producing organic, healthful and minimally processed foods.

Food 52
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Five Ways to Invest That Make the World a Better Place

Brown Advisory

Five Ways to Invest That Make the World a Better Place. achen. Mon, 09/12/2016 - 11:11. Henry David Thoreau did not live to see the rise of impact investing, but he captured the spirit of it with a simple insight—“Goodness is the only investment that never fails.”. Impact investors align their assets behind their advocacy, whether it be for advances in environmental stewardship, human livelihood or public policy.

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Banking on Loyalty: Holistic Financial Advice for Unparalleled Business Growth

Speaker: Joe Buhrmann, MBA, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC® Senior Financial Planning Practice Management Consultant eMoney Advisor

During an era of evolving consumer preferences, the banking sector is undergoing a profound shift. As customers continue to broaden their perspectives, banking professionals must support their customers' financial wellness by providing holistic financial advice that aligns with individual goals and circumstances. Without adapting, financial institutions will find that loyalty may crumble amid uncertainty.

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Case Studies Show Sustainable Investing Yields Varied Benefits

Brown Advisory

Case Studies Show Sustainable Investing Yields Varied Benefits. achen. Mon, 09/12/2016 - 12:31. Nurturing Well-Being Through Sustainable Investing. Nancy Klavans is hardly a newcomer to the idea of backing projects that improve the lives of others. Since 1991 the Germeshausen Foundation created by Nancy’s parents, Polly and Ken Germeshausen, has made innovative grants linking different fields including education, the arts, sustainability, religion and peace- building.

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Looking For Signals

The Irrelevant Investor

In September 1929, just three days before the market crashed, Irving Fisher famously said "Stocks have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau." He died 18 year later, having never seen stocks at a higher level than when he made that statement. A few weeks earlier, a more glaring, yet overlooked contrarian signal was provided by John J. Raskob, the builder of the Empire State Building.

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Bigger, Stronger and Luckier

The Irrelevant Investor

Professional football players today bear little resemblance to the ones who suited up in the past. In the 1920s, the average offensive lineman- the biggest guys on the field- were 6'0 tall and 211 pounds. To put that in perspective, Odell Beckham, a smallish wide receiver is 5'11 and weighs 200 pounds. Source: Business Insider As NFL players grow bigger, stronger and faster, the standard deviation of play has decreased over time.

Numbers 52
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The Worst Month of the Year

The Irrelevant Investor

According to a recent study , of the 47 most-damaging hurricanes between 1950 and 2012, storms with male names produced an average of 23 deaths, while those with feminine names killed 45 people on average. In less absurd, but still true studies, September has historically been the worst month of the year for stocks. In fact, it's the only month that's been negative, on average.

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Navigating Financial Storms: Strategies for Building Resilient Balance Sheets

Speaker: Carolina Aponte - Owner and CEO, Caja Holdings LLC

In today's rapidly changing business environment, building a resilient balance sheet is crucial to the survival of any business. A resilient balance sheet allows a company to withstand financial shocks and adapt to changing market conditions. To achieve this, companies need to focus on key strategies such as maintaining adequate liquidity, managing debt levels, diversifying revenue streams, and prioritizing profitability over growth.

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Global Leaders Investment Letter - Q3 2016

Brown Advisory

Global Leaders Investment Letter - Q3 2016 ajackson Fri, 09/30/2016 - 09:50 Global Leaders Strategy Investment Letter - Q3 2016 In this letter the team discuss the current environment of higher valuations and the impact this is having on their investability test as part of their process. They describe their concept of calculating value using the weighted average cost of capital (WACC).

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Global Leaders Investment Letter - Q3 2016

Brown Advisory

Global Leaders Investment Letter - Q3 2016. ajackson. Fri, 09/30/2016 - 09:50. Global Leaders Strategy Investment Letter - Q3 2016. In this letter the team discuss the current environment of higher valuations and the impact this is having on their investability test as part of their process. They describe their concept of calculating value using the weighted average cost of capital (WACC). . .

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If You’re Buying, Who’s Selling?

The Irrelevant Investor

A few weeks ago at dinner I was getting set to order a brisket sandwich. Then I saw that this tower of goodness, which was covered with beer braised bacon and other accoutrements, came with a hefty price tag of 1400 calories. I thought better and went for the grilled chicken instead. Investors could use something that would act like a calorie counter.