Gaining Perspective Advisor Perspectives

Change is happening all around us at an accelerating rate.  To exploit that change, rather than be exploited by it, professional advisors need power and capability that is protected by true independence.  My guest today is a pioneer of the business model that was created to deliver that combination, what is now called outsourced chief investment officer (OCIO). 
Jon Hirtle will explain why he is just as passionate about power, capability and true independence as he was when he founded an industry and a firm over 35 years ago.  He has been an active investor and successful entrepreneur for 40 years and I look forward to discussing the lessons he has learned as well as the trends he finds compelling.
How do good RIAs become great ones?  How do $1 billion-dollar practices become $20 billion-dollar practices?  Today, I talk with someone who has done both.  
Here are some links to learn more about Jon and Hirtle Callaghan:
Jon’s emai: jhirtlle@hirtlecallaghan.comhttps://www.hirtlecallaghan.com/https://www.hirtlecallaghan.com/blog/

Diversification is a core principle of sound investing, but building a diversified portfolio is much easier in theory than in practice. In the recently published “2024 Diversification Landscape,” portfolio strategist Amy Arnott of Morningstar took a deep dive into the diversification potential of several major asset classes. As advisors build their clients’ portfolios, there are a few lessons from this research. First, it is impossible to predict which asset class will do well in any given year. Holding a variety of asset classes helps guard against being overly exposed to an area that falls out of favor. Second, while the correlation between stocks and bonds has increased, bonds still provide relatively strong diversification benefits. This means that the classic 60/40 portfolio is tough to beat, having produced returns of about 18% in 2023. Third, the asset classes with the strongest diversification benefits may come as a surprise to some advisors. Real estate is a questionable diversifier despite its popularity, while cash is a strong diversified. 
Show Notes
Here are some links to learn more about Amy and her research:
Get the full report: 2024 Diversification Landscape

The multi-trillion-dollar ESG fund industry faces a regulatory problem. By the end of 2025, funds with net assets of $1 billion or more must comply with the amendments to SEC Rule 35d-1, better known as the “names rule.” It requires funds with names that include ESG terms have at least 80% of the fund invested in assets that aligned with those terms. The amendments strengthen prospectus disclosure requirements, and mandate that terms used in the fund’s name suggesting an investment focus be consistent with their plain-English meaning or established industry use.
My guest today will explain how ESG has become a meaningless term to investors. The result has been massive flows to ESG funds that have large holdings in oil companies, agricultural chemical manufacturers and similar companies that many investors are not aware of. Fund managers are struggling to explain what is going on, as they must to comply with the names rule.
Show ResourcesHere are some links to learn more about Jason and Reflection Asset Management:
Reflection Analytics Launches Digital Platform for Comprehensive ESG Audit and AnalysisSEC Adopts Rule Enhancements to Prevent Misleading or Deceptive Investment Fund NamesReflection AMReflect website

Today’s technology-driven landscape makes it easier than ever for RIAs to embrace automation across their tech stack and supercharge their businesses. Advisors can save time and minimize errors by using trading and rebalancing tools, portfolio management and CRM systems to manage accounts. Automation in data analysis also frees up time to provide more personalized advice or pursue new business. During this episode, Steve Sanders of Interactive Brokers will cover How automation increases operational efficiencies for advisors, why data aggregation and integrated reporting are critical to serving clients holistically and so much more. 
Show NotesBelow are some links to learn more about Steve and Interactive Brokers:
Interactive Brokers home page: https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/home.phpInteractive Brokers page for RIAs: https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/accounts/advisor.php

Learn all about the advantages of active strategies and how they are uniquely suited to the moment at VettaFi’s upcoming Active Management Symposium on May 16th. Go to etftrends.com/webcasts/alternatives-symposium-2024 to learn more.

With nearly 4.5 million Americans turning 65 in 2024, advisors are navigating four core risks that will impact their portfolios in retirement: longevity, inflation, volatility, and emotions. We will discuss new research by Dr. Wade Pfau, professor at The American College of Financial Services. He did this research on behalf of Equitable to look at how to improve the efficient frontier, enhance risk-adjusted returns and help advisors – and their clients – make the most of their assets through their retirement.
The research looks at the role of a registered index linked annuity (RILA) with lifetime income for a portion of a portfolio and the resulting impact on meeting lifetime spending goals, preserving assets and managing volatility as part of an overall retirement plan.
Show ResourcesHere is a link to learn more about Wade, Pete and Equitable’s offerings:Equitable’s retirement guide: https://equitable.com/financial-professionals/annuities/tool-center?utm_source=rgnov23

Large international index funds do not account for geopolitical risk. Corruption has costs, and in this age of conflict with rising tensions in the Middle East, Russia, Ukraine and elsewhere, investors are faced with a daunting landscape while US markets are near highs. Should investors ride the momentum or transition and rotate to sectors that represent greater value and higher forward expected returns?  The traditional international funds are attractively valued relative to the US but are fraught with risk. Today we will hear from Julie Cane and Chris Browne from Democracy Investments to discuss democracy as a factor in international investing. 
Show Resources
Here are some links to learn more about Julie, Chris and Democracy Investments:
To learn more about Democrqacy Investments, and the DMCY fund visit https://www.advisorperspectives.com/pdfs/2024/DI-Overview-3_20_24.pdf  Please find more information and important disclosures at https://www.democracyinvestments.com/fund
Learn all about the advantages of active strategies and how they are uniquely suited to the moment at VettaFi’s upcoming Active Management Symposium on May 16th. Go to etftrends.com/webcasts/alternatives-symposium-2024 to learn more.