Gaining Perspective

On July 18, Vanguard launched the Vanguard Baillie Gifford Global Positive Impact Stock Fund, which is the firm’s first impact fund and is designed for clients looking to invest in companies that have the potential to outperform the broad market as well as deliver positive change. Vanguard introduced the fund by adopting an existing impact fund managed by Baillie Gifford since 2017. The fund’s portfolio manager, Kate Fox, was previously a guest on Gaining Perspective.

Vanguard now has six ESG offerings in the U.S.: three index ETFs, two active mutual funds, and one index mutual fund.

Restrictive compliance and new, rapid-fire regulatory rules pose a challenge for independent advisors who often do not have the bandwidth to respond in a timely manner. Corporate RIAs must differentiate themselves on how they can help advisors navigate this often-confusing reality. My guests today lead one of the fastest growing independent broker-dealer/RIA hybrid platforms, CoastalOne, with over 150 financial professionals nationwide. CEO and president, Charles Reiling, and chief compliance officer, Barrett Schultz will discuss new compliance realities and challenges advisors are facing, as well as the importance of fintech solutions in the modern advisor’s practice.

If you want to call yourself a lawyer, doctor or accountant, you must adhere to strict regulatory requirements. Even electricians and plumbers must be properly licensed. But that is not and has not been true of financial planners. Anyone can call themselves a financial planner.

That is about to change.

On July 21, the Financial Planning Association® (FPA®), the leading membership organization and trade association for Certified Financial Planner™ professionals and those engaged in the financial planning process, announced that it will lead a multi-year advocacy effort to achieve the legal recognition of the term “financial planner” through title protection.

My guests today are the two individuals charged with implementing that decision.

A couple of weeks ago, DWS Group, a global asset manager and one of the world’s largest real estate investment managers, announced it was making a strategic investment in its Americas Alternatives distribution platform to make its real estate products more widely available to the retail market. The investment is part of a longer-term initiative to provide retail investors with access to DWS’s broad alternatives platform.

My guests today are the two individuals charged with leading DWS’ expansion in the real estate market.

The CFP Board published a book called the Psychology of Financial Planning. This groundbreaking new material incorporates interpersonal components of financial planning and the effects of money on individuals. My guests today are here to talk about that book.

Market volatility, inflation, and talk of a recession certainly has grabbed the headlines over the past few months. As financial planners, this is your chance to differentiate yourself as you walk your clients through turbulent times. My guests today form the leadership team for one of the country's most prominent planning firms, Integrated Financial Group (IFG), IFG consists of 60 teams of financial planners in 13 states. Founder and chief strategy officer, Don Patrick, and current CEO, Land Bridgers will share what their financial planners are doing right to help their clients navigate the headlines and the uncertainty of the economy. Focusing on financial planning is at the heart of this discussion, along with the conversations financial planners have had with their clients over the years to prepare for times such as this.

In April of this year, the FlexShares team at Northern Trust conducted a survey of more than 500 high-net worth investors who work with financial advisors. The survey asked investors a range of questions about ESG investing including, but not limited to: how much they understand it, why they are or aren’t interested, whether their advisors are recommending it, and how and where they’re learning about ESG investing. My guest today will explain how she and her team used the data to identify trends across different generations, genders, and wealth brackets when it comes to ESG investing.

According to my guest today, Greg Taylor, when looking at the performance of the large-cap tech stocks, it was inevitable that the broader market would touch bear market levels. He is here to discuss the market environment, not just in equities, but across asset classes including gold and cryptocurrencies.

Engine No. 1 focuses on engaging with companies constructively to make sure they are taking the costs they impose on society and other stakeholders into account. It operates on the belief that climate and social concerns are economic issues and companies that fail to address them will underperform for the long term.

These insights are intended to contribute to the well-being of retirees and to give Edward Jones’ 19,000 financial advisors a deep understanding of the way its seven million clients think about their needs and priorities across generations. Today, I am joined by Ken Cella, principal of branch development at Edward Jones, to discuss the key findings from the report and how advisors can support clients in planning for longevity and a successful retirement.

The past few decades presented an outstanding market environment for the asset management industry. Global AUM rose at a steady pace between 2001 and 2021, thanks largely to the strength of the world’s equity markets, which were able to rebound even after several severe downturns. And 2021 was even stronger. Global AUM grew at 12% last year, to more than $112 trillion, a growth rate well above the 7% average of the previous 20 years.

Last week, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) released its 20th annual report on the global asset management industry, it offers a retrospective analysis of the effects of this strong market – and as the industry enters a more uncertain era, it looks at the expected impact of new technologies such as direct indexing, increasing investor demand for alternative products, and a focus on decarbonization.

Since 1992 the Belkin Report has been helping portfolio managers outperform their benchmark indices, and allowing hedge funds to harvest absolute gains. The BR combines a weekly x-ray of market sector performance with forecasts for each one. Its proprietary forecast model focuses on sectors, groups, and individual stocks, with a particularly strong emphasis on sector rotation. The report also features a macro view on global market developments, with a critical eye on central bank credit operations. The BR’s track record of accurate calls has earned it the attention and loyalty of major investment houses around the world.