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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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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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.

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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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8 Ways to Torture Your CFO

The office of the CFO is rapidly evolving, with more and more demands being placed upon the finance and accounting team each year. Join us in this webinar, where we share 8 things to NOT do when it comes to helping the CFO office advance in supporting the business. Learning Objectives: This course objective is to understand how best to support an organization's finance leadership.

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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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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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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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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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How to Streamline Payment Applications & Lien Waivers Through Innovative Construction Technology

Speaker: Dylan Secrest, Founder of Alamo Innovation and Construction Digital Transformation Consultant

Construction payment workflows are notoriously complex when you consider juggling multiple stakeholders, compliance requirements, and evolving project scopes. Delays in approvals or misaligned data between budgets, lien waivers, and pay applications can grind progress to a halt. The good news? It doesn't have to be this way! Join expert Dylan Secrest to discover how leading contractors are turning payment chaos into clarity using digital workflows, integrated systems, and automation strategies.

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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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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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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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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.

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Your Accounting Expertise Will Only Get You So Far: What Really Matters

Speaker: Victor C. Barnes, CPA, MBA

In the climb from contributor to leader, the rules quietly change. If you’re aiming for the summit, the air gets thinner—and what got you here won’t be enough to get you to the top (a concept first popularized by Marshall Goldsmith in his book What Got You Here Won’t Get You There ). What made you successful early in your finance career—technical accuracy, sharp analysis, flawless execution—won’t be what carries you to the next level.

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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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Investors Facing Rising Risks Need Solid Defense, Savvy Offense

Brown Advisory

Investors Facing Rising Risks Need Solid Defense, Savvy Offense achen Mon, 09/12/2016 - 02:00 As rising economic and political risk fuels market volatility worldwide, investors need to maintain adequate liquidity, stability and diversification to shield against any protracted economic downturn. At the same time, they should be alert to the investment opportunities that emerge amid turbulence, knowing that companies create value, and innovation and entrepreneurship generate wealth, even amid seve

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How To Overcome Change Fatigue In Finance With Neuroscience-Backed Strategies

Speaker: Kim Beynon, CPA, CGMA, PMP

The most overlooked, yet most critical, element of transformation is preparing people for change. Automation and AI aren't just technical upgrades, they’re cultural shifts which can challenge identities. That’s why change management isn’t a side project—it’s the foundation. In finance, where precision and process rule, navigating change can feel especially disruptive.

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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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Investors Facing Rising Risks Need Solid Defense, Savvy Offense

Brown Advisory

Investors Facing Rising Risks Need Solid Defense, Savvy Offense. achen. Mon, 09/12/2016 - 02:00. As rising economic and political risk fuels market volatility worldwide, investors need to maintain adequate liquidity, stability and diversification to shield against any protracted economic downturn. At the same time, they should be alert to the investment opportunities that emerge amid turbulence, knowing that companies create value, and innovation and entrepreneurship generate wealth, even amid s

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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.

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How Twelve and a Half Cents Changed History

The Irrelevant Investor

What if Walter White was played by Matthew Broderick and not Bryan Cranston? What if Phil Jackson sent Kobe Bryant to the Pistons for Grant Hill? What if free agent Tim Duncan signed with the Magic in 2000? It's safe to say that Breaking Bad would not have won 110 Emmy awards without Bryan Cranston, and the Spurs and Lakers would not have won a combined eight championships from 2000-2010 without Kobe or Duncan.

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2025 Industry Index: How Top Advisors Are Scaling Smarter (and Faster) This Year

Where are top advisors focusing in 2025? AcquireUp’s 2025 Industry Index reveals it all. Based on insights from 200+ financial professionals nationwide, discover why 74% say seminars and referrals deliver the best ROI, how automation is helping advisors scale faster, and why only 8% are tapping into niche marketing (a major growth opportunity!). Whether you're refining your client acquisition strategy or scaling your practice, this report gives you the real-world data, benchmarks, and action ste

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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.

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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.

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What Your Financial Statements Are Telling You—And How to Listen!

Speaker: David Worrell, CFO, Author & Speaker

Your financial statements hold powerful insights—but are you truly paying attention? Many finance professionals focus on the income statement while overlooking key signals hidden in the balance sheet and cash flow statement. Understanding these numbers can unlock smarter decision-making, uncover risks, and drive long-term success. Join David Worrell, accomplished CFO, finance expert, and author, for an engaging, nontraditional take on reading financial statements.

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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.

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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 asse

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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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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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You upgrade everything else. Why not your close process?

You wouldn’t keep using a 2009 flip phone - so why settle for outdated close processes? It’s time for an upgrade. SkyStem's Guide to Month-End Close Software walks you through what today’s best tools can do (and what your team shouldn’t have to deal with anymore). Get smart, fast, and a whole lot less stressed when it’s time to close the books.