Sulzberger Capital Advisors

In the past 20 years, ETFs have become one of the most popular investment ve­hicles. They offer low­cost access to as­ set classes for investors. With over $1 trillion in assets under management, the ETF structure has become one of the fast­est growing areas of the financial markets. There was one ETF in 1993 known as the SPDR (the S&P 500 Depository Receipt). Now there are over 2000 ETFs, representing many asset classes.

Investment advisors at big-name firms and the investors they serve often find themselves in a tug-of-war between the company’s recommendations, and the client’s own ideas. Clients might want to invest in a hot start-up like Tesla Motors, while corporate policies put the brakes on that plan. Frustration with not being able to let clients breathe is one of the reasons Gene Sulzberger struck off on his own.

An area of investing that has been increasing in popularity over the past number of years is the business development corporation (BDC). Many of you may be invested in them, but some of you may not be familiar with them. As banks have retreated from making loans to middle market companies, a competitive industry of BDCs has grown in the marketplace. A main reason their popularity has risen over the past few years is because of the healthy dividends they tend to pay – yields of upwards of 10%. There are publicly traded BDCs and privately held BDCs that investors may consider.

Unlisted real estate investment trusts (REIT) and direct participation programs (DPP) have been popular investment vehicles, in particular between 2009 and 2015. The pull back...

From the casual observer’s perspective, U.S. investment management firms may all look alike. However, there are important differences that investment consumers should be aware of when selecting an investment firm.

This is the time of year when a form is provided to you at work asking about what you plan to contribute to your 401K plan (or other retirement plan) at work. With many of these plans, your employer may match your contribution.

The prospect of interest rates increasing in the near future is inevitable. Many expect later this year for interest rates to start creeping up in .25 percent increments. Investors have been keenly aware of these low interest rates with the low interest payments offered by bonds, bond funds and other fixed income-like (or interest bearing) investment vehicles.

Drop the financial jargon. Don’t explain market activities with terminology sophisticated enough to require a specialized financial dictionary to decipher. But, at the same time, also do not talk “down” to clients. These are the communication guidelines that smart financial advisors employ today.

Now that lesbian and gay couples have the right to marry in Florida, there has been a rush to the altar for many long-time couples. It is worthwhile for any couple (gay or straight) about to contemplate marriage to do some financial planning first.

In my experience, IRAs tend to confuse people, so I’ve put together a brief explanation about how they work.

How much money do you need in order to retire? This is a question that haunts many of us; yet so few of us actually meet with a financial planner to learn more about what amount each of us needs for retirement and how to budget for retirement.

Hedge funds are private, actively managed investment funds that complement traditional assets and off er true portfolio diversifi cation. With $2.5 trillion in assets currently under management, hedge funds typically lower overall portfolio volatility and can protect capital in times of stressful markets.