The Changing Horizon for Alternative Investments

I've been off-line for the past couple of weeks, attending the 6th Annual Plan Sponsors and Minority Managers Consortium as well as the Toigo Foundation Alumni Investment Management Conference, both here in LA. The events were great and both shared insights on the changing landscape of the investment management industry in general, and some significant changes in the alternatives space specifically. I'm currently compiling my notes and findings and will post a summary when I return back East next week. In preview, topics covered an in depth look at the change and growth in emerging markets and their importance in our local investment programs and objectives. The continuing development and rise of the secondaries market as both a marketplace for LP's looking to reduce exposure to certain segments of their portfolios, like LBO’s, to those looking to gain access to new markets at discounted rates, like distressed bank asset portfolios. There was also a great discussion on the changing use of fund of funds and advisors as this alternative investment space continues to become more complex and offer more investment options. While some have sought to increasingly look to fund of fund and consultants for direction and advice, others are growing their internal desks and looking for direct investments and placement of capital. All this is very interesting and will likely fuel further debate and interest in the alternative space going forward. That will be all for now. I’m going to miss the sun. I’ve heard it’s been quite hazy in the north east of late. And not just in terms of market direction. . .