Category Archives: Alternative Investments

Alternative Investments, Endowments, Endowments and Foundations, ESG, Fiduciary Advisor, Foundations, Nonprofits, Selecting an Endowment or Foundation Investment Advisor, Selecting an Investment Advisor

Beyond the Endowment: How Investment Governance Protects Nonprofit Missions

Posted on by Ryan Walter
08
Dec

 

In 2024, a jury found the NRA’s former CEO liable for millions in damages, following a lawsuit by the New York Attorney General alleging widespread financial mismanagement. The board’s audit committee failed to review related-party transactions and whistleblower complaints, effectively allowing executives to use the nonprofit’s assets as a “personal piggy bank” for lavish travel and suits.

These are not just headlines—they are governance failures. Breakdowns in oversight, process, and accountability can cost organizations their financial stability, their reputations, and the trust of their donors.

For nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations, financial stewardship is inseparable from mission stewardship. Endowments, foundations, reserves, and long-term investment pools do more than generate returns—they provide stability, underwrite strategic initiatives, and ensure the organization can serve its community for generations. At the heart of this responsibility lies one essential element: effective governance.

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Alternative Investments, Endowments, Endowments and Foundations, ESG, Fiduciary Advisor, Foundations, Nonprofits, Selecting an Endowment or Foundation Investment Advisor, Selecting an Investment Advisor

Choosing the Right Investment Advisor for Your Foundation or Endowment

Posted on by Matthew Rice
03
Dec

Choosing an investment advisor for your foundation or endowment is a pivotal decision that shapes both your organization’s mission and its enduring legacy. The strength of your investment portfolio fuels your ability to deliver on that mission, making it essential to have a partner who can steer through an increasingly complex and often unpredictable market. While many institutions default to large, national firms, an increasing number of foundations and endowments are recognizing the advantages of working with boutique investment advisors. These specialized firms often provide direct access to their most senior professionals, nimble decision-making, and a deeper alignment of interests—benefits that can be difficult to replicate within larger organizations.

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Endowments, Fiduciary Advisor, Foundations, Nonprofits, Private Equity, Selecting an Endowment or Foundation Investment Advisor, Selecting an Investment Advisor

Securing Tomorrow, Today: The Indispensable Role of Private Equity in Endowment & Foundation Portfolios

Posted on by Sean McEvilly
25
Nov

 

Endowments and foundations are entrusted with a monumental responsibility: to steward capital in a way that not only preserves but robustly grows purchasing power for generations, supporting vital missions in perpetuity. In a landscape marked by market volatility, persistent inflationary pressures, and evolving return expectations, the asset allocation decisions made today are foundational—they will echo for decades. Increasingly, private equity (PE) has emerged as an indispensable cornerstone strategy for institutions seeking to meet these challenges head-on and secure their future. Here’s why investment committees should unequivocally give private equity a prominent place at the table.

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Alternative Investments, Family Office, Investment Strategy, Private Wealth, Selecting an Investment Advisor, Wealth Management

The Value of Integrated Chief Investment Officer Services: A Hybrid Model for Personalized Portfolio Stewardship

Posted on by Sean McEvilly
17
Nov

 

As investment complexity grows and families seek more bespoke solutions, the traditional boundaries of investment management are evolving. The Chief Investment Officer (CIO) role—once confined to large institutions—is being redefined to meet the nuanced needs of private clients, family enterprises, and foundations.

Outsourced CIO (OCIO) services have long provided off-site portfolio management and access to institutional expertise. But today, a new model is emerging: Integrated Chief Investment Officer (Integrated CIO) Services. This approach blends the advantages of OCIO partnerships with the in-person engagement and hands-on stewardship that complex families and organizations increasingly require.

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Active Management, Alternative Investments, Investment Strategy, Market Commentary, Market Outlook, Private Equity, Private Wealth, Wealth Management

Passing the Baton: Why Your Financial Advisor’s Succession Plan Is the Key to Protecting Your Wealth

Posted on by Sean McEvilly
12
Nov

The Overlooked Risk in Wealth Management

Choosing a financial advisor today is about more than investment performance—it’s about securing the future stewardship of your family’s wealth. With a wave of advisor retirements ahead, families must consider who will manage their assets tomorrow, not just today. Up to 46% of U.S. financial advisors plan to retire by 2035, putting trillions of dollars at risk if succession planning isn’t handled properly. For clients, continuity can’t be taken for granted.​

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Alternative Investments, Endowments, Endowments and Foundations, ESG, Fiduciary Advisor, Foundations, Nonprofits, Planned Giving, Selecting an Endowment or Foundation Investment Advisor, Selecting an Investment Advisor

The Enduring Legacy: How Planned Giving is Revolutionizing Nonprofit Endowments

Posted on by Matthew Rice
03
Nov

 

The world has changed dramatically in recent years, and with it, the landscape of philanthropy. The pandemic, while presenting immense challenges, also illuminated the critical importance of long-term financial stability for nonprofits. This has shone a spotlight on planned giving and legacy gifts, recognizing them not just as a bonus, but as indispensable cornerstones for building robust endowment funds.

So, how are forward-thinking nonprofits seizing this moment, and what truly motivates donors to secure an organization’s future for generations to come?

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Active Management, Alternative Investments, Investment Strategy, Liquid Alternatives, Market Commentary, Market Outlook, Private Wealth, Wealth Management

The Rise of Private Lending: Growth, Structures, and Key Investor Considerations in 2025

Posted on by Matthew Rice
29
Oct

 

The private lending industry has transformed from a niche alternative into a global financial powerhouse, with assets under management surging from roughly $375 billion in 2008 to more than $2 trillion by 2023—and is projected to reach $3 trillion by 2025. This explosive growth is driven by two critical shifts:​

  • Post-2008 regulations forced banks to pull back on traditional lending, opening the door for private lenders to fill funding gaps.

  • Investors seeking stable yield turned to private debt during prolonged periods of low interest rates, including the pandemic and periods of rate volatility.

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Hedge Fund Strategies, Hedge Funds, Investment Strategy, Private Wealth, Tax-Loss Harvesting, Wealth Management

Turning Losses Into Opportunities: The Value of Year-Round Tax-Loss Harvesting

Posted on by Sean McEvilly
21
Oct

 

No investor enjoys seeing losses in their portfolio. Yet, how you manage losses often matters as much as how you generate gains. The most disciplined investors—and their advisors—know that losses can be powerful strategic tools when used wisely.

Tax-loss harvesting takes realized investment losses and uses them to offset taxable gains, lowering overall tax liability. Put simply, it transforms short-term setbacks into long-term advantage. As one of my mentors used to put it, a loss can be an economic asset—if managed properly.

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Active Management, Alternative Investments, Investment Strategy, Market Commentary, Market Outlook, Private Equity, Private Wealth, Wealth Management

Navigating Historic S&P 500 Valuations: Embracing Alternative Assets Amid Market Resilience and Uncertainty

Posted on by Sean McEvilly
11
Oct

 

Amid the historic surge in S&P 500 valuations, reaching new highs in October 2025, investors face a complex landscape marked by both optimism and heightened risk. At Vistamark Investments, the current environment underscores the value of blending opportunities in public market equities with strategic allocations to private equity and private credit. These alternative assets enhance portfolio diversification, offer higher expected risk-adjusted returns, and provide income stability essential for navigating ongoing volatility and economic shifts. With central banks adapting monetary policy and fiscal challenges ongoing, adopting a multi-asset, globally diversified approach anchored by rigorous risk management remains key to building resilient portfolios and securing enduring wealth.

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Alternative Investments, Chicago Area Investment Advisor, Chicago Area Private Wealth, Family Office, Fiduciary Advisor, Financial Planning, Hinsdale Investment Advisor, Private Wealth, Real Estate, Real Estate Sale, Selecting a Private Wealth Investment Advisor, Selecting an Investment Advisor, Selling a Business, Wealth Management, Western Chicago Suburbs Investment Advisor

Unlocking Your Real Estate Windfall: Why an Investment Advisor is Your Essential Partner

Posted on by Bill Seyfarth
29
Sep

 

Selling a real estate asset – be it a strategic rental property or a bustling commercial building – is more than just a transaction. It’s often a transformative financial milestone, representing years of dedicated equity building, meticulous planning, and unwavering hard work. The substantial proceeds from such a sale are a testament to your efforts.

But here’s the critical question: What comes next? The decisions you make with this newfound capital are just as vital as the sale itself. Navigating the intricate landscape of taxes, identifying lucrative investment opportunities, and securing your long-term financial stability demands a level of expertise many of us don’t possess. This is precisely where the seasoned guidance of an experienced investment advisor becomes not just valuable, but essential.

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