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Portfolio > Portfolio Construction

ImpactAssets Unveils Portfolio Directory of Impact Investing Deals

By Emily Zulz

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ImpactAssets announced the roll-out of the Giving Fund Portfolio Directory, a listing of more than 300 “cutting-edge” impact investments. The online searchable directory represents $425 million in impact investments recommended by donors through the ImpactAssets Giving Fund, as of December 31, 2017.

“The Giving Fund Portfolio Directory is one of the most comprehensive and accessible impact investing databases available at no cost to users,” Eric Meissner, a director at ImpactAssets, said in a statement. “It allows users to look under the hood at some of the most innovative impact investing deals being done and it demonstrates the real world impact our donors are making every day.”

The Giving Fund Portfolio Directory allows investors to target their search by Women CEO/Co-Founder, geography, asset class, UN Sustainable Development Goals and other criteria. Investors can also focus in on different types of investment vehicles – whether a direct investment, private equity fund or mutual fund – and target investments based on liquidity profiles.

ImpactAssets notes that approximately 31% of the impact investments in the directory are in women-led companies. In addition, a majority of “direct” private debt and equity impact funds listed in the directory have women CEOs or disproportionally benefit underserved women.

Prior to the Giving Fund Portfolio Directory, ImpactAssets launched the IA 50, a free, online database for investors and financial advisors that features a diversified listing of 50 private capital fund managers that deliver social and environmental impact as well as financial returns.

Broadridge Launches New Cloud-Based Wealth Management Solution

Fintech firm Broadridge Financial Solutions launched a new cloud-based wealth management solution that aims to help advisors connect more meaningfully with clients and prospects.

By leveraging predictive analytics  Broadridge Smart Insights helps advisors sharpen their client acquisition strategy, providing detailed profiles and insights into clients who are an optimal “fit” for their practice.

The solution combines consumer demographic, financial and behavioral information and Broadridge datasets with machine learning and proprietary technology within a secure, multi-channel platform.

Using artificial intelligence and advanced analytics, Broadridge Smart Insights supports enhanced prospect profiles and automated content recommendations to help advisors engage clients and prospects more effectively – maximizing the workday while growing ROI. Advisors are provided with timely and relevant content to share with clients and prospects through email, social media and other channels. The platform will score prospect and advisor attributes to enable advisors to pursue relationships that are most likely to be successful.

Fi360 Expands Reporting Capabilities within Fiduciary Focus Toolkit

Fi360 enhanced its Fiduciary Focus Toolkit with two new reports: The Model Portfolio Report and the Cost & Services Report.

These additions deepen monitoring and reporting capabilities for users. They are additions to the existing tool and are available immediately to help advisors optimize their workflow, specifically by illustrating complex topics and facilitating conversations with clients.

The Model Portfolio Report tool helps advisors benchmark their investment models using an independent, client-friendly report. Model Factsheets include performance, risk and expense comparisons along with the popular Fi360 Fiduciary Score at the underlying investment and model levels. Advisors can generate a hypothetical report using a model’s current allocation or upload past allocations for a more precise historical analysis.

The Costs & Services Report explains the costs a client is paying for the services received. The report provides clear documentation of the plan’s compensation structure, identifying who is receiving compensation, as well as what and how compensation is received. Information can be easily updated, which simplifies ongoing reporting and compliance processes.

AlphaCentric Launches AlphaCentric Small Cap Opportunities Fund

Mutual fund company AlphaCentric launched its newest fund, the AlphaCentric Small Cap Opportunities Fund (SMZIX).

SMZIX seeks long-term capital appreciation and focuses on the equities of small capitalization companies primarily based in the U.S. The management team uses proprietary, bottom-up research to identify companies that have underappreciated earnings potential and exhibit reasonable valuations. Designed to mitigate valuation risk, the Fund typically takes positions in companies with valuation multiples that are near or below historical averages.

At any one time, SMZIX is invested in 50 to 90 stocks, with a typical holding period of less than 12 months. The AlphaCentric Small Cap Opportunities Fund, which is sub-advised by Pacific View Asset Management, trades under the tickers SMZIX, SMZAX and SMZCX.

The AlphaCentric Small Cap Opportunities Fund is available with a minimum initial investment of $2,500. The net expense ratio is 1.66%, 2.41% and 1.41% for Class A shares, Class C shares and Class I shares, respectively.

Betterment Launches New Tool to Allow for Client Account Aggregation

Betterment for Advisors launched a new feature, called advisor aggregation, that  allows advisors to aggregate client assets, including those held outside of Betterment for Advisors, onto one platform.

With this new tool, advisors can more easily make recommendations across all of their clients’ accounts. In addition, the new feature allows for improved client experiences.

Xtrackers Adds 5 ETFs to Schwab ETF OneSource

Five additional Xtrackers exchange-traded funds – including three ETFs from its high yield toolbox – have been added to Schwab ETF OneSource, which provides investors and advisors with access to commission-free ETF trading.

The five newly added funds are:

  • Xtrackers High Beta High Yield Bond ETF (HYUP)
  • Xtrackers Low Beta High Yield Bond ETF (HYDW)
  • Xtrackers Short Duration High Yield Bond ETF (SHYL)
  • Xtrackers MSCI EAFE High Dividend Yield Equity ETF (HDEF)
  • Xtrackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares ETF (ASHR)

HYUP, HYDW and SHYL offers Schwab clients access to high yield solutions that can tailor investors’ exposure to the high yield bond market. HDEF provides access to high-quality international dividend equities across developed market countries (ex. the U.S. and Canada). WIth ASHR, Schwab clients are able to access the 300 largest and most liquid stocks in the China A-share market.

As of July 3, 2018, Schwab clients can now buy and sell t18 Xtrackers ETFs commission-free.

MassMutual Introduces New Actively Managed Target Date Fund Series

A new family of target date funds introduced by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. features active management and dynamic tactical asset allocation by T. Rowe Price Associates Inc. to enhance return potential and help mitigate risks.

The MassMutual Select T. Rowe Price Retirement Funds are designed to address a spectrum of risks – including inflation, longevity, and market risks, which retirement savers face during their accumulation years and through retirement.

The new TDF family is available exclusively to participants in retirement plans sponsored by MassMutual.

 —Read last week’s roundup here: American Beacon Launches Interval Fund: Portfolio Products

Emily Zulz

@think_emilyz

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