Insights

China’s Adrenaline Shot: ‘Whatever It Takes’ Stimulus Package Sparks Investor Sentiment

A few weeks ago, I wrote a note on the state of the industrial metals market and how sentiment had been weighed down by sluggish demand out of China. Not only was a slumping property market stoking concerns that Beijing would miss their official growth target, but the upcoming U.S. election could have massive ramifications […]

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From the Desk of Our CIO

Mind Your Duration: Navigating Growth, Inflation, & the Fiscal Impulse

  It’s been close to a month since the Federal Reserve (Fed) embarked on what is likely to be the start of a rate cutting cycle, lowering the overnight rate by 50bps. While attention was focused on the “jumbo” nature of the interest rate reduction, given the Fed generally adjusts interest rates in 25bps increments, […]

China’s Adrenaline Shot: ‘Whatever It Takes’ Stimulus Package Sparks Investor Sentiment

A few weeks ago, I wrote a note on the state of the industrial metals market and how sentiment had been weighed down by sluggish demand out of China. Not only was a slumping property market stoking concerns that Beijing would miss their official growth target, but the upcoming U.S. election could have massive ramifications […]

The Bitter Truth: Why Your Morning Coffee Costs More & What’s Brewing for the Future

A key pillar of both U.S. political parties’ economic platforms is delivering a plan aimed at reducing consumer prices, which has been a major issue on both a local and global scale. In a recent note, we showed that the pace of rising food prices has been slowing, yet individuals are still unhappy with the cost […]
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Research Roundup

Unlocking the Potential of Direct Commodities in Real Asset Funds

In the ever-evolving landscape of real asset investments, fund managers seek strategies to enhance portfolio resilience and performance. A compelling opportunity lies in the strategic allocation to direct commodities. This approach offers several advantages that align closely with the objectives of real asset funds, particularly those aiming for robust inflation protection, liquidity management, and diversification. […]
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Invested Newsletter

INVESTED: September Edition

Good morning! Discover the latest trends and insights in this month’s Invested newsletter! In this issue, we explore a myriad of topics from the Canadian Securities Administrators’ MRFP redesign, to trauma-informed spaces in mental health emergency rooms, to how the upcoming U.S. election could reshape markets. Also, look out for misconceptions about China’s economy in […]

INVESTED: August Edition

Good morning! Discover the latest trends and insights in this month’s Invested newsletter! In this issue, we explore how Rob and Mac Van Wielingen transitioned from founders to stewards in their family business on the Owners Circle Podcast. We also delve into the rising trend of Recovery Cafés as a model for mental health support […]

INVESTED: July Edition

Good morning! Discover the latest trends and insights in this month’s Invested newsletter! Viewpoint Investment Partners Co-Founder Mac Van Wielingen shares powerful takeaways from his recent Business Council of Alberta speech. Learn how to maximize your multi-year donations with insights from the Viewpoint Foundation. Plus, explore Canada’s shifting economy in this month’s Trend Watch, as […]
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News & Insights

Are You a Meerkat or an Ostrich?

When it comes to your ETF and mutual fund investments, how much attention do you pay to the Manufacturer Report on Fund Performance (MRFP)? Do you actively seek it out—either by searching online or asking your financial advisor? Do you actually read the entire document? (Glancing at graphics or tables doesn’t count!) Do you fully […]

Nurturing Responsible Wealth Inheritors

One of the great challenges that all parents face is how to raise independent, self-sufficient, motivated kids. This concern can be exacerbated among families of affluence, as inherited wealth comes with its own opportunities, challenges, and pitfalls. For individuals who have created wealth through entrepreneurial endeavours, hard work, and risk taking, the fear of how […]

Unraveling Market Mysteries One Equation at a Time

Using Greek letters, numbers, and equations to describe the world is strange. Before I embarked on a near decade-long academic pursuit in the field of theoretical physics, I distinctly remember thinking about this peculiarity while sitting in my high school physics class staring at Newton’s laws of kinematics. It really is strange that we have […]
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Research Notes

Risk Parity & Pension Portfolios: A Perfect Match

Geek Level: Read Time: The Speed Read: Growth sleeves within a pension’s asset-liability framework are built with the intention of improving funded status, but depending on the path of different macroeconomic drivers, these portfolios can lead to adverse outcomes due to risk mismatches. Key risks in future pension liabilities include growth (both wage and economic), […]

Make Sure the Free Lunch Isn’t Moldy

Speed Read: The concept of diversification has a long history and is often considered “the only free lunch” in investing. The benefits of diversification are well studied in academic literature, but in practice, correlations between traditional assets like stocks and bonds can change, affecting the effectiveness of diversification. The correlation between U.S. stocks and U.S. […]

“Peeky” Blinders

When individuals have uncertainty about a specific product or idea, they will often look to what their peer group is doing to help them decide. Social proof is a behavioural bias that can lead to decision making errors. By embracing a process-driven research flow to guard against behavioural biases and data peeking, Viewpoint can distinguish between true and false alpha.
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White Paper

Revisiting Shrinkage: Covariance Matrix Estimation in the Modern Age

One of the great truisms in modelling is "garbage in, garbage out." In few places is that more important than in financial modelling.
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