Insights
Our goal is to guide clients through transitions and challenges with the vision and resources they need to succeed. A great place to start is here, in our library of reports, papers and other content.
High oil and gas prices and inflation: What does this mean for the Energy Transition
The spike in energy (and all other commodity prices) was well advanced before the Russian invasion of Ukraine - revealing the overwhelming dependence that the economy and society at large still have on the existing conventional energy system. In addition, high energy prices are occurring at a time when systematic monetary and supply chain issues are causing inflation and a pivot in monetary policy was already causing a shift in investor sentiment away from high P/E stocks toward shorter duration equities. We sat down for a conversation with Jim Murchie, CEO of Energy Income Partners, who discusses the energy sector implications of supply chain concerns, rising oil and gas prices and how the energy transition may be affected by it. He also discusses how Energy Income Partners is navigating this space.
The Geopolitical Implication of the Ukraine/Russia Crisis
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is among the most important geopolitical events since the end of the Second World War. It is already drastically changing the world, including prompting the European Union to take actions that would have been unthinkable even just a few weeks ago. As a result, countries across the globe are rethinking their entire foreign policy and closely watching the horrific humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ukraine and whether the global response to Russia could deter an even greater escalation. We sat down with retired Lieutenant General Douglas Lute, former Ambassador to NATO to discuss the geopolitical implications of the crisis, NATO’s role, and how the world order may shift as result of this war.
The Future of the Metaverse Economy
The Metaverse, the next stage in the evolution of the internet, is revolutionizing how we interact with the digital world. The recent rise of one-of-a-kind digital collectibles called NFTs (non-fungible tokens) are an example of this historic milestone. NFTs are transforming the art world with sales totaling approximately $774 million as of September 2021. Yet, just a couple of years ago, many people have either not heard of or largely dismissed this digital asset. We sat down for a conversation with Michael Bouhanna, Sotheby’s NFT expert to understand what makes this digital asset so unique. We also discuss what to consider before acquiring an NFT and how can one actually purchase an NFT.
Making Sense of the Energy Market: EIP’s Investment Framework and the Energy Transition
Policy makers, investors, the media and others are pushing competing narratives around energy and climate legislation, energy prices, supply and demand, new technologies and the “energy transition.” Jim Murchie from Energy Income Partners (EIP) will put all this in context for us and provides a simple framework for investors who want to better understand what is really happening. Jim addresses recent events (e.g., fossil fuel price spike, US energy legislation, the COP26 climate summit, shareholder activism) from the perspective of EIP’s investment approach of owning the transport infrastructure that connects all the parts of the changing energy system. He also discusses EIP’s engagement efforts with regulators, policy makers, industry associations, NGOs and others, and what policies EIP is advocating.
An Insider View of Upcoming Tax-Law Changes from Former U.S. Elected Officials
Biden’s proposed tax bill would make many changes to income, estate and gift taxes but what exactly will the final bill look like and what will the effective dates be? Get an insider view into the dynamics and hurdles of passing the bill and what changes we may see to the bill before it satisfies Congress. We sat down with Arent Fox’s tax legislation experts and two former members of Congress to explore what the future tax-law changes might look like.
From Intent to Action: Using Finance to Address Gender-Based Violence
Gender-based violence has enormous costs to the people who endure it, but also to society and the economy.In the U.S. alone, the annual cost of lost productivity due to domestic violence is estimated as $727.8 million, with over 7.9 million paid workdays lost each year. A 2018 report found that the total economic costs to the U.S. economy caused by intimate partner violence were a staggering $3 trillion over the victims’ lifetimes.While efforts focusing on using finance to address gender-based violence are still in the early days and many obstacles remain, there are a number of avenues investors can pursue.We sat down for a conversation with five leading experts to explore tools and opportunities for investors who wish to deploy their capital to bring gender-based violence to an end.
The Transformative Power of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning - A conversation with Matthew Putman
We sat down for a conversation with Matthew Putman, cofounder and CEO of Nanotronics, a science technology company that has redefined factory control through the invention of a platform that combines AI, automation and sophisticated imagining. Matthew shares where AI and ML stand and what’s on the horizon. He discusses various real-life applications, including many that are outside of what we normally think of. He also talks about what we all should know when it comes to AI to maximize its benefits and lessen our concerns.
Giving Together: Philanthropy and the Next Generation
Unprecedented global developments such as the pandemic, natural disasters and social and financial inequalities have led to rapid growth, advancements and changes in philanthropy. Many families have significantly increased their giving, with rising generations taking on leadership roles contributing their time, talents and resources. From shifting generational values, approaches and priorities, to new models of assessing impact – families are facing big questions that have the power to radically shape the future of philanthropy for good.We sat down for a special conversation with Rena Greifinger, Managing Director of Maverick Collective; Alex Idol, President of the Idol Family Foundation and Founding Member of Maverick Next; and Jill Shipley, Managing Director at Tiedemann Advisors. We discuss the changing role of philanthropy and effective strategies to maximize impact for positive social change. We also explore how families can tackle the world’s biggest challenges by encouraging the confidence, empathy and passions of the rising generations while honoring those that came before.
Digital Assets 101 with Yaya Fanusie
We sat down for a conversation with Yaya Fanusie, former CIA analyst and policy expert on cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. Yaya discusses the basics of digital assets to help us better understand how we reached this moment in the new age of digital currencies and the race for the future of money.
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity has never been more important than it is today. Every risk management strategy for a family or business must now have a comprehensive plan to address the substantial threat of cyberattacks. It is no longer a question of if you might be threatened by a cybersecurity attack but rather when. While the threats are increasing, so too are the ways in which you can protect yourself and your business. In this two-part webinar series, we sat down with renowned security experts Guy Snodgrass and Cesare Garlati to understand the current state of cybersecurity. Additionally, we discuss what you can learn from the U.S. national security and intelligence community and the cybersecurity industry when it comes to protecting your family and your business.We continued the conversation on May 6 with Aidan Kehoe, CEO of SKOUT Cybersecurity, and discussed what actual steps you can take to protect yourself and the information you have entrusted with third parties including Tiedemann. You will learn what the real threats are, what you need to do to better defend yourself, and whom you can work with to assist in securing your information.