Tom Weary
The absolute return environment needs careful navigation. MLPs have outperformed over the years, but today they are fully valued. Likewise, in the hedged equity space, we prefer ‘40 Act funds to opaque funds because of their liquidity and control.
Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) May 11, 2014
The Ivy Family Office Network hosted its April 2014 Family Office Outlook Forum in Philadelphia, PA on April 16th. Tom Weary, Chief Investment Officer of Lau Associates, led a panel discussion on “Asset Allocation.”
Weary commented, “Today we see the possible recurrence of volatility in the market. As an asset allocator we are able to navigate a potentially increasingly volatile environment to meet our clients’ needs. Some aspects of the classical asset allocation model need refinement in this environment. We supplement that traditional model of stocks and bonds with allocations into alternative strategies.
“However, the absolute return environment needs careful navigation. For instance MLPs have outperformed over the years, but today we think they are fully valued. Likewise, in the hedged equity space, we prefer ‘40 Act funds to opaque funds because of the liquidity and control they provide. Also, questions of cash management inside the allocated manager group need to be addressed from a total portfolio allocation perspective. As a full service family office company, we’re able to provide that level of oversight and risk management for our clients."
Other speakers on the panel included Gary Shugrue of Barlow Partners, Doug Getty of Abbot Downing, Rob Morgan of V2V Associates and Mickey Vetter of Market Access Partners
Tom Weary works with clients to create portfolios that will protect and grow their assets over the long run. In addition, Tom brings to his clients an expertise in managing high quality stocks. Tom is responsible for communicating Lau's views on financial markets and global economic developments, oversees Lau’s investment policy and process, and provides direction on asset allocation and risk management.
Prior to joining Lau Associates, Tom founded Diamond Portfolio Advisors, LLC, a boutique investment management firm built on his background in money management which included experience as a senior portfolio manager at Farmers Insurance in Los Angeles and John Hancock Mutual Funds in Boston, where he was also a founding member of John Hancock International Operations working both in Boston and Hong Kong.
Tom graduated cum laude in Philosophy from Harvard College in 1982 and received his CFA charter in 1993.
Lau Associates was founded by Judy Lau in 1985 as a financial planning firm in Wilmington, Delaware. Over the years, as clients requested that the firm work with their families and friends, and the amount and complexity of our clients' financial assets increased, Lau expanded and began to provide family office services in addition to traditional planning and investment management. Today, the firm offers exceptional depth in planning, investment management, tax and cash management, estate planning, tax return preparation, and bill paying. Lau provides highly personalized financial advisory services within an attentive and caring environment. In 2008, Lau Associates LLC became an independently operated subsidiary of Bryn Mawr Bank Corporation. For over 25 years, Lau Associates has helped its clients identify and plan for life's challenges and opportunities, whether financial, professional or personal.
About The Ivy Family Office Network Forum
The Ivy Family Office Network Forum, IvyFON, provides an ongoing dialogue for family offices to support high-value education and information on trends for family office investing, structure and operational excellence. Attendees gain practical strategies and solutions to achieve both short and long-term objectives. The program features off-the-record, peer-to-peer discussions in a non-commercial setting, in-depth and highly interactive sessions.
IvyFON, is a leading peer to peer global family office network with several hundred family offices attending events around the Americas every year. Some of the more than 2,000 past speakers include most of the top 10 largest asset allocating consultancies, pre-eminent alternative investment funds, leading institutional investors, best-in-class asset management professionals, family office subject matter experts and world-class family offices.
Forum sessions are multi-format and cross-disciplinary covering a range of family office centric topics.
IvyFON originates from one of the United States’ oldest and largest alternative investment networks, the IvyPlus network. IvyPlus originated as a peer to peer private equity, real estate and hedge fund network consisting of Ivy League and comparable school alumni as well as meritorious participants in the program. The group includes New York City and Los Angeles deal networks across multiple disciplines including private equity, health care and real estate. More than 15,000 investment, family office and institutional investment professionals have attended forums globally.
For more information on Lau Associates contact Tom Weary at Tom.Weary at lauassociates.net or at PH 302.792.5955. For more information on the Ivy Family Office Network, contact us at 646-290-8114 or at ivyfon.com/contact.html.