This just in: The United States of America has a new President and the world hasn’t come to an end. Hell has not frozen over and anarchy has not spread throughout the land. Sure, it’s too early to tell, I mean perhaps Madonna and the rest of the liberal glitterati will continue to stage protests and make threats, but their efforts seem to have fallen on deaf ears. I for one would prefer that they simply entertain us with their music and movies and leave the politics to others.
I am not sure what to make of the Trump administration. I am not sure anyone is: It’s too early to tell. I am sure of one thing, though: We should celebrate last week’s peaceful transfer of power and the tens of thousands of people who protested America’s new regime. Both represent what is truly the best of the nation. Period. End of story.
The investment management industry is poised for great growth in 2017. I for one am extremely bullish. I believe that 2017 is the year of the hedge fund, private equity fund and perhaps even the mutual fund. I spent the better part of last week meeting with industry folks — managers, investors, service providers — and the message was clear: The election is over and it’s time to get back to work – the search for alpha continues! Investors are looking to put money to work, managers are looking to put money to work and service providers are looking to work with managers and investors to run smooth, sophisticated operations that put money to work. We are not through the looking glass, but we are getting close. Things are turning in the investment management industry and I for one look forward to participating in it.
Stay tuned for very good things to come. There are still some weeds to get through, but things are turning around and the industry as a whole is heading in the right direction.
Now for some shameless self-promotion: Operations for Alternatives is coming up quick, February 27-28 at the lovely Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami. To learn more and to register, click here. OFA is the single largest gathering in the United States of investors, managers and service providers who engage in real conversations about real issues affecting the industry. Don’t miss it.The discussion is fast, furious and informative – the tag line: “Right people, Right time, Right place” is right on.
Things that drive me crazy
Where to start? Lots to write here. First let me say thank you to all that write in each week about this section of the blog. I truly appreciate it. Second, it has been a few weeks since my last post, and as such, I have stockpiled a few things that are really driving me nuts these days. Number one on the list is inexperienced airplane travelers. Most of you know I travel frequently and, well, my tolerance for those don’t travel frequently is extremely low. I mean, really, there should be two sets of security lines, planes and even terminals.Tell me you don’t know what I’m talking about. All of us air warriors have experienced this complete breakdown of common sense in the security line and entering and exiting planes with those who do it infrequently. Getting behind someone in security who “forgot” to take their laptop out of the bag, didn’t finish their water or packed a big bottle of shampoo is almost as bad as the person who is trying to enter or exit the plane with so much stuff that the hold up the line trying to navigate the aisle. It is the worst and something needs to done about it.