Our Investment Approach & the Year Ahead, January 2012
Reminiscing on 2011 evokes thoughts of the sport of boxing, and not simply because its roots lie in Greece. While some may view the sport as violent and barbaric, boxing is often referred to as the "sweet science," an engaging display of tactics and skilled craft. When looking at it this way, boxing is a great analogy for investing and can also be used to help explain Convergent's investment approach.

Choosing a Trustee, October 2011
Choosing a trustee is one of the most important, and often difficult, decisions you will make during your estate planning process. This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of selecting an individual versus a corporate trustee in order to help you determine an appropriate solution for you, for your family, and for generations to come.

Long/Short Equity Investing: Part II, Scott Larson, June 2011
In Long/Short Equity Investing: Part I we focused on defining various types of investment styles and strategies as they relate to long/short equity managers. In Part II we provide a detailed examination of how we categorize managers and a review of implementation considerations when constructing a diversified portfolio of multiple long/short equity managers.

Achieving Tax Benefits through the Inter Vivos QTIP Trust, Sisi C. Tran, Esq., February 2011
With the passage of the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, timely planning is essential as increased transfer tax exemptions are available to individuals who act within the next two years. This article addresses a planning technique that allows a taxpayer to take advantage of the increased transfer tax exemptions while maintaining some control over the ultimate disposition of wealth.

Long/Short Equity Investing: Part I, Scott Larson, October 2010
This paper will review the broad spectrum of approaches to long/short equity and highlight their main differentiators based upon: style (generally, technical trading versus fundamental stock selection); portfolio construction (position sizing, risk controls, and sell disciplines); and strategy (market exposure and risk/return objective).

Benefits of Converting Your Traditional IRA to a ROTH in 2010, Sisi C. Tran, September 2010
While much has been written about the income tax benefits of converting an IRA to a Roth, this article focuses on the unique estate planning opportunity persons of significant wealth now have which will allow a converted IRA to be left for heirs while also providing the IRA owner with tax-free income for years to come.

Re-Assessing Multi-Strategy Hedge Funds, Aaron Mirandon, August 2010
This piece strives to conduct a thorough re-assessment of multi-strategy hedge funds, an asset class primarily using credit that has recently come under great scrutiny as return patterns, liquidity profiles, and competing asset classes (specifically, long-only credit strategies) have raised a number of questions related to their attractiveness on a go-forward basis.

Installment Sale to Intentionally Defective Grantor Trust, Sisi C. Tran, July 2010
A time-tested and tax-efficient wealth transfer technique involves selling property to an irrevocable trust established for the benefit of a client’s heirs (i.e., children or more remote descendants) in exchange for a promissory note...

The Taxman Cometh, Ronald Albahary, CFA^®, May 2010
“The Taxman Cometh” provides a brief overview of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, along with its amendment Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, and offers some initial thoughts regarding the impact to investors.  This piece also reviews certain other measures being considered that may affect investment and wealth management strategies.

Private Placement Life Insurance, Miles C. Padgett, Published in the Spring 2009 (Volume 11 No. 4) of The Journal of Wealth Management.
NYFO: Not Your Father’s Oldsmobile. Historically at Convergent Wealth Advisors, we have not viewed insurance as an investment vehicle, but rather as a hedge against a specific and identifiable risk. This view has been held by most of our clients, as well...

Alternative Investments and Leverage, Miles C. Padgett, October 2008
Leverage and Investment Performance and Risk. Managers of various alternative investment strategies frequently employ leverage to achieve their desire investment results. However, for most investors, “leverage” may carry a negative connotation, particularly during times of market stress or dislocation...