Tag Archives: Hedge Fund Joseph Healey

Risks with hedge funds

22 Nov

The short answer to the question “are there risks with hedge funds?” is “yes.” With any type of investment, there are risks! The market is not foolproof, and there are dozens of cautionary tales for every possible type of investment. As for hedge funds specifically, the risks are incredibly varied. Because of the nature of any given hedge fund, which functions as a kind of investment portfolio and may be dealing with multiple types of investments at any given time, the risks associated are ever-changing and depend on individual hedge fund portfolios.

The main thing to remember about hedge fund risks is that the person delegated to control the fund, and to make investment decisions, should be a highly specialized and experienced money manager. Hedge fund management is not for amateurs. Hedge fund money managers must weigh their experience, knowledge, and study of the market against the goals of the investor, and must make sometimes difficult decisions. While hedge funds were initially developed as a method of reducing risk while seeking large profits, modern day hedge funds are often engaging in volatile markets. The higher the risk is, sometimes, the higher the gain is.

If the portfolio manager does end up taking “risks” by investing in a volatile market, things can be unpredictable and unsteady. This is where investors have to trust in the wisdom of their money manager. Recall that it is in the money manager’s best interests to make sound financial decisions so that they will make as much money as possible, along with the investor. Irresponsible or unskilled money managers will not have longevity in their profession, and will not be able to hold onto clients.

However, even the most responsible and thoughtful money manager with a great track record cannot predict every twist and turn of the market. What was considered a smart investment decision may ultimately fail to make profits. No one can predict the exact outcome of an investment, unfortunately, and there will be errors. If an investment does take a loss, the majority of investment partnerships will hold the money manager liable; many will not receive their performance fee, and there are often other safeguards put in place to make sure that the investor remains happy. Losing a great deal of money is always a possibility, when it comes to the world of investments, but a responsible investor who has done their research on their money manager will be prepared to weather the twists and turns of a tricky market.

Hedge funds are also generally designed to be long-term, and so an investor who sees little to no profit one year may see a substantial increase the next. The key is to remain in contact with your money manager, and yes, sometimes – if you feel they have acted irresponsibly – to perhaps take your business elsewhere. Do not make the mistake of thinking that hedge funds are “easy” money; hedge funds have been known to make people a lot of money very quickly, but that is not the case for everyone.

What is a hedge fund?

27 Oct

A hedge fund is a specific type of investment fund that is typically the domain of investors with a lot of experience. The reason why a hedge fund is perhaps better suited to a sophisticated investor is because the investors often have to fulfill certain requirements in order to be considered accredited/qualified. Hedge funds are also primarily run by a limited partnership, or a limited liability company, which places a money manager in charge of making decisions about investments made with the hedge fund.

For your average investor, a hedge fund would not be something they deal with, due to the fund’s complicated nature. For those with investment experience (and a lot of money to invest), hedge fund investments can be lucrative. A hedge fund has the benefit of being extremely versatile, and works in many ways like an entire portfolio; the money manager can choose to invest in a variety of different areas in order to maximize return under any market conditions. Hedge fund investments deal with more than just stocks, bonds and basic trading – hedge fund investments can be used to support startups, currency, and much more. Essentially, anywhere a money manager sees the opportunity to reap huge gains at little risk; a hedge fund investment may take place. This can involve either short or long positions. Hedge fund investments can be centered on one country, or can reach a global scale – it is up to the wisdom of the money manager to decide what market to engage in.

For the most part, most hedge funds are unregulated as many states do not require registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission. However, despite the “unregulated” status, the money managers (who are skilled investment professionals) are indeed required to adhere to the same market regulations as everyone else as they go about the business of managing the hedge fund portfolio. There is nothing illegal or dubious about hedge funds, when properly managed.

The term “hedge fund” refers in some cases to “hedging” against the market, or deliberately using techniques designed to reduce financial risk. In recent years, however, the “hedging” side of hedge funds (i.e., reducing risk as much as possible in terms of investment choices) has become rather fluid. Some money managers prefer to invest in volatile, fast-moving markets because the returns can be even more substantial.

Because of the many different financial techniques employed by hedge fund experts, there is no single definition or example of a hedge fund to be found. Some portfolios may reflect a cautious financial mind, and some may be far more adventurous. A good hedge fund manager will do their best to combine several strategies for making big returns at once, rather than relying on one method. Many hedge fund managers have an area of expertise and will focus on their field of skill. When entering into a hedge fund partnership as an investor, be sure to know exactly what the portfolio manager specializes in, and how much experience they have with hedge fund investments in total.