Under pressure to generate high returns in the low-yield environment, many investment teams are considering non-traditional asset classes. Some already invest in these assets–such as direct mortgage loans, syndicated loans, and limited partnerships–however, others are hesitant to move beyond traditional fixed-income vehicles. According to Clearwater’s 2015 Insurance Investment Benchmark Survey, 47% of insurers avoiding non-traditional asset classes do so because they are outside investment guidelines; and another 21% avoid them because of regulatory concerns or lack of expertise.
Non-traditional assets have unfamiliar accounting and regulatory complexities that are often perceived as insurmountable hurdles – when in reality they can often be overcome with some foresight and knowledge. In this webinar, investment and accounting experts from Johnson Lambert and Clearwater Analytics break down the basic asset structure, investment considerations, data management challenges, accounting characteristics, and tax considerations of four non-traditional asset classes that are growing in popularity:
As insurers evaluate their future portfolio allocations and plan for 2016, this webinar is an invaluable tool for understanding some of the most intimidating aspects of non-traditional assets.
William Emmons
Alternative Investment Analyst, Clearwater Analytics
William Emmons
Alternative Investment Analyst, Clearwater Analytics
William assists with the implementation of alternative asset solutions for Clearwater’s insurance, asset management, and corporate clients. He provides industry expertise to internal development teams, and helps design and implement automated tools for managing alternative assets within the Clearwater solution.
William has a bachelor’s degree in accountancy and finance from Boise State University.
Carolyn Rice
CPA, Partner, Johnson Lambert
Carolyn Rice
CPA, Partner, Johnson Lambert
Carolyn has more than 15 years of public accounting experience, and primarily provides audit services to the insurance industry. As a member of Johnson Lambert’s technical committee, Carolyn monitors all GASB pronouncements.
Before Carolyn joined Johnson Lambert in 2003, she worked for two local CPA firms, where she gained experience in not-for-profit, manufacturing, and governmental sectors. Carolyn serves on the board of the International Center for Captive Insurance Education (ICCIE), is a graduate of the University of Vermont, and is a licensed CPA in Vermont and Hawaii.
Magali Welch
CPA, CA, AIAF, Partner, Johnson Lambert
Magali Welch
CPA, CA, AIAF, Partner, Johnson Lambert
Magali has more than 25 years of experience in public accounting, and her main focus is providing audit services to the insurance industry. She co-chairs Johnson Lambert’s Technical Committee, which is responsible for firm-wide trainings and the implementation of new standards and technical content on the Johnson Lambert website. Magali also oversees and coordinates Johnson Lambert’s webinars and newsletters.
Prior to joining Johnson Lambert in 1994, Magali worked at a chartered accounting firm in Montreal. She has an Associate in Accounting and Finance (AIAF) designation from the Insurance Institute of America, along with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) certification offered by the AICPA, and recently completed a three year term on the AICPA Insurance Expert Panel.
Matt Gravelin
CPA, Senior Tax Manager, Johnson Lambert
Matt Gravelin
CPA, Senior Tax Manager, Johnson Lambert
Matt is responsible for coordinating, managing, and overseeing all tax services provided by the Vermont office. He joined Johnson Lambert in 2006, and has extensive experience providing tax, audit and consulting services to property-casualty insurers, including traditional mutual and commercial insurers, reinsurers, municipal sponsored risk pools, risk retention groups, and captive insurance companies.
Matt has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Vermont, and presents on insurance tax matters for professional associations throughout the United States.