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Endowment Index Declines 1.86% for Week Ended 4/8/2022

The Endowment Index® calculated by Nasdaq OMX® (Symbol: ENDOW) closed at 1,610.84 Friday, declining 1.86% from the previous Friday’s close of 1,641.35. The Endowment Index represents the investable opportunity for managers of portfolios utilizing the Endowment Investment Philosophy® or otherwise incorporate alternative investments within a comprehensive asset allocation strategy. The Endowment Index measures performance for a multi-asset, globally-diversified, three-dimensional portfolio that includes Global Equity, Global Income, and Alternative Investments...

Yale Endowment Posts 40.2% Gain For FY 2021; Harvard +33.6%

The Yale Endowment office reported that their endowment grew by 40.2% for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021, ending the period at $42.3 billion. The Fund’s 10 and 20 year average annualized returns were reported at 12.4% and 11.3%, respectively (see Yale News). Meanwhile, Harvard University reported its endowment gained 33.6% to $53.2 billion, boosted by gains in public and private equity by +50% and 77%, respectively.  Harvard’s...

Endowments Reporting Large Gains in FY2021

University endowments are reporting strong portfolio performance for the fiscal year ended 6/30/2021. For example, Vanderbilt +57%, Washington University in St. Louis +65%, Michigan State +41% are just a few of the stellar returns posted by college endowment portfolios for the fiscal year ended June 30.  The magnitude of these gains is attributable to several factors, including depressed index prices in 2020 due to Covid, the strong rebound in...

Endowments Slow to Adopt Digital Assets

U.S Endowments are not jumping on the crypto bandwagon as quickly as other institutions.  Of the Endowment/Foundation respondents to Fidelity’s 2021 Institutional Investor Digital Assets Study, just 13% of U.S. endowments and foundations reported they do not currently buy or invest in digital assets.  Of the pension and endowment respondents, just 3% reported exposure. This lags HNW investors (15%), financial advisors (43%), and family offices (47%) in terms of...

Do You Know is in Your Thematic ETF?

Part of the ETF marketing machine is launching thematic ETFs with a catchy symbol based on the latest trends.  However, not always does the ETF offer exposure to the desired theme as you might think it should.  For example, some investing themes may be too narrow and do not have enough established public companies trading in that niche to create a diversified portfolio that provides significant exposure to that...

Press Release: Endowment Index® 2Q Performance Update

Endowment Index Second Quarter 2021 Performance Update Appleton, WI July 14, 2021 — The Endowment Index® calculated by Nasdaq OMX® (Symbol: ENDOW) gained 6.17% (on a total return basis) for the second quarter ended June 30, 2021.   This compares to the Global 60-40 Portfolio (60% Stocks, 40% Bonds), which increased 6.11% for the same period. Global equity markets continued their ascent higher in Q2 2021 with many indices...

21Shares Teams Up With Cathie Wood’s ARK on Proposed Bitcoin ETF

21Shares filed this week for a Bitcoin ETF. 21Shares and Ark join a host of other firms, including VanEck, Fidelity, First Trust seeking to be the first bitcoin ETF in the U.S. approved by the SEC.  You can view the S-1 Registration filing here.  

New ESG ETF Sees to Provide Active Corporate Governance Oversight

The Engine No. 1 Transform 500 ETF (symbol: VOTE) will invest in a market-cap weighted index of the 500 largest U.S. stocks, tracking the Morningstar U.S. Large Cap Select Index. Unlike a passive Vanguard S&P 500 Index fund, investors in the ETF will also get a team of active investors who vote carefully on shareholder issues, set rigorous goals for boardrooms, and have the ability to successfully run change...

Press Release: 1Q 2021 Endowment Index Performance Update

Endowment Index® First Quarter 2021 Performance Update Click to read entire Press Release Appleton, WI April 12, 2021 — The Endowment Index® calculated by Nasdaq OMX® (Symbol: ENDOW) increased 4.43% (on a total return basis) for the quarter ended March 31, 2021. This compares to a Global 60-40 Index (60% Stocks, 40% Bonds), which gained 1.02% for the same period. The top performing component of the Index for Q1...

ETFMS/EWM Offers Summer 2021 Finance/Investments Internship

ETF Model Solutions, LLC and our affiliate, Endowment Wealth Management, Inc. are offering a Finance and Investments internship opportunity for summer 2021 to assist with our growing Investment Advisory and Investment Management organizations. The paid position(s), located in our corporate headquarters in Appleton WI, will challenge you to apply your classroom work in a real-world environment supporting our credentialed, experienced investment advisory and management team. The internship(s) will involve...