Finding Paradise in Hawaii Luxury Real Estate

Amid the highs and lows of the world economy, the Hawaii luxury real estate market continues to thrive. Big Island, in particular, is drawing wealthy buyers from across the globe who are charmed by its bespoke beauty and a vibrant community built around wellness, adventure, and the finer things in life.

Luxury real estate properties in this side of the Pacific typically afford their well-heeled owners unparalleled ocean views, as well as the incredible backdrop of lush mountains and rolling hills. The island’s famed hotels – Ritz Carlton, Marriott, Hilton Waikoloa Village, and Four Seasons Resort, to name a few – are always just a five minute-drive if not steps away, perfect for such activities as poolside or beachside lounging, golfing, pampering at the spa, or dining.

Exclusivity, panoramic vistas, and first-rate furnishings are the hallmarks of Big Island luxury real estate properties. In these neighborhoods, beachfront homes, condos, and villas may only be accessed through private roads, and security is round-the-clock. Residents and their guests wake up to breathtaking views of the sunrise through floor to ceiling glass windows, and sip cocktails from their balconies while watching the sun set.

Interiors are designed to impress visitors – from the premium flooring and vaulted ceilings, to the elegant furniture and well-curated collections of paintings and other decor. These homes are also appointed with custom cabinetry and premium appliances for gourmet cooking, and feature outdoor grills, wet bars, private lanais, and large pools, among other amenities for entertaining guests.

From these properties, residents can experience Hawaii’s distinct island vibe, one that places great value in communing with nature, and nurturing a warm, gracious hospitality. Life here is slow and relaxed but also fun-filled and exciting, with people embracing both the indoors and outdoors, always up for some romance and thrilling escapades.

At the same time, the flux of buyers from all continents as well as the steady stream of tourists has made Big Island cosmopolitan in many respects. Extraordinary arts and cultural experiences await in the many museums and galleries around, while the best of modern international cuisines are served in the fine dining restaurants. Big Island hotels are able to offer the ultimate in luxury, and are then a favorite destination for those celebrating special occasions such as birthdays, reunions, weddings, or anniversaries.

With the help of an experienced broker based in Big Island, you too can find paradise in a Hawaii luxury real estate property.

Promoting operational efficiency in hedge funds through asset servicing solutions

Operational efficiency is a goal for any business organization. For such a competitive industry like the hedge funds, this goal becomes even more important: To survive, a company needs to be wise at dispensing its resources, and making sure that each expense item truly adds value to the operations.

Towards efficiency and to cope with the changing demands of an ever-growing domain, many a firm has invested in new technologies, new services, new hires only to find that these do not, in fact, bring in much benefit. The result is a much more cautious pool of portfolio managers whose hesitation in adopting innovations into their front, middle, and back offices prevent them from making a step forward, in terms of widening their product lines, grabbing new trading opportunities, or even conquering new markets.

Ultimately, they will be outperformed by those who are willing to study the risks and implement the right infrastructure accordingly. For one, it must be noted that the competitiveness of the asset servicing industry has spawned many outsourcing providers that are eager to please, and ready to cater to requirements beyond the traditional technology or back office support.

These days, the most sophisticated asset servicing partners have the capability and the solutions to handle a wide range of investment management operations. They have the staff and platform for data warehousing and management, daily trade and bank reconciliation, accounting, tax reporting, and compliance management, allowing hedge funds firms to focus on their front office and growing the assets under their management.

With this development, the companies that enlist asset servicing solutions do so much more than just reduce their overhead costs. More importantly, they are able to streamline their procedures, and reallocate resources that were previously deployed to parts of a system with redundancies. They learn to prioritize and master the core components of their operations, and delegate the rest of the functions to a third-party entity with specialized services and the latest tools for said functions. Their talent are able to focus on particular, strategic tasks, and develop their skills to become miles ahead of the competition. The enlistment of asset servicing might even spur an overhaul of a firm’s entire business model.

In the end, efficiency through asset servicing will mean not only money savings for hedge funds, but a leaner but more results-oriented organization that can truly take on the various challenges of asset management in this era.

Fastest Laps in NASCAR

Ever try to race your buddy on the road or see who can get where faster? Then you all know the main goal is to be the fastest and it’s the same in NASCAR. Everyone wants to be on top of the leaderboard whether it is practice, qualifying, or the race the goal is the same be the quickest. One of the most overlooked aspects of racing is a fastest lap. While teams have multiple practices every weekend they really don’t rely a ton on the fastest lap that could be misleading for fantasy players. Let us take a look on what a fast lap is and how to know the different meanings of them so you can be a better fantasy player as NASCAR fantasy expert picks.

One might think it is pretty simple to guess the fastest lap, but craziest thing about it in NASCAR is it could really be anyone in the field. It is very important to find those that will get the fastest laps though. In contests that count fastest laps, they count for .5 points each lap they run. While it might not seem like an awful lot those can add up real quick if you are able to find the driver that is able to get you double digit laps in that category. These could be the little extra points needed that is the difference in winning and losing.

First you need to look at the type of track they’re racing on that week. For example the bigger tracks like Daytona and Talladega usually have less total laps so the point upside for fastest laps really isn’t there, but the shorter tracks when they may have 500 laps have a huge upside for them. Once that is determined you need to understand most of the time (not all the time) the fastest car will be the leader. So if the pole sitter starts the race, all likelihood he will get a few fastest laps early. Clean air does wonders for those racecars, since the leader is the first one and there are no cars in front of him he will get all the clean air making his car faster and since everyone is behind him they get “dirty air” and will then be slower from it.

There is always a case where this isn’t true, but at the start you can usually bet on this to be the case. When this changes is when tires start to fall off and lose speed, this is when we may see the fastest laps come from anywhere in the field. Some cars fall off faster than others so we will see different speeds from every spot. How to find these are when practice comes into play, we can judge not only their single lap times, but the best is probably 10 lap average. Kevin Harvick for example has a history of being a bad qualifier, but is always fast during the race; this is because they set his car up for later in the runs.

Another thing that changes who runs faster times is who has the newer tires. Nearly every pit stop will need a tire change and new rubber means better grip for racing ultimately meaning faster times. So if a guy pits before everyone else with older tires, odds are once he gets out there he will be the fastest car on the track and that cycle changes every time someone comes in to the pits. Those three rules; track type, single lap and 10-lap average in practice, and who starts up front, is a great start to building a successful lineup taking in consideration with fastest laps.

Note: This is a guest blog post by Rusty Doyal from Daily Fantasy Insider.

Richard A. Kimball Jr. Puts His Stake in Telemedicine

Americans are now seeing positive effects of Telemedicine. Thanks to healthcare leaders like Richard A. Kimball Jr., who is revolutionizing the industry by continuously investing in high technology and research to provide the best services to patients and their families.

Richard A. Kimball Jr., or simply Rick, is the CEO and Founder of HExL, a healthcare startup specializing in providing capital, strategic advice and senior industry access to companies transforming how we deliver and consume healthcare. Furthermore, HExL will advise companies in its investment portfolio to deliver continuum mobile care through effective and convenient home based, high touch and high tech solution that is tailored for a capitated environment.  HExL will bring about the much needed changes to enable the US healthcare system to migrate away from volume and towards value.

The Stanford Distinguished Careers Institute (DCI) fellow believes that prevention is always better than cure.  However, HExL will now assist in giving the US population the tools it needs to properly deliver preventive methods. With the emergence of technology in healthcare, HExL has a plan for efficient remote monitoring.

The HExL co-founder was a former partner and co-head at the Global Healthcare Investment Banking and Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS). He also led the Healthcare Equity Capital Markets and Healthcare Services Investment Banking at Morgan Stanley for 17 years.  So it is no secret that Kimball has been an advocate of cheaper and convenient healthcare for the Americans. His expertise in investment and healthcare has helped him formulate operative solutions addressing long-overdue issues of patient care in the country.   With the growing need for affordable and remote care in the U.S. Richard A. Kimball Jr., through his company HExL.com, will help revolutionize healthcare.

The CEO’s most recent stint was with Accretive Health, one of United States’ leading technology healthcare companies. Richard was Chief Strategy and Growth Officer at Accretive, in-charge of strategy, sales and marketing, business provider and population health solutions. He contributed to the company’s revenue cycle management business in facilitating patient engagement.

Rick is a Fellow in the Distinguished Careers Institute at Stanford University and a member of Advisory Boards for the Population Health Sciences Institute, Clinical Excellence Research Center and the Health Policy and Outcomes Research Institute at Stanford. Rick is an Honorary Trustee of the Brookings Institution where he is a member of the Metropolitan Studies Leadership Council. Rick was previously Chairman of the Finance Committee of the board of the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention in Harlem, a single member corporation of Memorial Sloane Kettering. Rick is a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO). Rick received a B.A. in Economics from Yale University in 1986.

What hedge funds need to look for in their back office solutions

Transparency is, without a doubt, very important in the hedge fund industry, as it is important that fund managers provide investors with precise details on fees, performance, and other relevant pieces of information. This should all be done while remaining compliant with operational policies and procedures, and that all adds up to a lot of pressure on hedge funds, pressure that can be eased with the right choice of back office solutions.

Making the right decision when it comes to back office administration is crucial to the performance of hedge funds. It could lead to more efficient operations, both in terms of cost and on a broader level. And with improving efficiency a paramount goal for many hedge funds, they have tended to outsource back office duties to asset services firms. Doing so allows hedge funds to focus more on activities that could generate more revenue going forward.

When choosing a back office solution provider, it is important that hedge funds opt for a company that offers a lot of variety in the products and services they carry. These should be on the bleeding edge of technology, especially those solutions that leverage the cloud. Cloud-based solutions are becoming more and more common in different industries, and are slowly becoming de rigueur, must-have features for any company shopping around for the right back office provider. Among other reasons, this is because of these solutions’ flexibility, the ability to securely and conveniently access data, and the ease in which said data can be recovered in case of unforeseen events.

Experience is another key area of consideration when looking for the right back office solutions provider. There are many companies that offer these solutions, but hedge funds should prioritize those that have years of proven experience in what they do. And while years of experience is almost always worth something, that experience should be backed up by proven results, and a reputation for integrity.

Hedge fund managers need to tap outsourcing providers that have a solid track record as an asset services firm, one with a top-of-the-line cloud-based platform, as well as a team of in-house experts that can cater to a wide range of hedge fund needs. They need to find a partner that prides itself on transparency, accuracy, and timeliness when delivering essential reports. A mix of expertise, core values, and a solid suite of high-end back office solutions will inspire confidence among client investors, especially amid volatile market conditions.

How to play Fantasy Sports - MLS Fantasy soccer scoring explained

Although baseball, basketball, and football are still the kinds of real-life and fantasy sports in the U.S., some fantasy providers are offering tournaments and leagues based on other sports apart from the Big Three, such as golf, NASCAR, mixed martial arts. These also include fantasy soccer leagues, which are based on scores and stats from Major League Soccer, or MLS. So how about some MLS fantasy soccer tips for the beginners?

Join us as we help you, the daily fantasy soccer player, learn all the nuances of fantasy sports. For starters, we’ll be talking about the scoring system on DraftKings, which arguably has the best service among those who offer fantasy soccer. And be prepared, because it’s not just the basic stats that will be counted here; a lot of advanced ones are taken into account as well.

As far as scoring is concerned, it’s definitely more than the usual goals, assists, and goals allowed. A goal is worth 10 points, an assist six points, and a shot or a shot on goal one point. Crosses get you 0.75 points, fouls drawn and tackles won one point apiece, and passes intercepted by non-goalies one-half point. Defenders get three points each whenever the opposing team goes scoreless, thus resulting in a clean sheet. You can also get some points deducted from your total if your players get a yellow card (-1.5 points), red card (-3 points), or miss penalty kicks (-5 points).

Goalie stats include two points per save, five points per clean sheet, five points for a win, and three points for a penalty kick save.

Talking about the players you want on your team and how it relates to the scoring system above, we strongly suggest going for high-scoring forwards and midfielders. As defenders rarely score goals as compared to the other two non-goalie positions, you should be setting your sights on those whose teams allow few goals compared to other teams in MLS. The same applies for goalkeepers; the less points his team allows, the better. On the other hand, you want to avoid hotheads, dirty players, and chokers, as their actions (red/yellow cards, missed penalties, etc.) can ding you with deductions.

That’s it for our latest fantasy soccer advice article for beginners, so with that said, we hope you keep these tips in mind once you’re ready to try your luck in the MLS fantasy soccer scene.

Maximizing growth opportunities for hedge funds

Over the years, hedge funds have grown in popularity and have piqued the interest of those who are looking to meet their financial goals and maximize their capital gains.

Now one of the largest types of alternative investments, hedge funds raked in capital amounting to $2.9 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2015. According to Hedge Fund Research’s report released earlier this year, this is equivalent to a rise of up to $22.8 billion compared to the previous quarter. It is also quite noteworthy that hedge fund assets increased while other forms of investments declined.

The reliable performance of these alternative assets in the industry led financial experts to dub hedge funds as critical and promising tools in the global economy. In fact, professional services firm PwC said in its report that hedge funds will rise to even greater heights in the next five years. It also predicted that hedge fund assets will double and reach up to $4.6 trillion to $5 trillion in 2020.

Along with the projected growth of the hedge fund industry, several opportunities and trends are also expected to arise. Healthy competition will continue to challenge fund managers to innovate and strategize. They will also have to revolutionize their business models in order to keep up with the dynamics of the financial market.

A major growth opportunity for asset management firms is the diversification of revenues. Experts say that those with diversified products are more likely to survive the volatile financial market. These companies also prove to be more resilient and are able to continue managing their funds even when a once profitable product suffers from a downturn.

In hedge funds, diversification of revenues includes changes in capital sources, in markets they invest in, and in services they provide. Fund managers expect that public sector pension funds and sovereignty wealth funds will play an important role as primary capital sources in the next five years. The increasing accessibility within the global market will also permit them to invest in and focus on a different group of countries, as some see more opportunities in emerging and frontier markets. Moreover, the trend of having multi-strategy offerings with increasing operational complexity will also continue. Clients will more likely go for managers who offer customized solutions to address their needs.

To seize and maximize these growth opportunities, it would be wise to choose asset servicing partners who have extensive industry experience. Their expert understanding of the constantly evolving conditions of the financial market, as well as the roster of services they offer, are also important factors that should be looked into.

Why foundations need back office support

Passionate about an advocacy that they feel is often overlooked by the public sector, many private individuals or groups go on to establish foundations. They create its brand and identity, conceptualize programs and activities raise funds to support its operations, and in the process build its network and leadership.

Behind all these efforts are back office functions that obviously make huge impacts on the success of their actions, while not directly related to their cause. Roles such as accounting, tax reporting, human resource management, procurement or rentals of office space and equipment are crucial in the day-to-day operations of foundations, and they require a considerable investment of resources.

Tax reporting and accounting, for instance, are components needed for producing reports to be submitted to the regulatory bodies, and without these they would not be allowed to operate. Moreover, meticulous accounting is important in the interest of transparency: partner organizations, the board of directors, donors, and supporters would all be keen on learning how funds are spent – hopefully towards the advocacy.

It would be a great disservice to the well-meaning individuals and organizations who parted with their hard-earned money if a foundation’s finances would not be well-kept, because of operational inefficiency. And most of the time, efficiency gets thrown out the window when foundations are preoccupied with what they believe to be their organization’s raison d'être: promoting their cause. For example, it would be hard for them to be diligent about the collection of receipts for transactions made, performing rigorous bidding for products or services that need to be purchased, or conducting a more thorough selection process for job applicants, when they are more worried about generating funds, dealing with the grassroots, or raising awareness campaigns.

The reality is that most foundations run on a lean budget, and would most likely prefer to work the front office and have little time for handling the tedious back office roles. While definitely committed to the cause, they are also often understaffed, which forces them to neglect the nitty-gritty of operations.

These days, thankfully foundations can tap the assistance of a third party to provide back office solutions. Such service providers already have the expertise as well as the tools that allow them to efficiently take on tasks like bookkeeping, preparation of donor reports, and staffing. With their help, foundations can then be more focused on the strategic aspect of running an organization for a cause.

The Leather Question

Among environment advocates, the question regarding the ecological soundness of the use of leather will always be an important one.

Personally, I use genuine leather. I own a leather satchel which carries my personal items, and I have owned it for five years now (I got it from a trip to Bangkok). I also have a leather case for my sun glasses and another for my iPhone and chargers. And like any ordinary working man, I own a bunch of leather belts and shoes.

They all have served me well, and continue to do so. And as many leather enthusiasts like to say, leather just gets better looking as time goes by. The scuffs and tears that would make on items of other materials look worn, ragged, and thus unwearable just does exactly the opposite to leather: they add character, and make it more appealing.

But I have often been confronted with the question: Isn’t leather part of an unsustainable industry?

The question, like most important questions in environmental advocacy, can be answered in different ways, and one is not necessarily the right or wrong answer.

The arguments of the anti-leather camp are valid and worth discussing. Essentially, they say, the production of leather is part of the practices that sustain an industry that kills animals. It is the same moral dilemma that confronts vegetarians who still consume dairy. Vegans argue that the female animals who stop producing milk still will eventually end up in the slaughterhouse, so the manufacture of dairy simply constitutes just one stage of meat production. In the same vein, vegans argue that the use of leather generally contributes to the demand for animal-based products.

On the other hand, leather is a high-quality product. Leather jackets and coats offer real warmth if you use them during fall and winter. And if used as a bag or container, leather will give your items ample protection from the elements. You can have one leather biker jacket in your closet and with proper care, it could last for decades, and it’s something you can bequeath to the next generation. This is why you can find decades-old leather jackets in vintage shops! Meanwhile, faux or vegan leather items never can live up to that standard: They won’t feel as warm, and do not take scrapes well. You can use them for two years perhaps, and then you would need to throw them away.

Guest blog post by Richard A. Kimball. Richard is a native of the beautiful, sunny California and enjoy being outdoors. His advocacy is to write about the environment to be able to educate people that we need to conserve and protect Mother Nature.

Why Get Married at Any of The Hamptons Wedding Venues?

Tying the knot soon? Consider any of the romantic Hamptons wedding venues in Long Island, New York, as the location of your big day!

Below, we discuss why this vibrant neighborhood is a great place for you and your future spouse to get married.

You’ll have great food. The Hamptons is surrounded by the sea, giving its residents and visitors easy access to some of the freshest catch – from fish and crabs to lobsters and caviar! In addition, this community is home to differents farms, giving the restaurants around here a truly amazing variety of produce. These restos are helmed by talented chefs who can whip up dishes from different cuisines. And there are many vineyards too, where the finest wines in the country come from. In short, whatever your tastebuds crave, there’s a place where you can find it!

Your guests will have lots of things to do. Your guests have a lot to look forward to aside from your wedding day. They can book a tour to the museums and art galleries that are all over the island. They can surf, or take the nature trails. They can go to music events, or fairs. Obviously, they can also spend the nights out with their friends at the clubs, where celebrity sightings are quite common. The point is, their long trip from across the country would be so worth it.

You can have the wedding of your dreams. Whatever type of bride (or groom) you are, you can have your dream wedding here! There are beautiful beaches that could be the picturesque backdrop for your big day, as well as barns and farms for a charming rustic affair. You can also opt for an intimate but elegant gathering set in romantic, perfectly manicured gardens. There are numerous manor estates here evoking old world romance, complete with mansions and sprawling views of Long Island’s verdant rolling hills.

You can have your honeymoon here. What are your plans after the wedding? Thinking of flying to another city? At the Hamptons, you might not find that need at all. You’d be so thrilled to just spend more days in this neighborhood, surrounded by the spectacular sceneries, and a luxe vibe that is unmistakably Hamptonite.

With its community’s bustling arts and culture scene, breathtaking locations, great food, and activity options, Hamptons wedding venues are truly an amazing choice for the day you seal your vows.

The Changing Landscape for Business Development Companies

Today, the entire financial industry is witnessing how business development companies (BDCs) are taking a greater share of assets under management. BDCs are investment companies that invest in private small and medium-sized businesses, with the goal of gaining a large share, and wielding significant management power.

Under the Internal Revenue Code, BDCs are classified as Regulated Investment Companies, which entitle them to special tax privileges. As long as they meet standards regarding income, asset diversification, and distribution, BDCs only need to pay minimal tax. Moreover, they are able to avail of high-risk loans with relatively less regulatory demands compared to banks.

But the landscape is changing. BDCs are now drawing far greater attention, which have since been resulting in growing efforts to regulate the sector, on top of the current policies that require them to file reports on a quarterly and yearly basis, and submit proxy statements to the SEC.

Some groups are complaining about the sizeable fees companies need to pay the BDCs and its top executives, in exchange for their guidance in boosting business growth.

Others are putting more focus on the risk inherent in the BDC framework: BDCs assume that the companies they invest in will grow phenomenally, yielding great returns for the shareholders. However, many other factors will affect the performance of an enterprise, and it is also possible that the investment will fail to generate a return. Massive investment can also mean massive losses.

At the same time, over at Congress, there are efforts to lift the limit set on the amount BDCs can borrow. Right now, BDCs can borrow based on the equity they have. Under the proposed bill, they can borrow under a 2:1 ratio: BDCs can get funds double the amount of what they possess.

Aside from generating more attention, this new bill will push many BDCs to expend more effort in order to double their target income, and be able to pay their loans and also distribute capital gains to their shareholder, and escape taxation.

To address these new considerations that mark the changing terrain they operate in, many business development companies are now enlisting the services of fund administrators. These administrators can implement cloud-based systems for processing of subscriptions, transfer and exchange, and recordkeeping. Fund administrators can also take care of such tedious administrative roles as drafting proposals and agreements and preparing reports, while the BDCs look for bigger opportunities for growth.

Social Media Marketing: Learning About Your Consumer

Today, businesses that seek growth in their online presence need to give serious attention to social media marketing efforts, and invest considerable time, manpower, and other resources towards their campaigns on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram, among other sites.

But the job of social media community managers should not stop at creating content for publishing. They should also be able to contribute to market research, by using the data culled from their accounts. They should help the marketing team understand the target market, to be able to provide relevant products and services. Here are some of the valuable information that can be gathered through social media:

The demographic profile of the target market. Social media is typically able to offer some information about the location, age, gender, and affiliations of internet users. These details are useful in that they should serve as cue for more marketing efforts to be spent on drawing particular segments of the population that are not being reached by the existing campaigns. It can also lead to rebranding, in the event of a discovery that the business is greatly popular among a market not previously explored.

The language of the target market. A crucial part of succeeding on social media is the use of language relatable to the followers. What types of posts do they tend to publish? What jokes appeal to them? How long does a post need to be for them to finish it? What words do they appear to use all the time? These should find their way to the next set of marketing materials. Do they like images or funny memes, or do they prefer links to articles? Are they into emojis?

The industry influencers. Businesses should look for two kinds of “influencers”: the experts in the field, or the people who possess solid professional knowledge and/or training about the industry, or the people who have proven themselves to be discerning consumers. If the product in question is a fashion collection, the first group would include editors of style magazines, while the second would be the celebrities who are deemed stylish by their followers. In some cases, an influencer is both (for example, Anna Wintour, for the clothing industry). When a business knows who their target consumers look up to, they will know what kinds of aspirational thoughts they have, and hopefull, the kind of products and services to offer.

Partner with experts in digital marketing to learn more about social media marketing.