Getting Through The Weeds

This just in: The United States of America has a new President  and the world hasn't come to an  end. Hell has not frozen over and  anarchy has not spread throughout the  land. Sure, it’s too early to  tell, I mean perhaps Madonna and the rest  of the liberal glitterati  will continue to stage protests and make  threats,  but their efforts  seem to have fallen on deaf ears. I for one would  prefer that they  simply entertain us with their music and movies and  leave the politics  to others. 

I  am not sure what to make of the Trump administration. I am  not sure  anyone is: It’s too early to tell. I am sure of one thing,  though:  We  should celebrate last week's peaceful transfer of power and  the tens of  thousands of people who protested America's new regime.  Both represent  what is truly the best of the nation. Period. End of  story. 

The  investment management industry is poised for great growth  in 2017. I  for one am extremely bullish. I believe that 2017 is the  year of the  hedge fund, private equity fund and perhaps even the mutual  fund. I  spent the better part of last week meeting with industry folks  --  managers, investors, service providers -- and the message was  clear: The  election is over and it’s time to get back to work - the  search for  alpha continues! Investors  are looking to put money to  work, managers are looking to put money to  work and service providers  are looking to work with managers and  investors to run smooth,  sophisticated operations that put money to work.  We are not through the  looking glass, but we are getting close. Things  are turning in the  investment management industry and I for one look  forward to  participating in it.  Stay  tuned for very good things to come. There  are still some weeds to get  through, but things are turning around and  the industry as a whole is  heading in the right direction. 

Now for some shameless self-promotion:  Operations for Alternatives  is coming up quick, February 27-28 at the lovely Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami. To learn more and to register,  click here  .   OFA is the single largest gathering in the United States of investors,   managers and service providers who engage in real conversations about   real issues  affecting the industry. Don't miss it.The discussion is  fast, furious  and informative - the tag line: "Right people, Right  time, Right place"  is right on. 
 

T  HINGS THAT DRIVE ME CRAZY: 

Where  to start? Lots to write here. First let me say thank you  to all that  write in each week about this section of the blog. I truly  appreciate  it. Second, it has been a few weeks since my last post, and  as such, I  have  stockpiled a few things that are really driving me  nuts these  days. Number one on the list is inexperienced airplane  travelers. Most  of you know I travel frequently and, well, my tolerance  for those don't  travel frequently is extremely low. I mean, really,  there should be two  sets of security lines, planes and even  terminals.Tell  me you don't know what I’m talking about. All of us air  warriors have  experienced this complete breakdown of common sense in  the security line  and entering and exiting planes with those who do it  infrequently.  Getting  behind someone in security who "forgot" to take  their laptop out of the  bag, didn't finish their water or packed a big  bottle of shampoo is  almost as bad as the person who is trying to enter  or exit the plane  with so much stuff that the hold up the line trying  to navigate the  aisle. It is the worst and something needs to done  about it. 

Contact Dan at daniels@apexfunds.us