Author

Elisabeth Mariani

Alternatives & Strategies Content Specialist | Exploring complex strategies for advanced investors

Elisabeth Mariani delves into nuanced investment alternatives and strategies. She crafts insightful content to help seasoned investors make informed decisions.

"In investments, understanding the details often matters more than chasing the latest trend, guiding confident decisions."

Approach

Focus on presenting in-depth analyses and case studies
Highlight the intricacies and risks involved in various strategies

Areas of Coverage

• Alternatives
Examine the role of commodities as a diversified asset class.

• Strategies
Discuss the benefits and limitations of factor investing.

Topics & Interests:

Behavioral finance
Alternative investments
Economic history

Latest Articles

How to Add REITs to a Portfolio

Building a portfolio with Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) isn’t as simple as grabbing a few tickers and hoping for the best. This article breaks down the real-world steps for adding REITs in a thoughtful way - so you can target dependable income, improve diversification, and reduce overall portfolio bumps. Whether you’re working with an advisor or managing your own investments, you’ll get clear tactics, practical examples, and data-backed insights to help you choose the right REIT mix and strengthen long-term returns.

Read » 354 40

How to Value an Asset Before You Buy

Valuing an asset accurately before purchase protects your investment and guides strategic decisions. This article shares practical methods for assessing tangible and intangible assets, including real estate, stocks, and equipment. It helps buyers avoid common pitfalls by evaluating market data, financial health, and physical condition. You will learn actionable techniques to estimate true worth and make confident acquisitions.

Read » 349 24

Private Credit for Retail Investors: What to Know

Private credit can be an appealing option for retail investors who want something beyond the usual mix of stocks and public bonds. Instead of buying traded securities, you’re effectively financing companies or projects through loans that don’t sit on public exchanges - often with the potential for higher income, but also with tradeoffs like lower liquidity and more complex risk. This article explains how private credit works, what drives returns, the main risks to watch (including defaults and lockups), and the most common ways everyday investors can get access so they can decide if it fits their goals.

Read » 473 20

When to Sell: A 5-Signal Framework

Identifying the optimal moment to sell an asset, stock, or property can redefine investment success. This guide explores five clear signals that indicate it's time to exit, avoiding costly mistakes often made by investors. Designed for investors and business owners seeking actionable timing strategies, it reveals key, measurable indicators reflecting real market shifts and personal portfolio needs.

Read » 140 38

How Much Crypto Belongs in a Portfolio?

Figuring out how much crypto to hold isn’t about picking a trendy percentage - it’s about weighing the upside against the very real volatility, and understanding how digital assets fit next to stocks, bonds, and cash. This guide walks through practical, data-informed ways to choose a crypto allocation based on your goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. You’ll see real-world examples, learn where common assumptions go wrong (like “crypto always diversifies”), and get clear, actionable steps for building and maintaining a portfolio that includes cryptocurrencies without letting them take over your overall plan.

Read » 161 48

How to Decide Your Asset Allocation

Asset allocation is basically the blueprint for how you divide your money across stocks, bonds, cash, and other investments. That mix matters a lot - it influences how bumpy the ride feels, what kind of returns you can reasonably expect, and how well your portfolio supports goals like retirement, a home purchase, or steady income. Whether you’re managing your own account or building portfolios professionally, knowing the core allocation approaches makes it easier to adjust as markets shift and life changes, instead of making decisions based on headlines or gut instinct.

Read » 373 30

Do Commodities Still Hedge Inflation?

When prices keep climbing, a lot of investors look to commodities - oil, metals, agriculture - as a potential shield against inflation. But do they still work the way people expect, or is the “inflation hedge” story oversimplified? This article digs into how commodities have actually behaved across different inflation periods, using real historical data rather than rules of thumb. You’ll learn what tends to drive commodity returns, why results can vary by sector and time frame, and how investors can use tools like broad commodity funds, futures-based ETFs, or resource equities in a more practical way. The goal is to help you decide when commodities may protect purchasing power - and when they may disappoint.

Read » 175 48

A Checklist for Evaluating Any Investment

Choosing an investment shouldn’t feel like a coin flip. This article walks you through a repeatable way to evaluate almost anything - stocks, ETFs, bonds, real estate deals, even alternative products - so you can make decisions with more confidence and less noise. We cover the most common traps investors fall into (overpaying, ignoring downside risk, chasing stories), then lay out a practical checklist you can actually use: key financial metrics, balance-sheet and cash-flow strength, valuation, liquidity, fees, and what market conditions could realistically help or hurt the investment. Along the way, real examples show how a disciplined review process can catch red flags early and improve results over time - especially for investors who prefer to be cautious and data-driven.

Read » 216 27