Firm Offers Alternative Investment Solution to Tax-Exempts

The firm says it is concerned that public pensions, university endowments, hospitals, museums, school boards and other non-profits and tax-exempt organizations are at the mercy of third party advisers when it comes to managing their alternative portfolios.   

“Alternative fund allocations proved their worth during the credit crisis, demonstrating downside protection in addition to their typical attractive, risk-adjusted returns and diversification benefits. It is no surprise institutional investors are increasing their allocations, but it is generally understood that there are many risks and costs, both explicit and implicit, associated with investing in hedge and private equity funds,” said Brian Shapiro, president of Simplify LLC.  

According to the company, the myriad challenges associated with executing an alternative investment program have prompted many institutional investors to employ investment consultants, fund of fund managers (acting in either a discretionary or advisory capacity) or specialist advisers to assist with the implementation and maintenance of this portion of their portfolios.    

“We’ve introduced PortfolioCentriX to the market in order to help level the playing field for alternative fund participants by providing investors with the tools and expertise they need without any conflicts of interest,” Shapiro said. “Investing in fund managers has always been a practice of knowledge arbitrage.  PortfolioCentriX is an enabling technology that allows users to better understand, pour over and monitor their new and legacy hedge fund, fund of and private equity holdings.”