• Financial market volatility since the Great Recession has spotlighted the increasing complexity and interconnected nature of the global marketplace.
• Equities in particular have seen increased correlation, although many market swings during the last four years have cut across traditional asset classes, impacting stocks, bonds and commodities.
• While alternative investments alone may experience higher volatility than more traditional investments, because they often have low correlation with traditional asset classes, their inclusion in a broader portfolio of traditional assets can help reduce overall volatility.

• Private equity investments are stakes in funds that invest in privately held companies selected based on growth potential. Investors make a total commitment of capital that can be called over time by the fund’s management team. These assets are illiquid and typically longer-term. Returns can exceed broader market returns, but there are substantial business and financial risks that could result in losses.
• Special situation funds are traditionally structured mutual funds that employ non-traditional strategies. They have the flexibility to operate like hedge funds in pursuit of returns under various market conditions, but offer the same liquidity benefits as mutual funds. Also, because they are regulated like mutual funds, they provide greater transparency and tend to be less complicated come tax time.
• Hedge funds employ a wide range of investment and trading strategies intended to achieve returns regardless of broader market performance. A fund of hedge funds is a group of single-strategy hedge funds overseen by an individual manager. By combining different strategies in the same portfolio, the fund seeks to help investors avoid the risk of placing all their eggs in a single strategy basket.
• Structured products combine the characteristics of two or more asset classes. They are designed with traditional fixed income features, including set maturity dates, but returns are generally derived from various sources such as equity and fixed income indices, commodities, currencies or some combination thereof. The goal is to combine the potential benefits of stocks and bonds for investors.
• Managed futures investments employ a strategy that trades in a large range of futures, including physical commodities, interest rates, currencies and stock market indices. They are typically managed by a Commodities Trade Advisor using computer models to follow market trends in an effort to capture profits when markets move up and down. They can carry significant expenses and higher potential risk.

Alternative investments do not only provide potential diversification benefits. Because they generally offer a wider universe in which to invest and do not have some of the same investment constraints as traditional vehicles (they can short and hedge, for instance), they may also offer higher performance potential. However, each also has unique considerations – such as potentially high investment minimums, illiquidity and adverse or complex tax implications – investors must take into account when determining if an investment or strategy is appropriate.

With an understanding of your specific situation, goals and time horizon, your Financial Advisor can help you determine whether alternatives have a place in your portfolio and which specific investments or strategies are the right fits for you.

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of each fund carefully before investing. This and other information is found in the prospectus. For a prospectus, contact your Baird Financial Advisor. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

Robert W. Baird & Co. does not provide tax advice. Please consult with your tax professional before implementing any of these products.