Alternatives a Good Idea When Even Buffett Isn't Spared From the Economic Downturn

Summer is over. The children are back to school and the world is getting back to business. One of the things that caught my eye before the labor day weekend was that Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway, is down around 20%. If we were talking about anyone else, I wouldn't be very surprised in light of the current market. However, we are talking about Warren Buffett and I think it is a clear signal that we are in uncharted waters when even the best can get pulled down this much.

The most basic market credo is that you can't time the market, but what happens when you can't find the market? Is it possible that the interdependence of sectors and the effects of globalization are obliterating what were once tried and true strategies? I do believe it's possible, and the shift of money to the ever increasing interest in alternative investments may help fuel future decline. Simply stated if money is being pulled out of the global equities markets and then invested into private alternative investments, then you start losing buyers of equities which in turn will put pressure on equity prices. Let's be clear. I am talking about a long drawn out process and this is not going to happen overnight in any volume that will be immediately noticed.

There will always be buyers of equities, but I think after the recent awakening to the losses, a proportionate amount of money that used to be invested in stocks will be invested in alternative investments for a long time to come. In fact, even after a market rebound we may find that alternative investments have a permanent place in even the most traditional portfolios in the name of diversification. One note of caution here; there are a lot of things that call themselves alternative investments but may not be an alternative at all. For example: a hedge fund that is either publically traded or whose strategy is based on publically traded investments will not provide much insulation from the market.

I wrote about this in detail in "Alternative Investments Need to be Private" and I feel strongly about this principle. To bring it back to Warren Buffett, I would never underestimate the man and a successful career does not get negated by a bad year. It is not often that we get to learn from his mistakes so let's listen up and take note, because any time he has been this far down he has come roaring back. However, the lesson here is not how he will come back, but more with what he will come back with?

This article was written by Dominic Mazzone, Managing Partner and Fund Manager of Regent Global Funds.

This article and other like it can be viewed at http://www.investingsymposium.com which is part of the Regent Global Funds Network.

Regent Global Funds, rgfunds.com, is an alternative investment fund that offers its participating investors and asset backed investment through asset based lending.

The Fund Managers of Regent Global Funds have an expertise in commercial real estate lending and have created a successful alternative investment vehicle that is diversified through this structure.

They separate themselves from other fund mangers by personally investing their own money side-by-side with their investors in the fund, creating an absolute structure of accountability. Dominic Mazzone has written about the need for this type of accountability in an article titled "Fund Managers Need to be Accessible and Personally Invested."

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Gossip Girl Episode 2 Preview - Never Been Marcused

In Summer, Kind of Wonderful, we found out that the guy Blair was using to make Chuck was actually a British Lord. Moments after Blair finds out that James is actually Marcus, Chuck learns the exact same news from the private investigator he hired to dig up the Lords past.

Last episode left us wondering if Blair would break down and give Chuck another chance, even though she said goodbye and left the White Party with her new boyfriend. It seems like there is no going back for Blair though, at least not right away. Now that she knows all about Marcus true identity, it is her chance to prove herself worthy of him.

Eager to meet the rest of the family, Blair asks Marcus when she will be introduced the Duke and Duchess. To her surprise, she is shot down by Marcus and learns that she will have to wait, but Chuck has taken the situation into his own hands again and has a surprise up his sleeve.

While at a party in Manhattan with Blair, Chuck, Serena and Marcus in attendance, Chuck introduces the Duchess to Blair. Only Blair does not realize that the female Chuck has brought with him is the Duchess and she attempts to put her down. Realizing her mistake, Blair showers the Duchess with compliments, but will it be too late? And will the Duchess tell Marcus about Blairs rudeness? For now, it seems like good old Chuck has come out on top again.

By Tom / http://www.gossipgirl.tv. You have full permission to reprint this article provided this box is kept unchanged.

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Gossip Girl Episode 3 Recap - The Dark Night

The last episode had me expecting entirely different outcomes this time around, but I guess I should know better because nothing on Gossip Girl ever turns out the way you think it will.

The show starts out with everyone expressing frustration over their relationships, or lack of. Nate and Vanessa talk about getting together over the phone, Catherine hears parts of the conversation and becomes suspicious. In the meantime, Blair becomes frustrated with Marcus when he insists on taking things slow.

Gossip Girl catches a shot of Serena and Dan making out in public and does them the favor of letting the rest of Manhattan know they are back together. The pair then has the work of answering everyones questions about their renewed relationship, but Blair tells Serena that she doubts that they will be together for long.

When Nate and Vanessa finally get the chance to meet up, Catherine follows the pair and then calls Blair to find out who Nates new interest is. Blair lets Catherine in on Vanessa's identity and history, and then hatches a plan with Catherine. Blair takes a trip to Brooklyn to pop in on Vanessa and Nate, inviting them to her party where the couple is bound to run into Catherine.

Wanting to get out from under Catherine's thumb, Nate approaches Chuck to borrow the money that Chuck offered his mother. Nate then finds out that Chuck no longer has the money and goes back to Catherine. A Japanese stewardess shows up at Chucks place, and Chuck later tells Serena that he is having a hard time with the women.

Jenny hits heads first with her boss, and then designer Waldorf after she shares her opinion on a dress that she is styling for a model. Before she can leave, the power goes out in New York and Jenny is stuck in the studio with Waldorf.

At Blair's party Nate is in attendance with Catherine when Vanessa shows up on her own after Nate told her he can no longer make it. Chuck hits on Blair, but she turns him down before going to find Marcus. Once the power goes out Nate takes the opportunity to tell Vanessa that Catherine is basically blackmailing him into the relationship.

Nate vows to end the relationship, but while the power is out Catherine finds Vanessa and threatens to expose the whereabouts of Nate's dad if Vanessa does not end their relationship. Vanessa tells Nate the relationship is over and leaves.

Back at her place, Serena and Dan get stuck in the elevator during the blackout and attempt to resolve the relationship issues that they have been ignoring. Before the power comes back on, Serena and Dan decide that their relationship is over because neither can get over the past.

The most shocking event was saved for last when Chuck and Blair end up making out in her room while the lights are out. Marcus walks in on the two of them, but Blair tries to lie her way out of it. In front of the entire party Blair and Marcus fight, and it ends with Blair telling Marcus she does not feel desired by him because he does not act like he wants her.

Marcus and Blair end up making out on the stairs in front of everyone, but especially Chuck who obviously has a flame for her still.

By Tom / http://www.gossipgirl.tv. You have full permission to reprint this article provided this box is kept unchanged.

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