April 2011 - Irish American News

28 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” April 2011PLASTERINGWilliam McNulty & SonsPlastering Co.InsuredAll Work GuaranteedPLASTERINGSTUCCO • DRYVIT708-386-2951Alternative InvestmentsWhat are they and should you own them?Alternative Investments have gained considerablepopularity with investors over the pastdecade; mainly because of easier access to theaverage investor. Alternative investments arenontraditional assets that offer different risk andreturn potential than your standard stock, bond,or cash investments. This area of investments wasonce dominated by the ultra wealthy. But nowwith the creation of new products, the averageinvestor has access into this market. A question Ioften get from investors is “should I own alternativeinvestments”? Let me first explain alternativeassets in more detail then decide if they fit yourinvestment strategy.It’s hard to give an exact definition as to whatan alternative investment is. In the investmentworld, they are categorized as almost anythingthat is not a stock, bond, or cash, the basic componentsof a conventional portfolio. Some examplesof alternative investments include hedge funds,private placements, real assets, and commodities.Part of the reason these assets classes have beenabsent from conventional portfolios is becauseof their lack of regulation. The regulation standardsthat exist for mutual funds and ETF’s forexample, does not apply to hedge funds or privateplacement investments. Since there is little to noregulation in place on many of these investments,the government only allows these assets to beThe Woman In BlackFirst Folio continues its Seasonof Suspense with the British thrillerThe Woman in Black, runningthrough May 1.Proud and solitary, Eel Marsh House surveysthe windswept reaches of the salt marshes beyondNine Lives Causeway. Arthur Kipps, a juniorsolicitor, is summoned to attend the funeral ofMrs. Alice Drablow, the house’s sole inhabitant,unaware of the tragic secrets which lie hiddenbehind the shuttered windows. It is not until heglimpses a wasted young woman, dressed all insold to accreditedinvestors (networth of $1mm+).Today however,through the creationof fund offunds and otherinvestment managementpartnerships,alternativeinvestments canbe accessed by almost all investorsThe reason investors use alternative investmentsis simple; to generate enhanced returnsand take on different risk characteristics thanthose produced by traditional assets (stocks,bonds, cash, etc). Basically it boils down toanother level of diversification (if you’ve beenfollowing my article the past few months, youknow I’m a big fan of diversification). Theseassets, whether it’s a hedge fund or oil & gaslimited partnership, tend to have a low correlationto the stock market. This is beneficial toinvestors because it gives them an investmentthat can go up when the stock market goes down– ultimately lowering the volatility of the portfolioand increasing overall returns.Investing into alternative assets must be donewith caution. As mentioned earlier, there is littleregulation with many of these investments. Forexample, alternative assets do not have the liquidityor diversification requirements that mutualfunds or ETF’s have. This can cause problemsto investors if they are not used properly. Also,alternative assets tent to strive for enhancedreturns. Like most assets, increased returns alsoinclude increased risk. Depending upon yourindividual time horizon, risk tolerance, and taxstatus, alternative investments might make agood fit in your portfolio.black, at the funeral, that a creepingsense of unease begins to takehold, a feeling deepened by the reluctanceof the locals to talk of thewoman in black—and her terriblepurpose. Years later, he recounts his experiencesto an actor in a desperate attempt to exorcise theghosts of the past.Performances take place in Mayslake Hall onthe grounds of the Mayslake Peabody Estate. Locatedat 31st St. and Rt. 83 in Oak Brook. Ticketsare available online at www.firstfolio.org or bycalling the box office at 630-986-8067.Shamrock PaintingCommercialResidentialExterior - InteriorSatisfying Customersfor Over 15 YearsPaul McGee815-729-9310The Cunningham Familyand Fuaim ChonamaraThe Cunningham family and Fuaim Chonamaracombine old style tradition with modern dance inmemorable performances across America.The multi-talented international rising stars ofdance and entertainment, the Cunningham Familyfrom Cashel, in Connemara, Galway, Ireland, havebeen mesmerizing audiences throughout, Ireland,Europe and the Far East with their energetic,sexy, heart stopping style of Sean Nos dancing.Chicagoan’s are in for a treat as the CunninghamFamily plan to launch their American tour withtheir own spectacularly choreographed successfulSean Nos Dancing Show throughout the areabefore embarking on a national tour of all themajor cities across the United States.The energetic performances from the CunninghamFamily are unique, but still deeplyrooted with Irish tradition synonymous with theConnemara culture. The Cunningham Family havebeen reviving one of Irelands oldest dance formsand transforming it into a wonderful display ofdance style, skill and athleticism. Concentratingon the authentic and most traditional aspects ofIrish Culture, the performances showcase the rootsand origins of Irish Dance, celebrating elementsof the dancing style.The Cunningham siblings Brian and Irene hopeto share this exciting transformation of culturewith their audiences throughout the United States.The style of dance has a raw and sexy energeticvibe to it which the audience can feel part of. Thisis not a Riverdance style of dancing performance,but something far more advanced but with moretraditional traits relating to Connemara. Thetransformation from traditional Sean Nós tomodern dance had never previously been successfullycombined until Irene & Brian Cunninghamdeveloped a new choreographed routine that ismodern–fresh, skillful, sexy loose style dancing.Sean Nos dancing, inspired and influencedthrough their grandparents in the days of house tohouse dancing, started as a pastime for the Cunninghamsibling’s; now it’s their passion.Visit the family website www.fuaimchonamara.ie for more information about bookings, showlocations or to view clips of the various segmentsof their shows. The Sean Nos show is full of warmhearted banter, wonderful music and pure traditionalSean Nos dancing in a friendly atmosphere.The Cunningham Family are certain to appeal toyoung and old who are guaranteed a mind blowingexperience in every performance.