Economic Outlook: A Global Macro and Markets Update
COVID-19 continues to ripple through the world economy. As this tragedy continues to linger, our panel examined current economic trends and impacts on commercial real estate.
The U.S. has shown signs of recovery but the lingering uncertainty around the pandemic and recent election has impacted broad economic recovery. Unemployment was at an all-time low with an economy that continued to add jobs, and – despite occasional headwinds – businesses remained resilient, but this all came to a grinding halt, and the future remains uncertain.
As we have adjusted to the new normal, the uncertainty as to how long this will last, how certain economic sectors will recover and whether or not government intervention will be enough to mitigate the ongoing shock of COVID-19. As we all wrestle with new norms and try to measure the lingering impact, the IPA and various thought leaders throughout the IPA community hosted an economic update to shed light on these evolving issues.
Take a deep dive into threats and opportunities for the alternative investments industry and the broader marketplace in a time of extraordinary uncertainty.
Speakers
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Lara RhameU.S. Chief Economist, FS InvestmentsLara Rhame is a Managing Director in the Investment Research group and serves as Chief U.S. Economist at FS Investments, where she focuses on macroeconomic financial market analysis to inform and develop the company’s long-term views on the economy, investment trends and issues facing investors.
Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Rhame served as a Senior Economist at Credit Suisse, where she met with institutional and private clients around the globe to discuss market events and the global economy. She began her career at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and has since worked at other Wall Street institutions, including Brown Brothers Harriman and Lehman Brothers. Her analysis has garnered attention across financial and economic news outlets, including Bloomberg News, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC and CNN.
Ms. Rhame holds a BA in Economics from Bates College and performed post-graduate macroeconomic studies at New York University. She has guest lectured at Columbia University, New York University and Long Island University.Ms. Rhame serves on the boards of the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, Hyperion Bank and Starr Garden Park, and is a former President of the Forecasters Club of New York.
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Matthew MaloneManaging Director, Real Estate, FS InvestmentsMatt Malone is a Managing Director in FS Investments’ investment management group and leads product management for the firm’s real estate division. He is a key member of the senior management team overseeing the FS Credit REIT portfolio which focuses on private, senior, commercial real estate loans. Prior to his current role, Mr. Malone served as Head of Due Diligence at FS Investments.
Prior to FS, Matt was a partner at the law firm Snyder Kearney, LLC, a boutique firm focused on the alternative investment industry. His practice focused on advising wealth management and investment advisor clients on various types of public and private alternative investments. During his tenure, Matt was responsible for advising clients on over $50 billion in various alternative investment strategies.
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Robert HoffmanManaging Director, Investment Research, FS InvestmentsRobert Hoffman is a Managing Director and head of the Investment Research group at FS Investments where he serves as a subject matter expert on the corporate credit markets and the firm’s alternative investment solutions. In this role he develops key communications and resources to help educate on and position the firm’s products.