Origin and Significance of Ash Wednesday

A former CEO of Barings, LLC, Thomas “Tom” Finke remains active in his community through his affiliation with several organizational committees. Thomas Finke serves as part of the investment committee for the Charlotte, North Carolina Diocese, a branch of the Catholic Church. In addition to providing direct assistance to individuals suffering hardships, the diocese also leads religious ceremonies such as the observation of Ash Wednesday.

Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent, a major celebration in the Catholic religion. The holiday is thought to originate in the 11th century and is based on Bible passages comparing the acts of fasting and grieving to ashes. It also symbolizes the dust of mortality. These ashes are usually derived from burned palm leaves collected during the prior year’s Palm Sunday.

It wasn’t until the 1970s that the ceremony was practiced by most of the Catholic world. During Ash Wednesday, adherents will draw a cross using ashes on their foreheads. This can be performed by a priest or a layperson. Unlike other Catholic rites that are restricted to certain members, anyone can participate in Ash Wednesday. Catholics are also encouraged to reduce their food intake and avoid meat.

The Milken Institute’s Financial Innovation Lab

As the CEO of Barings, LLC, Thomas “Tom” Finke provides operational guidance to a company with over 300 billion dollars of assets under management. Thomas Finke is also a strategic partner of the Milken Institute, a non-profit organization that aims to apply financial innovations to solve social issues.

The Financial Innovation lab at the Milken Institute is a program that addresses funding gaps in specific development issues. By analyzing the problems methodically, the partners at Milken find the best way to apply funding in the service of tangible improvements.

The process starts with in-depth financial research and development strategy that includes both long-term and short-term analyses and develops potential solutions to social, economic, and environmental challenges.

Once prepared, key stakeholders are presented with the research in a summary report. With the report, stakeholders can aid in the development of ideas that are then profiled at other institute events to reach the most impactful solutions.

Potential Oversights When Investing in Private Credit

The chairman and CEO of Barings, LLC, Thomas “Tom” Finke has been working in the banking and investment industries for over three decades. Thomas Finke oversees a 300+ billion-dollar asset management company that helps clients manage a diverse range of asset classes, including private credit.

Investing in private credit or non-bank lending is an attractive prospect for many investors. However, there are some mistakes that investors tend to make in the area. One of those is the assumption that only a wealth manager’s assets under management have any real bearing on the manager’s access to large transactions. While scale certainly helps, an investment manager’s ability to raise capital is only important insofar as the manager is just as adept at investing that capital.

Another potential mistake is failing to focus on the quantitative aspects and trusting a manager’s pitch. A lot of wealth managers are great at making the prospect of working with them highly tempting. But, a canny investor recognizes the need to ultimately base their decisions on fundamental principles and the underlying math.

Three of North Carolina’s Top Golf Courses

Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Thomas (Tom) Finke holds an MBA from Duke University and leads operations at Barings, LLC, as chairman and CEO, a position he has held since 2008. Away from his professional responsibilities, Thomas Finke enjoys golf.

North Carolina is home to numerous outstanding golf courses. Some of the best in the state are the following:.

1. The Cardinal, Greensboro. This semi-private golf venue provides a challenge for players. This par-70 Pete Dye course was redesigned in 2007 to include a notoriously difficult par 3 12th hole. Set amid two lakes, meandering streams, and forest land, the course is surrounded by natural beauty.

2. Lonnie Poole Golf Course, Raleigh. Designed for all levels of players, this venue, on land belonging to North Carolina State University, is the only collegiate course on the planet designed by Arnold Palmer, a legendary figure in the golf world. Top features at this par-71 course include a practice range, clubhouse, and a center for research focused on turfgrass and golf course management.

3. Mill Creek Golf Club, Mebane. This course is set amid the historic remains of a grist mill, along with natural features that include rolling terrain, streams and creeks, and lush trees. Novice and expert golfers alike are comfortable on this course since the five sets of tees permit angle and length adjustments to suit players’ skill levels.

Sustainability Investment Trends in the Last Few Years

Thomas “Tom” Finke is the CEO and Chairman of Barings, LLC and has been a part of banking and investment management for close to 34 years. Thomas Finke plays an integral role in the organization that promotes the importance of sustainability.

Sustainability has been a popular conversation piece in the last few decades, but more than ever, investing in environmental and social governance (ESG) platforms has become a part of the collective corporate agenda.

With climate change and other environmental issues serving as deciding factors, corporate interests are not only viewed as money-making ventures but also as proactive efforts for conservation. As of 2019, investors have poured more than $12 trillion into socially responsible causes. Today, every firm on the S&P 500 issues a sustainability report as a part of embracing corporate social responsibility practices.

In terms of investing, a few trends have dominated the markets in 2019 and the first quarter of 2020. The first trend is to invest in small capitalization companies that exhibit ethical behaviors, lower carbon emissions, and governance run by founders. Those who analyze companies also typically look at the company’s overall financial health because it is usually connected to ESG performance. As it relates to particular investment funds, analysts are also looking at ways to incorporate ESG investments into fixed-income portfolios.

The sustainability movement is also seeing the green market increase, and this includes equities, government bonds, exchange-traded funds, and hedge funds. In 2019, 479 green bonds were issued globally, which was higher-almost a 25 percent from 2018. Furthermore, green industries (stocks) are expected to become the most valuable investments by 2038, even surpassing technology monopolies.